MATH1031 Mathematics for Life Sciences

Term 3, 2021

Functions

Dr. Joshua Capel

Red Centre Room 5107

Based on the slides provided by Dr. Chi Mak

School of Mathematics and Statistics

University of New South Wales
j.capel@unsw.edu.au

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Functions

This lecture we will review some basic ideas about functions, and look at
some common types of functions:

Uses of functions
Some important definitions
Graphing functions
Piecemeal functions1
Periodic functions

1
more commonly called piecewise functions
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Uses of functions

Usually in science we want to investigate how several variables are related

Examples:
herbivory and population viability
ambient carbon dioxide concentration and temperature
etc . . .
The concept of functions is fundamental to such investigations.

We need to know some basic definitions and properties of functions: so

that we have a language and a skill-set for investigating relationships
between variables!

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Some Important Definitions

A function
y = f (x)
is a relationship between the quantities x and y with the property that for
each value of the independent variable x there corresponds exactly one
value of the dependent variable y .
y
y = f (x)

The function describes the “shape” of the relationship between the

independent and dependent variables.
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Intervals

What values of the variables are you considering? Usually (and for all of
this lecture) we consider real values, R.

If a function is only defined over a specific interval, we indicate this using

the following notation:

1<x <3 or x ∈ (1, 3)

16x 63 or x ∈ [1, 3]
1<x 65 or x ∈ (1, 5]
y >0 or y ∈ [0, ∞)

Note
∞ is never included in the interval.

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Domain

The domain of a function y = f (x) is the set of all x-values for which the
function is defined.
√
Example. Find Domain(f ) where f (x) = 2x − 8.
The square root of a negative number is undefined, so 2x − 8 has to be
non-negative.

We require

2x − 8 > 0
2x >8
x >4

So Domain(f ) = [4, ∞).

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Domain

Example. Find Domain(f ) where

1
f (x) = √ .
2x − 8

The inverse of zero is undefined, so now we have to worry about this as

well as negative signs under the square root.

Hence, x 6= 4 as well.
We require x > 4.
So Domain(f ) = (4, ∞).

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Range

The range of a function y = f (x) is the set of all y -values for which the
function is defined. i.e. the range is the set of all y -values produced when
the whole domain is considered.

In modelling, the interpretation of quantities might impose conditions on

the independent variable. If the domain is not specified, we assume the
largest possible domain (i.e. no extra condition on x).

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Range

Example. Find the domain and range of y = f (x) = x 2 + 3.

A quick plot of the function can often help.

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Range

Example. Consider a function f where

f (x) = x 2 for − 1 < x < 3.

1 Find f (2) if defined.
2 Find f (5) if defined.
3 If Domain(f ) = (−1, 3), find and Range(f ).

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Graphing functions
y y = 4x + 2
Example. Sketch the line y = 4x + 2.
8
The y -intercept, when x = 0, is
y = 2. 6

4
The x-intercept, when y = 0, is
1 2 b
x =− .
2
b
x
−1 1
−2

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Graphing functions
Quadratic functions
A quadratic function has the form y = ax 2 + bx + c.
Example. Sketch y = x 2 − 3x + 2.
The y -intercept, when x = 0, is y
y = x 2 − 3x + 2
y = 2.
As y = (x − 1)(x − 2), the
3
x-intercepts, when y = 0, are
x = 1, 2. b
2
The graph has an axis of symmetry,
and a minimum halfway between the
1
x-intercepts at x = 1.5.
The vertex, at the minimum, is at b b x
b
(1.5, −0.25). −1 1 2 3
−1
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Graphing functions

Absolute Value
y = |x|

y
Axis of Symmetry
2

x
−2 −1 1 2

−1

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Graphing functions

Reciprocal
1
y=
x
y
3
2
1
x
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
−1
−2
−3

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Graphing functions

Circle
x2 + y2 = r2
Technically this is not a function, but a relation – there are two possible
values of y for −r < x < r .

y
r

x
−r r

−r

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Graphing Polynomial functions

Example. Sketch the graph of the polynomial function

f (x) = (x − 1)x 2 (x + 2)3

x-intercepts: f (x) = 0:
x − 1 = 0, we have x = 1, a simple root at 1.
x 2 = 0, we have x = 0, a double root at 0.
(x + 2)3 = 0, we have x = −2, a triple root at −2.

So the function curve must pass through (-2,0), (0,0) and (1,0).

Additionally we can test some points in between, e.g. x = −1:

f (−1) = (−1 − 1)(−1)2 (−1 + 2)3 = −2
to indicate the path of the graph.

