MCR3U

UNIT #3 : FUNCTIONS

SECTION PAGE NUMBERS HOMEWORK

1.1 p. 12 – 15 #1, 2, 3ace, 4ac, 5, 6, 9, 11, 14, 16ab, 17, 18
1.2 p. 22 – 24 #1acef, 2ace (Don’t graph), 3ac, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10ac,
13ab, 15, 16acd
Base Know how to graph the base functions and know their
Functions properties
2.7 p. 138 – 140 #1ac, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6ad, 7, 9bcd, 11, 12
2.7 p. 140 – 141 #15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22a (i, ii)
Review p. 70 #1, 2, 3, 4
p. 72 #1ab, 3, 4, 6 (Show your work for the multiple
choice), 8, 10
p. 143 #15abc, 16
p. 144 #5, 7, 12
Go over the 2nd half of the 2.7 homework
Know how to graph the base functions and know their
properties
 1.1 FUNCTIONS, DOMAIN AND RANGE

• A relation is an identified pattern between two variables that may be represented as ordered
pairs, a table of values, a graph and equation.

• A function is a relation in which each value of the independent variable (x-value) corresponds to
exactly one value of the dependent variable (y- value). Each x-value must produce only one y-
value.

Example:

Determine whether the following sets of ordered pairs are functions. Explain your answer.

a) {(1, -2), (2, -4), (3, -6), (4, -8)} b) {(2, -2), (3, -4), (2, -5), (-1, -7)}

c) {(-2, -3), (2, -3), (4, -1), (-4, -1)}

• Equation Test for a Function:

→ If a value of x can be found that produces more than one value of y, the equation does not
represent a function.

Example: Determine if the following equations represent a function.

a) y = -2x + 5 b) y = x2 c) y2 = x
• Vertical Line Test :

When a graph is given, visualize a vertical line moving across the graph.
If every vertical line intersects the relation in ONLY one point, the relation is a function.

Example: Determine if the following graphs represent a function.

* Domain and Range

The domain of a function is the set of all first coordinates (x-values) of the relation.

The range of a function is the set of all second coordinates (y-values) of the function.

range

domain

Examples :

1. Given the following relations, state the domain and range of each function.

a) y = x−4 b)
y
y 6
6

5
5

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1
x
x
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
−1
−1

−2
−2

−3
−3

−4
−4

−5
−5

−6
−6
 2
c) y =− x+4 d) {(1, 2), (3, 4), (4, 6), (7, 10)}
3
y y
6

10
5

8
3

2
6

−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4

−1

−2 2

−3

x
−4
−6 −4 −2 2 4 6 8

−5

−2
−6

1
e) y= ( x + 2 )2 − 3 f) x2 + y2 = 16
2
y y
6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1
1

x
x

−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

−1
−1

−2
−2

−3
−3

−4
−4

−5
−5

−6
−6

1
g) y=
x+2
y
4

−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5

−1

−2

−3

−4
2. Given the equations of the following functions, state their domain and range.

a) y = x – 5 b) y = x2 + 7 c) y = -2(x + 4)2 + 3

1
d) 2x – y = 3 e) y = 0.5x2 – 1 f) y =
x −3

g) y= x h) y = x +1 i) y = 2x − 3

3. Determine the range of each relation for the domain of {1, 2, 3, 4}

1
a) y = 2(x + 1)2 - 2 b) y =
x+4
 1.2 FUNCTIONS AND FUNCTION NOTATION

• To represent functions, we use notations such as f(x) and g(x).

ex. Linear function : y = 2x + 1

In function notation : f(x) = 2x + 1

• The notation f(x) is read “f of x” or “f at x”. It means that the expression that follows
contains x as a variable.
• The symbol f(x) represents the dependent variable (y-value). It indicates that the function f is
expressed in terms of the independent variable, x.

For example: f(3) means substitute 3 for every x in the expression and solve for y, or f(3).
ex. Quadratic function : f(x) = x2 – 4x + 7
f(3) = (3)2 – 4(3) + 7
= 9 – 12 + 7
=4
∴ when x = 3, y = 4 or ∴ f(3) = 4

Examples :

1. Given f(x) = x2 – 5, determine each value.

 − 1
a) f(2) b) f  
 2 

x
2. Given the function g(x) = , evaluate each expression.
x+2
1
a) g(4) b) g  
4

3. For the graph of y = f(x) below,

a) determine f(0) and f(-3)
b) determine x when f(x) = -2
 4. Determine the equation of the linear function f(x) = mx + 5 if f(8) = 1.

Functions as Mappings

* Mapping Diagrams
A graphical representation that relates the values in the domain to the values in the range using
directed arrows from domain to range.
In a mapping diagram, a relation is a function if there is exactly one arrow leading from each
element in the domain.

For example: The following is a mapping diagram that represents a FUNCTION.

x y

-3 -10
-2 -7
-1 -4
0 -1
1 2
2 5

The ordered pairs that correspond with this mapping diagram are:
{(-3, -10), (-2, -7), (-1, -4), (0, -1), (1, 2), (2, 5)}

Example:

1. Use the mapping diagrams below to write the set of ordered pairs. Determine whether the
following mapping diagram represents a function. EXPLAIN.

a) x y b) x y
0 -5
-1 1 -2
2 0 2 -4
2 4 -5
5 7 3
8 8 10
 2. Show each set of data in a mapping diagram. Then state whether each relation is a function.
Justify your answer.

a) {(1, -2), (2, 1), (3, 4), (4, 7), (5, 10)} b) {(5, 5), (3, 5), (1, 5), (-1, 5), (-3, 5), (-5, 5)}

* Mapping Notation

Mapping diagrams are useful for situations in which the relation is given in ordered pairs, they
are however impractical when functions are written in function notation. Mapping notation
sometimes replaces function notation.

