Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

3.3: Properties of Functions

Objectives:
1- Determine Even and Odd functions from a graph.
2- Identify Even and Odd functions from the equation.
3- Find out the intervals where the function is increasing, decreasing or
constant.
4- Use a Graph to locate local max or min.
5- Use a Graph to locate absolute max or a min.
6- Find the average rate of change of a function.
7- Points of discontinuity.

1- Determine Even and Odd Function from a Graph

• If the graph is symmetric about y-axis then the function is even.

• If the graph is symmetric about the origin then the function is odd.
• If the graph is symmetric about x-axis then it is not function.

Example 1: Determine whether each graph is the graph of an even function, an odd
function, or a function that is neither even nor odd. Justify your answer.

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

2- Identify Even and Odd functions from an Equation

Example 2: Determine whether each of the following functions is even, odd, or neither.
Then determine whether the graph is symmetric with respect to the y-axis, or symmetric
with respect to the origin.

a) 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 − 𝟓𝟓 b) 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟑𝟑 − 𝒙𝒙

c) 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) =
𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 d) 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙𝟑𝟑 − 𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐
𝒙𝒙𝟑𝟑 −𝟖𝟖

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

3- Use a Graph to Determine where a Function is Increasing,

Decreasing, or Constant.

Consider the graph. If you look from left to right along the graph of the function, you
will notice that parts of the graph are going up, parts are going down, and parts are
horizontal. In such cases, the function is described as increasing, decreasing or constant,
respectively.

Note:- Intervals of Increase, Decrease and Constant represent x-values only and are given as
U U

open intervals
U U

Example 3: Determine where a Function is Increasing, Decreasing, or Constant from

above graph.

A) Where is the function above increasing?

B) Where is the function above decreasing?

C) Where is the function above constant?

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

4- Use a Graph to Locate the Local Maximum and the Local

Minimum.

Example 4: Finding Local Maxima and Local Minima from the Graph of a Function and
Determining Where the Function Is Increasing, Decreasing, or Constant.

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

5- Use a Graph to Locate the Absolute Maximum and the

Absolute Minimum.

Example 5: For each graph of function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥), find the absolute maximum and the
absolute minimum, if they exist.

(a) Abs. Max. : Abs. Min. :

(b) Abs. Max. : Abs. Min. :
(c) Abs. Max. : Abs. Min. :
(d) Abs. Max. : Abs. Min. :
(e) Abs. Max. : Abs. Min. :
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 Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

6- Find the Average Rate of Change of a Function.

Example 6: Find the average rate of change of 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 3𝑥𝑥 2

(a) From 1 to 3

(b) From -1 to 5

(c) From -4 to -2

Example 7: An object moves according to the equation 𝑑𝑑(𝑡𝑡) = 3𝑡𝑡 2 + 4𝑡𝑡. Find the
average velocity of the object when it moves on time interval [2, 5].

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

7- Points of discontinuity

Definition: Points of discontinuity are moments within a function that are

undefined and appear as a break or hole in a graph.
There are different types of discontinuity:
Example 8: This example just to illustrate the idea.

Example 9: This example just to illustrate infinite discontinuity.

Example 10: Determine at what values of x the graph below is discontinuous

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

Extra Exercises for students from the textbook

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 3

Question: For each graph of function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥), find the absolute maximum and the
absolute minimum, if they exist.

(a) (b)

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