BEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 | 1st Sem.

SY 2020-2021

BEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1

Lecture No. 1

FUNCTIONS

1.1 INTRODUCTION

If calculus, in general, had an ingredients list, functions would be first on it. But what is really a
function? Before answering that question, let’s first define some key terms to fully understand the whole
concept of function.
A constant number is one that retains the same value throughout in which it occurs. For instance, 5
is a constant and so is 1. On the other hand, variable number is one that changes from one value to another
during an investigation. For instance, ‘x’ is a variable and it can represent any number as you wish. When
the variation of a number can be assigned at will, the variable is called independent; when the value of one
number is determined by that of another, the former is called a dependent variable. The dependent variable
is called a function of the independent variable. For instance, 3𝑥 2 and cos 𝑥 are all functions of x.
Using the concepts stated above, we can say that a function is a rule for transforming an object into
another object.

1.2 FUNCTIONS AT A LARGER SCOPE

Now, let us see the functions at a greater scale. As defined, a function is a rule for transforming an
object into another object. The object you start with is the independent variable and comes from some set
called domain. On the other hand, the other object is the dependent variable. In a function, working on
transforming everything in the domain, one object at a time; the collection of transformed objects is the
range – the set of all outputs that could possibly occur.
If we are going to use ‘x’ and ‘y’ in illustrating the concept of function, note that when these two
quantities ‘x’ and ‘y’ are related so that for some range values of x, the value of y is determined by that of
x, thus, we can say that y is function of x. Functions of one variable can be denoted by the symbols f(x)
(read as f of x), f(θ) (read as f of θ), etc. We can also denote that y = f(x).
Here are some examples of functions, as explained in details:
 Suppose you write f(x) =𝑥 2 , you have just defined a function of f which transforms any
number substituted to x into its square. When you are going to substitute a value to your x,
let’s say 2 for instance, you write the function f(2)=(2)2 which gives 4. Here, your domain
is 2 and the range is 4.
 In solving for the area of a square, we use the formula: A=𝒔𝟐 , using the concept of function,
s represents the side of the square (which is the independent variable) and A is the area of
the square (the dependent variable). We can say that in this case because by principle, by
using any value for the side of a square, you can have an area which is directly dependent to
the square of its side.
Now in calculus, we have algebraic and trigonometric functions. Solved problems of these two
vital forms of functions are presented in the succeeding section.

Example 1.1 Algebraic Functions

Given f(x)=𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 20, show that f(1)=12 and f(5)=0.

Solution

𝑓(1) = (1)3 − 5(1)2 − 4(1) + 20 = 𝟏𝟐 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓

𝑓(5) = (5)3 − 5(5)2 − 4(5) + 20 = 𝟎 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓

1 | E n g r . J U N I E V I N R A M I L L A N O | INSTRUCTOR 1
 BEM 111 – ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1 | 1st Sem. SY 2020-2021

Example 1.2 Algebraic Functions

Given that 𝑓(𝑦) = 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 6, find 𝑓(𝑦 + ℎ).

Solution

𝑓(𝑦 + ℎ) = (𝑦 + ℎ)2 − 2(𝑦 + ℎ) + 6 → Simplify

𝑓(𝑦 + ℎ) = 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒉𝟐 + 𝟐𝒉(𝒚 − 𝟏) − 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟔 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓

Example 1.3 Trigonometric Functions

Given that 𝑓(𝜃) = sin 2𝜃 + cos 𝜃, find 𝑓(0) and 𝑓(𝜋).

Solution

𝑓(0) = sin 2(0) + cos(0) = 1 → Simplify

𝑓(𝜋) = sin 2𝜋 + cos 𝜋 = 2 sin 𝜋 cos 𝜋 + cos 𝜋 = 0 − 1 = −1 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓

Example 1.4 Trigonometric Functions

𝜋
Given that 𝑔(𝑦) = cos 2𝑦 − 2 sin 𝑦, find 𝑔( )
2

Solution

𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
𝑔 ( ) = cos 2( ) − 2 sin → Simplify
2 2 2
𝜋 𝜋
𝑔( ) = cos(𝜋) − 2 sin → Simplify
2 2
𝜋
𝑔( ) = −1 − 2 = −3 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓
2

Example 1.5 Worded Problem

A right triangle has a fixed base of length 7. Express the length of the altitude of the triangle as a function
of the length of the hypothenuse.

Solution

Using the Pythagorean theorem:

c 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2
a
Then transpose the altitude and
𝑐 = 𝑎2 + 72 = 𝑎2 + 49
2
hypothenuse
𝑎2 = 𝑐 2 − 49 → Simplify
7
𝒂 = √𝒄𝟐 − 𝟒𝟗 ∴ 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓

SEAT WO RK #1

1. Given that 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥, find 𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ).

1
2. Given that 𝑓(𝑥 ) = , find 𝑓 (𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥).
𝑥
3. Given that 𝑓(𝑥 ) = sin 𝑥, find 𝑓 (𝑥 + 2ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥).

2 | E n g r . J U N I E V I N R A M I L L A N O | INSTRUCTOR 1