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Graphing Polynomial functions
In order to work out way the function “wiggles” through these points we
consider a larger x, say x = 10:
f (10) = (10 − 1)(10)2 (10 + 2)3 = (+ve)(+ve)(+ve) > 0.
Similarly a larger negative x, say x = −10 has
f (−10) = (−10 − 1)(−10)2 (−10 + 2)3 = (-ve)(+ve)(-ve) > 0.
Thus the curve starts above the x-axis and then passes through the roots
of the function, ending above the x-axis:
y

b b b
x
−2 −1 1
b
−2

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Graph Transformations
y Scaling
A function
y = kf (x)
stretches or compresses the function f (x) along the y coordinate.

If k > 1, the graph is stretched vertically.

If 0 < k < 1 the graph is compressed vertically.

If −1 < k < 0 the graph is flipped upside down and compressed

vertically.

If k < −1, the graph is flipped upside down and stretched vertically.

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Graph Transformations – y Scaling
y = kf (x), k>0
y

6
y = 2f (x)
4
y = f (x)
2
y = 12 f (x)
x
−2 −1 1
−2

−4

−6

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Graph Transformations – y Scaling
y = kf (x), k<0
y

6
5
4
3 y = f (x)
2
1
x
y= − 12 f (x) −2 −1 −1 1
−2
y = −f (x)
−3
−4
−5
y = −2f (x) −6

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Graph Transformations

x Scaling
A function
y = f (kx), k>0
stretches or compresses the function f (x) along the x coordinate.

If k > 1, the graph is compressed horizontally.

If 0 < k < 1 the graph is stretched horizontally.

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Graph Transformations – x Scaling
y = f (kx), k>0 y

y =f 1

y = f (x)
2x y = f (2x)

x
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2

−2

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Graph Transformations
x Shifts
A function
y = f (x − a)
shifts the graph of f (x) right by a units.
y
4
y = f (x) y = f (x − 1)
y = f (x + 1)
2

x
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2
−2

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Graph Transformations
y Shifts
A function
y = f (x) + b
shifts the graph of f (x) up by b units. y

y = f (x) + 1 4
y = f (x) 3
2
y = f (x) − 1
1
x
−2 −1 −1 1
−2
−3
−4

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Graphing functions
Exercise
Consider the following sketch of y = f (x):
y

x
−2 4
−3

Sketch:
1 y = −f (x)
2 y = 2f (x)
3 y = f (2x)
4 y = f (x − 1)
5 y = f (x) + 1
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Even and Odd Functions
A function f (x) is said to be even if f (−x) = f (x).
Graphs of even functions are symmetric about the y -axis. For example,
y
f (x)

A function f (x) is said to be odd if f (−x) = −f (x). For example,

Graphs of odd functions are rotationally symmetric about the origin. They
always pass through the origin.
y f (x)

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Even and Odd Functions

Example. For each of the following functions, state, giving reasons,

whether it is odd, even or neither:
1 f (x) = 3x 2 + 2
2 g (x) = x 3 − 4x
3 h(x) = x 3 + 4x 2 − 4x

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Even and Odd Functions

Example.
1 Sketch the function

y = x(x − 1)(x − 2), for 0 6 x 6 3.

2 Sketch an even function that would extend

y = x(x − 1)(x − 2), for 0 6 x 6 3

to the domain −3 6 x 6 3.
3 Sketch an odd function that would extend

y = x(x − 1)(x − 2), for 0 6 x 6 3

to the domain −3 6 x 6 3.

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Piecemeal Functions

These functions are defined separately for different intervals in their

domains.
Example.  2
 x , x >1
f (x) = 2, −1 6 x < 1
x, x < −1


1 Find f (−2), f (−1), f (0), f (1) and f (2)

2 Sketch f

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Periodic Functions

These are functions that repeat. The shortest length of the segment that
repeats is called the period.

Many real world quantities, e.g. sea levels, temperature etc., repeat in a
cyclical manner.

Formally, a function f (x) is called periodic if there is a constant T such

that
f (x) = f (x + T ), for all x.

The graph of f (x) stays the same when it is shifted T units horizontally.
The smallest value of T for which this is true is called the period of the
function.

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Periodic Functions

Example. Consider the periodic function


x + 2, 16x <4
f (x) =
f (x + 3), otherwise
1 Sketch f
2 Find f (13)

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Note
The period of f is 3, but f (x) = f (x + 6), and indeed
f (x) = f (x + 3n), n = ±1, ±2, ±3 . . . are also true.

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Functions

Note!
You do not have to use the variable names x and y , nor the function name
f.

These are just labels. We can call them anything we like and the principle
remains the same:

e.g. p = g (q) = q 3 + 3q 2 + 4

Here g is the function, q is the independent variable and p is the

dependent variable.

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