FUNCTIONS

The table below shows the comparison of relations and functions.

RELATIONS FUNCTIONS
 A relation is a rule that relates values  A function is a relation where each
from a set of values called the domain to element in the domain is related to only
a second set of values called the range. one value in the range by some rule.
 The elements of the domain can be  The elements of the domain can be
imagines as input to a machine that imagined as input to a machine that
applies rule to these inputs to generate applies a rule so that each input
one or more outputs. corresponds to only one output.
 A relation is also a set of ordered pairs (x,  It is a well-defined relation where no two
y). pairs have the same first element.
 It is typically denoted as f(x).

* Functions can be represented using mapping diagram, table of values, ordered pairs, equation and
graph.

Examples:
Below are examples of a relation. Below are examples of a function.
a. ( 1 ,−4 ) , ¿ (−4,1 ) , ( 2,3 ) ,(2,5) a. b.
b.

VERTICAL LINE TEST

• The vertical line test for a function states that if each vertical line intersects a graph in the x-y plane at
exactly one point, then the graph illustrates a function.

EXAMPLE:
Given the graph below, perform a vertical line test and see whether it intersects the graph at only one
point.

The vertical line passes the graph at only one point, therefore the graph is a function.
DOMAIN AND RANGE OF A FUNCTION
Domain D of a Function
 It is the set of all x-coordinates in the set of ordered pairs.
 It is the independent variable in the function.

Example:
Identify the domain for the following relations.
1. ( 2,5 ) , ( 3 ,−6 ) , ( 4 ,−9 ) ,(−9,3)
2.
X 5 -1 0 -6 7
y 2 1 3 5 8

3. x y

66 1
-1 17
8 3
-5

Solution:
The domains for the relations above are as follows:
1. D={2,3,4 ,−9 }
2. D={5,-1,0,-6,7}
3. D={6 ,−1,8 ,−5 }

Range R of a Function
 It is the set of all y-coordinates in the set of ordered pairs.
 It is the dependent variable in the function.

Example:
From the given example above, identify the range.
Solution:
The ranges for the relations above are as follows.
1. R={5,6 ,−9,3 }
2. R={2,1,3,5,8 }
3. R={1.7,3 }

Piece-wise Functions
• These are functions which are defined in defined in different domains since they are determined by
several equations.

EVALUATING FUNCTIONS
Evaluating Functions
• It is the process of determining the value of the function at the number assigned to a given variable.
 It means replacing the variable in the function, in this case, x, with a value from the function’s
domain. To denote that we are evaluating f at a for the same a in the domain of f , we write f (a).

Example 1:
Evaluate: h ( 3 )
1. h ( x )=x 2+ 2 x +1
2. h ( x )=√ x−1

Solution:
Substituting 3 for x in the functions above, we have,
1. h ( 3 )=(3)2+ 2 ( 3 )+1=16
2. h ( 3 )= √ 3+1=√ 4=± 2

Example 2:
Given following functions:
1. f ( x )=2 x +4 , find f (x+ 5)
2
2. g ( x )=x +2 x +1, find g(2 x+ 1)

Solution:
To evaluate f (x+ 5) , replace all the x in f ( x )=2 x +4 by x +5.
f ( x +5 ) =2 ( x +5 ) + 4=2 x +10+4=2 x +14

To evaluate g(2 x+ 1), replace all the x in g ( x )=x 2+2 x +1by 2 x+1.
g ( 2 x +1 )=(2 x+1)2+ 2 ( 2 x+ 1 )+1=( 4 x ¿¿ 2+ 4 x +1)+ 4 x +2+1=4 x 2+ 8 x + 4 ¿

OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS
If f and g are functions then;
Sum:
 ( f + g )( x )=f ( x )+ g ( x )
Difference:
 ( f −g ) ( x )=f ( x )−g(x ), Don’t forget to distribute the minus ( - ) sign to each term in the subtrahend
(g(x)).
Product:
 ( f ∙ g ) ( x ) =f (x )∙ g(x )
Quotient:

 ( fg ) ( x )= gf (x)
( x)
, where g( x )≠ 0

Example:
Determine the following functions:
Let f ( x )=x 2−4 x +3 and g ( x )=x−1.Perform the operations.
a. ( f + g )( x )
b. ( f −g ) ( x )
c. ( f ∙ g ) ( x )

d. ( fg ) ( x )
Solution:
a. ( f + g )( x )=( x2 −4 x +3 ) +¿ ( x−1 ¿=x 2−3 x +2
b. ( f −g ) ( x )=( x 2−4 x+3 )−¿ ( x−1 ¿=x 2−4 x +3−x +1=x 2−5 x +4
c. ( f ∙ g ) ( x ) =( x 2−4 x +3 ) ( x−1 ¿=x 3−4 x 2 +3 x−x2 + 4 x−3=x3 −5 x2 +7 x−3
f ( ) x 2−4 x +3 (x−3)( x−1)
d. ()g
x=
x−1
=
x−1
=x−3

COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS
Let f and g be functions. The composite function, denoted by f ∘ g ,is defined by
f ∘ g=f ( g ( x ))
The process of obtaining a composite function is called function composition.

