CHAPTER 3 [3.1 – 3.

2: Functions and Graph of a Function]

Objectives and Discussion

1. Determine Whether a Relation Represents a Function
1.1 Define and explore function
1.2 Determining Whether an Equation is a Function
2. Evaluating Functions
2.1 Function Notation
𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥)−𝑓(𝑎)
2.2 Find the Difference Quotient of Function ℎ
, 𝑥−𝑎
3. Find the Domain of a Function Defined by an Equation
4. Graph of a Function
4.1 Identify the Graph of a Function
4.2 Obtain Information From or About the Graph of a Function
5. Form the Sum, Difference, Product, and Quotient of two Functions

Section 3.1 Functions

1. Determine Whether a Relation Represents a Function

Activity 1: Define and explore function

1. Match each of the following functions with the graph that best describes the situation.
A) The temperature of a bowl of soup as a function of time.
B) The population of Florida as a function of time.
C) The distance travelled by a car going at a constant velocity as a function of time.
D) The height of a golf ball hit with a 7-iron as a function of time.
E) The number of hours of daylight per day over a 2-year period.

i) ii) iii) iv) v)

2. The graph at the right represents the volume, V, of

water in a bathtub in liter as function of time, 𝑡, in
minutes. Describe how V changes as 𝑡 varies from 0 to
16 minutes?

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Activity 2: Differentiate relation and function using the following example. Define domain and range.

State the type of relations for the following arrow diagram.

Activity 3: Define whether the relation is a function or not. Justify your answer.
1. Let 𝑄 represents residents in Qatar who have telephone service and 𝑇 represents telephone numbers of residents in
Qatar.

a) Is T defined as a function of Q? b) Is Q defined as function of T?

2. Given the following relations in different ways. Determine whether y is defined as a function of x. Find the
domain for those defined as functions.
a) R = {(−3,9), (−2,4), (0,0), (1,1), (−3,8)} b) 𝑥 = 9 c)

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d) S = {(𝑥, 𝑦)|𝑦 = 𝑥 2 } ∪ {(1,3)} e) |𝑦| + 2𝑥 = 9

3. Determine if the equation 𝑠 2 + 𝑟 2 = 1 defines 𝒔 as a function of 𝒓.

4. TRY! Determine whether 𝒚 is defined as a function of 𝒙. Justify your answer. Find the domain for those
defined as functions.

a) 𝑦 = 9 b) 𝑥 + 𝑦 3 = 1 c) |𝑥| = 𝑦 2 + 9 d) √𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑥 2 = 9

Reflective Observation:
•

*In which ways relations & functions can be defined?

*What are the things you discovered in determining whether relation is a function?

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2. Evaluating Functions

2.1 Function Notation

In general, function is presented by any letter, say 𝑓 and it takes an input (𝑥 value) in its domain and produce an output
in the range (𝑦 value). In function notation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) defines a function named 𝑓. This is read as “𝑓 of 𝑥” or “𝑓
evaluated at 𝑥”

Input Correspondence Output Equation

x f y Ex: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1
Independent Mapping Dependent Mathematical Rule
variable variable

Activity 4: Evaluation of function and its application

𝑥−𝐵
1) If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−𝐴 , 𝑓(7) = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓(6) 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑, what are the values of A and 𝐵?

2) Monthly residential electric charges, c, are determined by adding a fixed fee of 18 QR to the product of the
amount of electricity consumed each month, x, in kilowatt-hours and a rate factor of 0.128 QR per kilowatt-hour.
a) Write a linear function model for the monthly electric charges, c, as a function of the amount of electricity
consumed each month, x.

b) If the household uses 712 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a given month, how much is the monthly electric
charge? Round off your answer to two decimal places.

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3. Difference Quotient of Function

𝒇(𝒙 + 𝒉) − 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒂)

,
𝒉 𝒙−𝒂

Activity 5: Evaluation of function and its application

𝒇(𝟏+𝒉) − 𝒇(𝟏)
1. Find the difference quotient , ℎ ≠ 0, for the function
𝒉
𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥 2 + 3𝑥

𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝟖)
2. TRY! Find the difference quotient , 𝑥 ≠ 8, for the function
𝒙−𝟖
𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1

𝒇(𝒙 + 𝒉) − 𝒇(𝒙)
3. TRY! Show that if 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒃 then = 𝒎.
𝒉

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4. Domain of Function

Definition: The domain is the set of all possible and allowed values of independent variable (input values).

