MODULE NO.

1 – FUNCTIONS

FUNCTIONS

Let’s say that two variables x and y are related so that the value of one variable
determines the value of the other variable. For example, for every value of x there is
a corresponding value of y. So, the value of y depends on the value of x. Then, we
can say that y is the dependent variable while x is the independent variable.

If y is the dependent variable and x is the independent variable, then, “y is the

function of x “ given by the symbol y = f(x).

Maybe y is dependent of two variables say x and z. Then, y is a function of x and z.

Therefore, a function f is a relationship or expression involving one or more
variables.

A function maybe explicit or implicit. Explicit function is a function that is very

clear and stated plainly, while implicit function is a function that is understood but
not described clearly or plainly. Let’s take a look of the following two expressions:

1. y = 4x + 3

2. 3x + y = 22

In expression 1, it is clearly described that y is a function of one variable which is x.

In expression 2, we clearly understood that “3x plus y equals 22” but we do not
know which variable is a function of the other variable.

Therefore, we can say that expression 1 is an example of an explicit function, while,

expression 2 is an example of an implicit function.

However, in expression 2 (i.e. 3x + y = 22), if we are going to solve y in terms of x,

then we need to transpose 3x to the right side of the equal (=) sign leaving only y
to the left side of the equal sign. Then, expression 2 (if we are going to solve for y)
will become y = 22 – 3x which is now an explicit function [y = f(x)]

On the other hand, in expression 2, if we solve x in terms of y, then we can write,

22 – y
x= [now x is a function of y, x = f(y) ]
3

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

GRAPH OF A FUNCTION
A graph is a pictorial representation or a diagram representing data or values. It is a
set of point in the plane that corresponds to the ordered pairs of a relation or
expression.

In the given relation or expression, y = x +1, for every real value of x, there is a
corresponding real value of y. The tabulated numbers below show that given the
value of x, the value of y is calculated using the given relation.

Variable A B C D E F
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y -1 0 1 2 3 4

The table above shows 6 ordered pairs : A(-2, -1), B(-1, 0), C(0, 1), D(1, 2), E(2,
3) and F(3,4). The real values of x (-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3) are the domain, and the real
values of y (-1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) are the range.
The domain of a relation is the complete set of possible values of the independent
variable x which will output real y-values. It is the set of first coordinates of the
ordered pairs and range is the set of second coordinates of the ordered pairs.

Domain : {-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3}

Range : {-1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4}

The graph of the function is illustrated below:

y

F
4

3
E
D
2

1 C
B
x
-4 -3 1 2 3 4
A-2 -1

-2

-3

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

The graph is a straight line

Sample Problem No. 1:

Determine the domain and range of the expression x = y2. Sketch the graph.

Solution:

The expression can be re-written as y = ±√𝑥 . For every value of x, there are 2
values of y. Assuming some values of x, the values of y are determined.

x 0 1 2 3
y 0 ±1 ±1.41 ±1.73

x
-4 -3 -1 1 2 3 4

-2

-3

The graph is a parabola

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Assignment No. 1

a) Determine the domain and range of the set of points at sketch or plot the set
of points.

A = {(-4, -2), (-3, -1), (0, 0), (1, 1), (2, -2), (3, 3), (4, -2), (3, 1)}

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

b) Assume the domain and determine the range of the given relation and sketch
the graph.

2x – 3y = 6
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THE LINEAR FUNCTION

The simplest type of a function is a linear function in which the graph is a line.
We need only 2 ordered pairs to sketch the graph (as we remember that 2 points
determine a line). In mathematics, when a “line” is mentioned, it means a straight
line, otherwise, it is a curve.

Any equation or expression in the form of

y = mx + b

is called a linear function, where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept.

Given a line y = 3x – 2, it is clearly given that the slope m = 3 and the y-intercept
is -2. To sketch the graph, assume values of x and calculate y.

x 0 2
y -2 4

4
y =3x - 2
3

x
-4 -3 -1 1 2 3 4

-2

-3
y-intercept = -2

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

THE QUADRATIC FUNCTION

Any equation in the form

y = ax2 +bx + c (a, b, & c are constants and a ≠ 0)

The quadratic equation is a parabola. The following are examples of the equation:

1. y = 2x2 + 3x + 5
2. y = x2 + 2x - 3
3. y = -x2 - x
4. y = -2x2
5. y = 5x2

To sketch the parabola, assume at least values of x (positive & negative) and solve
for y.

The following are also quadratic equations and the sketch is a parabola:

1. x = 2y2 + 3y + 5
2. x = y2 + 2y - 3
3. x = -y2 - y
4. x = -2y2
5. x = 5y2

The difference between the first set and the second set is the opening of the
parabola.

y y
First Set:

x or x

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

vertex
vertex

Second Set:

y y

vertex vertex

or

THE CUBIC FUNCTION

Any equation in the form

y = ax3 +bx2 + cx + d (a, b, c & d are constants and a ≠ 0)

Sketch the expressions y = x3 and y = 1 – x3

For y = x3 :

x 0 1 -1 2 -2
y 0 1 -1 8 -8

Intercept at (0,0)
1

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

-2 -1 1 2
-1
-2

-8

For y = 1 - x3 :

x 0 1 -1 2 -2
y 1 0 2 -7 7

y-intercept = 1
1

-2 -1 1 2
-1
x-intercept = 1
-2

-7

Points of interception: (0,1) and (1,0)

THE RATIONAL FUNCTION

Any function defined by

p(x)
f(x) = , q(x) ≠ 0
q(x)

A rational function has a graph with one or more breaks.

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

===================================================
Assignment No. 2

1. Sketch the graph of the following and determine the point of interception.

a) f(x) = 3x – 1
b) f(x) = x2 – 2
c) f(x) = x3 + 2

===================================================
APPLICATION OF FUNCTIONS:

In this section, we will use functional notations to represent and solve some
problems.

Sample Problem No. 2:

The sum of two positive numbers is 100. Let one of the numbers be x and express
the product P of the two numbers as a function of x.

Solution:

Let x = the first number

100 – x = the second number
P = the product of the two numbers in terms of x

Therefore,
P = (first number)(second number)
= (x)(100-x)
P = 100x – x2

Sample Problem No. 3:

A rectangle has a perimeter of 10 meters. Express the area A of the rectangle as a

function of the width x.

Solution:

Perimeter = 10 meters
A = area as a function of x

DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS

 MODULE NO. 1 – FUNCTIONS

The figure is

Width x

Length y

Perimeter = 2x + 2y
A = xy
The perimeter = 10, then
10 = 2x + 2y
2y = 10 – 2x
y=5-x
Therefore for A,
A = x(5-x)

===================================================

Assignment No. 3:

a) The area A of a circle is the product of the square of the radius r and pi (A =
πr2), while the circumference C is the product of pi and twice the radius r (C
= 2πr). Express the area A as function of its circumference C.

b) The product of two numbers is 50. Assume one number is x. Express the sum
of the two numbers in terms of x.

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DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ENGR. R.G. BRASOS