Example 1:
Let( f )( x )=x−3 and g ( x )=x 2+ 9. Find
 ( f ∘ g)( x)
 ( g ∘ f )(−4)

Solution:
( f ∘ g )( x )=f ( g ( x ) ) =(x ¿¿ 2+9)−3=x 2+ 6 ¿
( g ∘ f )(−4 )=g ( f ( x ) )=( x−3)2+ 9=(x ¿¿ 2−6 x+ 9)+ 9=x 2−6 x +18=(−4 )2−6 (−4)+18=58 ¿

Example 2:
 Determine whether ( f ∘ g)(x) and ( g ∘ f )( x) are the same with each other.
f ( x )=x 3−1 g ( x )=√3 x+1
Solution:
f ( g ( x ) )=f ( √3 x +1) g ( f ( x ) )=g ( x3 −1)
3 3
3
f ( g ( x ) )=( √ x +1 ) −1 g ( f ( x ) )= √ x 3−1+1
3
f ( g ( x ) )=x +1−1 g ( f ( x ) )= √ x 3
f ( g ( x ) )=x g ( f ( x ) )=x
3
Since f (g ( x ) )=g ( f ( x ) ) =x, then f ( x )=x 3−1 and g ( x )=√ x+1 are the same.
 RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

Rational Expression

An expression that can be written as a ratio of two polynomials.

A rational expression can be described as a function where either the numerator, denominator or both
have a variable/s on it.

Rational Function, Equation and Inequality

Systematic Technique in Solving Rational Equations

1. Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of equation by the Least Common
Denominator (LCD).
2. Note that eliminating denominators may introduce extraneous solutions. Check the solution of
the transformed equations with the original equation.

Example 1:
1 3
Solve the equation: + =5.
x 2x
Solution: To find the LCD, you can list down the factors of the denominators:
Factors
x=x
2 x=2∙ x
LCD: 2 ∙ x=2 x

1 3
[ + =5 2 x
x 2x ] Multiply the whole equation by the LCD.

2+3=10 x Simplify

5=10 x Solve for x.

1
x=
2
Check:

1 3
+ =5
1 1
2
2 ()
2
2+3=5
✓
5=5

Example 2:
x 1 2
Solve the equation: + = .
x−1 x+ 1 x 2−1

Solution:
Factor first the denominator, then find the LCD.
x 1 2
+ =
x−1 x+ 1 (x−1)( x +1)

Factors
x−1=x −1
x +1=x +1
( x−1 ) ( x+1 ) =(x−1)( x +1)
LCD: ¿( x −1)(x +1)

x 1 2
[ + =
x−1 x +1 (x−1)( x +1) ]
(x−1)(x +1) Multiply the whole equation by the LCD.

x ( x +1 ) +1( x−1)=¿ 2 Apply distributive property.

x 2+ x+ x−1=2 Simplify
x 2+ 2 x−1−2=0 Combine like terms and transpose 2 to the left side
x 2+ 2 x−3=0 Factor.
( x +3 ) ( x −1 )=0
x +3=0 x−1=0 Equate each factor to zero. Then solve for x.
x=−3 x=1
Check: Check:
If x = -3 Check if x = 1 and
−3 1 2 1 1 2
+ = + = 2
−3−1 (−3)+1 (−3)2−1 1−1 1+1 1 −1
−3 1 2 1 1 2
+ = + =
−4 −2 9−1 0 2 0

A zero in denominator makes the

equation undefined.
 
Thus x = 1 is an extraneous solution.
 3 1 2
− =
4 2 8
3−2 1
=
4 4
✓
1 1
=
4 4
Rational Inequalities
To solve rational inequalities:
P( x )
1. Write in the form <0
Q(x)
or ¿ , ≤ ,≥ .
Factor the numerator and denominator if possible.
2. Determine the zeroes by solving P(x )=0 and Q( x)=0
3. Plot the zeroes on a number line and test points.
Note: Use for the value of the numerator if the inequality symbol is ≤∨≥ . Use for the value
the numerator if the inequality symbol is ¿∨¿.
Use for all the values of the denominator regardless of the inequality symbol.
4. Write your answer using interval notations or set notations.