▪ Range is the set of all corresponding dependent variable (output values)

𝑁(𝑥)
▪ In rational function, 𝑅(𝑥) = 𝐷(𝑥) , the domain is the set of all corresponding x-values excluding those values
found by setting 𝐷(𝑥) = 0.
▪ In radical function with even roots, 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑝(𝑥), the domain is the set of all corresponding x-values
satisfying 𝑝(𝑥) ≥ 0.
Use Desmos or GeoGebra graphing tools to graph the given functions and to show the visual interpretation of
domains & range of different functions as example:
Type of Rule Example Domain
Function
Order pairs The set of x-coordinates {(2,3), (4,5), (6,7)} {2, 4, 6}

Polynomial All real Numbers 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 (−∞, ∞)

Absolute value All real Numbers 𝑘(𝑥) = 7|2𝑥 − 5| (−∞, ∞)

Radical with Under Root(Radicand) ≥ zero ℎ(𝑡) = √12 − 3𝑡 (−∞, 4]

even index
Rational = 𝑫
𝑵 Dom(N) ∩ Dom(D) - {D=0} 3√𝑥 [0, ∞) ∩ 𝑅 − {4} = [0, ∞) − {4}
𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥−4 = [0,4) ∪ (4, ∞)

Activity 6: Find the domain of each of the following functions. Write your answer in interval notation.
𝑟 − 1 3
√𝑡 − 1
1. 𝑓(𝑟) = |𝑟| 2. 𝑔(𝑡) =
+ 1 √2 − 𝑡 − 1

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𝑥−1 √𝑥 − 1
3. ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2 4. 𝑘(𝑥) =
√𝑥 − 2

Section 3.2: Graph of a Function

Identify the graph of a function

Theorem: Vertical Line Test. A vertical line test is a graphical method to determine whether the given graph in
the xy-plane represent a function. The vertical line test states that the graph of a set of points in a coordinate plane
is the function's graph if every vertical line intersects the graph in at most one point.

Function
Not Function
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 CHAPTER 3 [3.1 – 3.2: Functions and Graph of a Function]

Illustration: Which of the graphs are graphs of functions.

a. a. b.

Activity 6: Obtain the information from or about the graph of a function.

4 − 𝑥2
1. Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2 find
a. domain of 𝑓(𝑥) b. y-intercept

c. x-intercept(s) if any d. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 1, what is 𝑥? What point(s) is(are) on the

graph of 𝑓?

e. Is the point (0, 3/2) on the graph of 𝑓?

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 CHAPTER 3 [3.1 – 3.2: Functions and Graph of a Function]
2. Condering the graph of the function 𝑓(𝑥)

a. What is the domain & range of 𝑓(𝑥)? b. what are the intercepts if any ?

Domain:

Range:

c. For what x value (s) such that 𝑓(𝑥) = −2?

b. d. What is the value of 𝑓(4) ?

e. For what x value (s) such 𝑓(𝑥) ≥ 0? f. For what x value (s) such that 𝑓(𝑥) < 0?

g. For what x value (s) such 𝑓(𝑥) > 0? h. For what x value (s) such that 𝑓(𝑥) = 0?

5. Form the Sum, Difference, Product, and Quotient of Two functions

Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions and 𝑫𝒇 be domain of function 𝑓 and 𝑫𝒈 be domain of function 𝑔 then
Function Notation Domain
Sum/ Difference (𝑓 ± 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑫𝒇±𝒈 = 𝑫𝒇 ∩ 𝑫𝒈
Product (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑫𝒇∙𝒈 = 𝑫𝒇 ∩ 𝑫𝒈
Quotient 𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑫 𝒇 = 𝑫𝒇 ∩ 𝑫𝒈 − {𝒙|𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟎}
( ) (𝑥) = , with 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥) 𝒈

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Activity 7: Find the indicated operation of functions and their domain.

𝑥 2 −1 1+𝑥 𝑓
1. Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be two functions defined as 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+2
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −4. Find (𝑔) (𝑥), and its the domain.

2. Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be two functions defined as 𝑓(𝑥) = √4 − 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = √3 + 𝑥

Find (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) and determine its domain.

