Summary: Functions (LS & GS)

Definition of a function:
A function is a mapping (relation) from to , that associates to every in exactly one image in .
.
( ).

Domain of definition of a function:

- The domain of definition of is the set of possible values of . This domain is sometimes given.
- If ( ) , then is defined for .
- If ( ) √ , then is defined for .
- If ( ) ( ) ( ) or ( ) ( ) ( ), then .
( )
- If ( ) ( )
, then with ( ) .

Parity of a function (even function – odd function):

- is said to be even function over if: is centered at zero and ( ) ( ).
In this case ( ) admits y-axis as an axis of symmetry.
The symmetric of the point ( ) with respect to y-axis is ( ).
- is said to be odd function over if: is centered at zero and ( ) ( ).
In this case ( ) admits the origin as a center of symmetry.
The symmetric of the point ( ) with respect to is ( ).
- is centered at zero if for every , . For example: ℝ, ℝ*, [ ]…
- There exist functions neither even nor odd.

Axis of symmetry – Center of symmetry:

- The line of equation is an axis of symmetry of ( ) of a function if: ( ) ( ).
- The point ( ) is a center of symmetry of ( ) of a function if: ( ) ( ) .

Limits of a function:
- We calculate the limit of a function at the open boundaries of its domain of definition .
- If , then ( ) ( ) (we calculate the image of by ).
- The writing: means: and , that is: tends to from the left.
The writing: means: and , that is: tends to from the right.

Rules of limit:
Let be a real number:
- ; ; ; ; .
- ; ; .
- ( ) ; ( ) ; √ .

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Indeterminate limits:
It is one of the four forms: ; ; or , that is the limit is not appeared.
To solve this problem, we must change the form of the function and calculate the limit again.

The limits at of polynomial and rational functions:

- To calculate the limit at of a polynomial function, we take the monomial of highest exponent.
- To calculate the limit at of a rational function, we take the monomial of highest exponent in the
numerator to that in the denominator.

Derivative of a function at a point:

( ) ( )
The derivative of at a point , denoted by ( ), is given by: ( ) .
Graphically: ( ) ( ), the slope of the tangent to ( ) at a point .

Table of principle formulas of derivative function:

Function ( ) Derivative function ( )
(constant)

( )
√ ( )
√
( is a function of )

( )

( )

√ ( )
√

Equation of a tangent:
An equation of the tangent ( ) to ( ) of a function at a point of abscissa is given by:
( ) ( ) ( )( ).

Remarks:
- If ( ) has a horizontal tangent ( ) at a point of abscissa , then ( ) .
- If ( ) has an extremum at a point ( ), then ( ) and ( ) .
- If ( ) has a vertical tangent ( ) at a point of abscissa , then ( ) .
- If ( ) has an oblique tangent ( ) at a point of abscissa , then: ( ) , where ( ) and
( ) are two points on ( ).

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Sense of variation of a function:
To study the variation of a function , we must find the derivative function ( ), then determine the
roots and make a table of signs:
- For ( ) , is increasing.
- For ( ) , is decreasing.
- For ( ) and change its sign, admits an extremum.
- If ( ) for every , then is strictly increasing over .
- If ( ) for every , then is strictly decreasing over .

In the table of variations of , we put in the row of : the domain and the roots of ( ), in the row of
( ): the sign and zero, and in the row of ( ): the arrows and limits or images.

Drawing the representative curve of a function:

To draw the representative curve of a function , we follow these steps:
- Draw the asymptotes (vertical asymptote, horizontal asymptote, oblique asymptote).
- Locate the extremums.
- Locate some particular points (using calculator Mode 7).
- Draw the curve as seen in the table of variation.

Graphical reading of a function:

Mathematical writing Graphical meaning
( ) Point ( ) belongs to ( )
( ) ( ) cuts x-axis
( ) ( ) is above x-axis
( ) ( ) is below x-axis
( ) ( ) above and cuts x-axis
( ) ( ) below and cuts x-axis
( ) ( ) cuts the line

Limits and asymptotes:

- If ( ) , then the line of equation is a vertical asymptote to ( ).
- If ( ) , then the line of equation is a horizontal asymptote to ( ) at .
- To prove that the line ( ) of equation: is an oblique asymptote to ( ), we must prove
that: [ ( ) ( )] .

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Asymptotic directions (only for G.S):
( )
- If ( ) and , then ( ) admits at a vertical asymptotic direction (fast function).
( )
- If ( ) and , then ( ) admits at a horizontal asymptotic direction (weak function).
( )
- If ( ) and ℝ , then we calculate [ ( ) ]:
 If [ ( ) ] , then ( ) admits at an oblique asymptotic direction parallel to the
line of equation: .
 If [ ( ) ] ℝ, then ( ) admits at an oblique asymptote of equation:
.

