Chapter 2

functions of a
real variable
 Section I

Function of real variable

Function of real variable
Inverse of a function
Example
Properties of function :
monotonicity
Monotonicity
Bounded function
Examples
Symmetric and antisymmetric function
Examples
Examples
Convex function
Illustration of convex function
Elementary types of functions
Illustration case n=1
 Quadratic Functions (case n=2)

If a, b, c are real numbers with a not equal

to zero, then the function
f ( x )  ax  bx  c
2

is a quadratic function and its graph is a

parabola.
For f ( x )  a ( x  h) 2  k
• If a  0, then the graph of f is a parabola.
– If a > 0, the graph opens upward.
– If a < 0, the graph opens downward. Vertex is (h , k)
• Axis of symmetry: x = h
• f (h) = k is the minimum if a > 0, otherwise the maximum
• Domain = set of all real numbers
• Range:  y y  k  if a < 0. If a > 0, the range is  y y  k
 The general form The vertex form

f ( x )  ax  bx  c
2
f ( x )  a ( x  h)  k 2

The vertex The vertex

Axis of symmetry:
Axis of symmetry: x=h
 Example

Consider
f ( x)  3x 2  6 x  1

Complete the square to find the vertex.

• Solution:
 Factor the coefficient of x2 out of the first two terms:
• f (x) = –3(x2 – 2x) –1
Add 1 to complete the square inside the parentheses. Because of
the –3 outside the parentheses, we have actually added –3, so we
must add +3 to the outside.
f (x) = –3(x2 – 2x +1) –1+3
f (x) = –3(x – 1)2 + 2

• The vertex is (1, 2)

The quadratic function opens down since the
coefficient of the x2 term is –3, which is negative.
 Polynomials
Polynomial Function
A polynomial function of degree n in the variable x is a
function defined by
n 1
P( x)  an x  an1 x
n
   a1 x  a0
where each ai is real, an  0, and n is a whole number.

• an is called the leading coefficient

• n is the degree of the polynomial
• a0 is called the constant term
Properties of a polynomial
 Root of a polynomial P
n

Exemple
Horner’s scheme
Example 1
Theorem
Example
Rational function
Example
Remark
Example
Power function and it’s inverse
Example
Exponential function
 Basic Properties of the Graph of
f (x)  b , b  0, b  1
x

• All graphs will pass through (0,1) (y intercept)

• All graphs are continuous curves, with no holes of jumps.
• The x axis is a horizontal asymptote.
• If b > 1, then bx increases as x increases.
• If 0 < b < 1, then bx decreases as x increases.
Exponential Graph Logarithmic Graph

Graphs of
inverse
functions are
reflected about
the line y = x
 Logarithmic-Exponential Conversions

Study the examples below. You should be able to convert a

logarithmic into an exponential expression and vice versa.
1.
log 4 (16)  x  4  16  x  2
x

2. 1 1 3
log 3 ( )  log 3 ( 3 )  log 3 (3 )  3
27 3
3.
125  5  log5  125  3
3

1
4. 1
81  9  81  9  log 81  9  
2
2
 Solving Logarithmic Equations
Solve for x:
   
log 4 x  6  log 4 x  6  3
 Solving Logarithmic Equations
Solve for x:
log 4 ( x  6)  log 4 ( x  6)  3 
Product rule
log 4 ( x  6)( x  6)  3 
Special product
log 4  x  36   3 
2
Definition of log
43  x 2  36 
64  x 2  36 
100  x 2 
10  x 
x  10
Domain and range for some elementry
function