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 CHAPTER 3 [3.1 – 3.2: Functions and Graph of a Function]

Section Exercises
A. Skill Objective: Determine whether an Equation Is a Function

Question 1
|𝑦|+𝑥
a. For 𝑦 < 0, indicate if the equation |𝑦|−𝑥
= 3 represent 𝑦 as function of 𝑥. Justify your answer.

b. Which graph of a relation is also a function.

A. B.

C. D.

Question 2 Determine if the given relation is a function or not. Justify your answer.
𝑅 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 } ∪ {(1,5)}

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 CHAPTER 3 [3.1 – 3.2: Functions and Graph of a Function]
𝒇(𝒙+𝒉)−𝒇(𝒙)
B. Skill Objective: Find the difference quotient of function
𝒉

4
C.Question 3 Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 𝑥−1 . Find and simplify

𝑓(3+ℎ)−𝑓(3)
a. ℎ
;ℎ≠0
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(3)
b. 𝑥−3
;𝑥≠3

C. Skill Objective: Find the domain of a function

Question 4 Find domain of the following functions.

𝑥+√4−𝑥 2
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|−1

b. 𝑓(𝑥) = √4 − 𝑥 + 2√𝑥 − 1

4−𝑥
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = √
𝑥−1

𝑥 + √4+𝑥 2
d. 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥|+1

D. Skill Objective : Operation on Functions

𝑥2− 9 9 − 𝑥2
Question 5 Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1
√2𝑥 − 1
𝑓
a. Find and simplify (𝑔) (𝑥)

𝑓
b. Find the domain of (𝑔) (𝑥)

𝑓
c. What are the intercepts if any of ( ) (𝑥)?
𝑔

Question 6 𝑥 2 −4
If (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = −𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 1−𝑥
then what is 𝑓(𝑥)?

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Section Sample Test

Question 1 TRUE OR FALSE. Write True if the statement is TRUE, otherwise, write False.

a. For any 𝑎 and 𝑏 in domain of 𝑓

𝑓(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝑓(𝑎) − 𝑓(𝑏)

b. Functions ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) and 𝑘(𝑥) = √𝑓(𝑥)√𝑔(𝑥)

have the same domain
1
c. Domain of 𝑓(𝑥) = 1+|𝑥| is all real numbers

d. Some relations are functions

Question 2 Find domain of the following functions.

√𝟐−𝒙
a. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙−√𝟐𝒙−𝟏

𝟒−𝒙𝟐
b. 𝒇(𝒙) = √ 𝒙−𝟏

c. 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝟏 − |𝟏 − 𝟐𝒙|

𝟐
Question
d. 3 Given 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙 − 𝟏−𝒙 find

𝒇(𝟐+𝒉)−𝒇(𝟐)
a. 𝒉

𝒇(𝒙)−𝒇(𝟐)
b. 𝒙−𝟐

𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒 𝟒−𝒙𝟐
Question 4 Given 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙 + and 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐−𝟏
√𝒙

𝒇
a. Find (𝒈) (𝒙) in simplified form
𝒇
b. What is domain of (𝒈) (𝒙)
𝒇
c. What are the intercept(s) if any of (𝒈) (𝒙)

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Answers to Section Exercises & Sample Test

1. Answers to Exercises

Skill Objective : Determine whether an Equation Is Function

Q1. a. Function 1.b. C

Q2. Not Function

𝒇(𝒙+𝒉)−𝒇(𝒙)
Skill Objective : Find the difference quotient of function
𝒉

2 2
Q3. a. b.
2+ℎ 𝑥−1

Skill Objective : Find the domain of a function

Q4. a. [−2, −1) ∪ (−1,1) ∪ (1,2] b. [1,4]

c. (1,4] d. (−∞, ∞)

Skill Objective : Operation on Functions

1−𝑥 2 1
Q5. a. b. [2 , 1) ∪ (1,3) ∪ (3, ∞) c. None
𝑥−√2𝑥−1

𝑥 2 −1
Q6. 𝑥+2

2. Answers to Sample Test

1. a. F b. F c. T d. T
1
2. a. [ , 1) ∪ (1, 2] b. (−∞, −2] ∪ (1,2] c. [0, 1]
2
2+ℎ 𝑥−3
3. a. b.
1+ℎ 𝑥−1
1−𝑥 2
4. a . b. (0,1) ∪ (1,2) ∪ (2, ∞) c. None
𝑥+√𝑥

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