Relative position of two curves:

To study the relative position of two curves ( ) and ( ) with respective functions and , we must
study the sign of the expression: ( ) ( ) ( ):
- For ( ) , ( ) is above ( ).
- For ( ) , ( ) is below ( ).
- For ( ) , ( ) cuts ( ).

Remarks:
- The horizontal asymptote and the oblique asymptote may cut the curve ( ) of a function .
- The vertical asymptote don’t cut the curve ( ) of a function .
- To find the point(s) of intersection of ( ) and x-axis, we solve ( ) .
- To find the point of intersection of ( ) and y-axis, we calculate ( ).

Continuity of a function at a point of the curve:

- is said to be continuous at a point of abscissa if: ( ) ( ) ( ).
In this case the curve ( ) has no gap (no jump) at this point.
- is said to be discontinuous at a point of abscissa if ( ) ( ).
In this case the curve ( ) has a gap at this point.

Remarks:
- The function is continuous over an interval if it is continuous at every point of .
- The polynomial functions are continuous over ℝ.
- The rational functions are continuous over its domain of definition .

Differentiability (derivativity) of a function at a point:

- is said to be differentiable at a point of abscissa if ( ) exist, that is: ( ) ( ).
In this case ( ) admits one tangent ( ) at , that is ( ) has no angular (broken) point at .

- is said to be not differentiable at a point of abscissa if ( ) ( ).

In this case ( ) admits two semi-tangents ( ) and ( ) at , one from the left and one from the
right, that is ( ) has an angular point at . The equations of ( ) and ( ) are given by:
( ) ( ) ( )( ) ; ( ) ( ) ( )( ).
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Remarks:
- If ( ) , then is not differentiable at .
- The function is differentiable over an interval if is differentiable at every point of .
- If is discontinuous at , then isn’t differentiable at .
- If is differentiable at , then is continuous at . The converse isn’t necessary true.

Limits by comparison:
Let , and be a three functions:
- If ( ) ( ) and ( ) , then ( ) .
- If ( ) , then we can’t conclude any result about the limit.
- If ( ) ( ) and ( ) , then ( ) .
- If ( ) , then we can’t conclude any result about the limit.
- If ( ) ( ) ( ) and ( ) ( ) , then ( ) (sandwish rule).

Symmetric and translation:

Let and be two functions of respective representative curves ( ) and ( ):
- If ( ) ( ), then ( ) is the image of ( ) by symmetric with respect to x-axis.
Note that, the symmetric of a point ( ) with respect to x-axis is ( ).

- If ( ) | ( )|, then ( ) is confounded with ( ) when ( ) above x-axis, and ( ) is symmetric

of ( ) with respect to x-axis when ( ) below x-axis.

- If ( ) ( ) , then ( ) is the image of ( ) by translation of a vector ⃗ .

- If ( ) ( ), then ( ) is the image of ( ) by translation of a vector ⃗ .
- If ( ) ( ) , then ( ) is the image of ( ) by translation of a vector ⃗ .

Concavity of a function next to a point (only for G.S):

To study the concavity of a function at , we must determine ( ) (second derivative):
- If ( ) , then the concavity of ( ) is upward, and ( ) is above the tangent to ( ) at .
- If ( ) , then the concavity of ( ) is downward, and ( ) is below the tangent to ( ) at .
- If ( ) and change its sign, then ( ) admits an inflection point at , and ( ) crosses its
tangent at .

L’ Hopital’s rule:
( ) ( ) ( )
- If ( )
or , then we can apply L’hopital’s rule: ( ) ( )
.

- If, after applying the L’hopital’s rule, we still obtain or , then we apply it successively.

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Intermediate value theorem (I.V.T):
- If is a continuous function over [ ] with ( ) ( ) , then the equation ( ) admits
at least one root such that , that is ( ) .
Note that: ( ) means graphically: ( ) cuts the x-axis.

- If is a continuous function and strictly monotone (strictly increasing or strictly decreasing) over
[ ] such that ( ) ( ) , then the equation ( ) admits a unique root such that
.

Remark:
To prove that the equation ( ) , where is a function of or constant, admits a solution with
, we take a new function ( ) ( ) and verify that is continuous over [ ] and
( ) ( ) .
Note that: ( ) means graphically: ( ) cuts: .

Image of an interval by a function:

- If is a continuous function over a closed interval [ ], then ( ) ([ ]) [ ],
where and are respectively the absolute minimum and the absolute maximum of , and for
all [ ], ( ) .

- If is a continuous function and strictly increasing over [ ], then: ([ ]) [ ( ) ( )].

- If is a continuous function and strictly decreasing over [ ], then ([ ]) [ ( ) ( )].