For example:

Function notation Mapping Notation

f(x) = 2x + 1 f : x → 2x + 1 {reads “f” is a function that maps x to 2x + 1|

Examples : Write the following in mapping notation.

a) f(x) = 3x2 -2x + 1 b) h(t) = -4.9t2 + 7

 SOME BASIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR GRAPHS

1) LINEAR Function : y=x

Table of Values : Graph :

x y
-3 -3
-2 -2
-1 -1
0 0
1 1
2 2
3 3

Shape of graph : Line

Properties :

S slope = 1 y-intercept = 0
Do Domain : {x∈ ℜ } Range : {y∈ ℜ }

2) QUADRATIC Function : y = x2

Table of Values : Graph :

x y
-3 9
-2 4
-1 1
0 0
1 1
2 4
3 9

Shape of graph : Parabola → a “u”-shaped curve

Properties :

S Vertex : (0, 0) Direction of opening : up

Do Domain : {x∈ ℜ } Range : {y∈ ℜ , y ≥ 0}
3) ROOT Function : y= x

Table of Values : Graph :

x y

Shape of graph :

Properties :

Vertex :

Domain :

Range :
4) ABSOLUTE VALUE Function : y= x

Table of Values : Graph :

x y

Shape of graph :

Properties :

Vertex :

Domain :

Range :
 1
5) RATIONAL Function : y= ,x ≠ 0
x

Table of Values : Graph :

x y

Shape of graph :

* Asymptote : A line that a curve approaches but never touches.

Properties :

Domain :

Range :

Equation of Asymptotes :
Horizontal Vertical
 2.7 THE INVERSE OF A FUNCTION

• The inverse of a function f is denoted by f-1.

• The inverse of a function is the rule obtained by reversing, or interchanging, the input numbers
(x-values) with the output numbers (y-values). Therefore it has the property that if f(a) = b,
then f-1 (b) = a

Finding the inverse of a function :

→ Given a set of ordered pairs/table of values.

Switch the x and y coordinates.

Example : The table below shows a set of ordered pairs belonging to a function f(x). Determine
the table of values for f-1(x).

f(x) f-1(x)

x y x y
-2 -3
-1 -1
0 1
1 3
2 5

→ Given the graph.

Switch the x and y values in each ordered pair.
The graph of the inverse function, f-1(x), is a mirror image (reflection) of the original
function, f(x), in the line y = x.
y

Example : Given the graph of f(x) = 2x + 1, graph 10

the inverse function, f-1(x), and the line y = x.

9

1
x

−11 −10 −9 −8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

−7

−8

−9

−10
→ Given the equation.

Using words : Reverse the order of operations being done to the original function.

Example : Write the inverse equation for the function f(x) = 2x + 1.

Algebraically :
1) Switch the x and the y. (Remember that f(x) = y)
2) Solve the equation for y.
3) Replace the y with f-1(x), if the inverse is also a function.

Example : Write the inverse equation for the function f(x) = 2x + 1.

Examples : Given the following functions:

(i) Determine the equation of its inverse f-1(x).
(ii) Make a table of values for the function and its inverse.
(iii) Graph both functions and the line y = x on the same grid.
(iv) State whether or not the inverse is also a function.
y

a) f(x) = 3x – 4 6

−7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6
b) f(x) = 2(x + 4)2 – 3 y

−7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

c) f(x) = -x2 + 4x + 1

−7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6
* Since the x and y values are reversed for the inverse function, then the:

Domain of the original = Range of the Inverse, and

Range of the original = Domain of the Inverse.
Example : For each of the following functions,
(i) Determine the inverse equation. Use proper function notation.
(ii) State the domain and range for both the original function and its inverse.
(iii) Which inverse equation is not a function, and why?

1
a) f ( x) =
x−2
 1
b) g ( x) = +3
x

c) h( x) = x − 1 + 2

d) f ( x) = 3 x + 4
 g ( x ) = ( x + 3) + 8
2
e)
• Sometimes, the inverse of a function is not a function. For example, the inverse of a quadratic
function is a sideways parabola, which is not a function. If we restrict the domain of the
original function so that it is only half a parabola, then the inverse would be half a sideways
parabola, which is a function.

To restrict the domain of a quadratic function:

1) Determine the axis of symmetry.
2) Set x ≥ axis of symmetry to graph the right half of the parabola, or
set x ≤ axis of symmetry to graph the left half of the parabola.

Example : Given the following functions,

(i) State the axis of symmetry.
(ii) State two ways to restrict the domain so that the inverse is also a function.

a) f(x) = x2 b) g(x) = (x – 3)2 + 4 c) h(x) = -2(x + 5)2 + 1

Example : Given the function f(x) = (x + 3)2 – 2,

a) Restrict the domain in two ways so that the inverse is also a function.
b) Determine the inverse equation.
c) Make a table of values for one of the restricted functions.
d) Graph the original restricted function, its inverse function, and the line y = x.
e) State the domain and range of the original restricted function and its inverse function.
 y
10

1
x

−11 −10 −9 −8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

−7

−8

−9

−10