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Calculus +1 1+Review+of+Functions

Calculus not's

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31 views

Calculus +1 1+Review+of+Functions

Calculus not's

Uploaded by

mosimiloluuwa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Section 1.

1 Review of Functions

A function is a rule that assigns each input value to exactly one output value. The set of input
values is called the domain of the function, and the set of output values is called the range of
the function.

We will often use the letter x to denote the independent variable, in which we substitute input
values from the domain. We use y to denote the dependent variable, which gives us the
corresponding output values from the range. Using function notation, we write y = f (x).

Example: Find the domain and range for the function f (x) = 4 − 2x + 5.

A function y = f (x) can be represented as a formula, a table of values, and a graph. For
example, the function that takes input values and squares them can be represented using the
formula f (x) = x 2 or as y = x 2. Let’s make a table of values to produce a graph for this
function.
It’s important to understand that not all formulas and equations represent functions. Remember
that an equation is a function if each input value from the domain is assigned to exactly one
output value in the range. In the example we just did, each input value corresponded to exactly
one output value. An example of an equation that isn’t a function is y = ± x . This is because
each input value from the domain [0,∞) will produce two output values. For example, when
x=4, there are two y-values: y = 2 and y =-2. Therefore, to make the equation a function, we
would need to choose the output values to either be all positive or all negative.

If we consider graphs of equations, a graph represents a function if it passes a rule called the
Vertical Line Test.

Vertical Line Test


Given a function y = f (x), every vertical line that may be drawn intersects the graph no more
than once. If any vertical line intersects a graph more than once, then the graph does not
represent a function.

y = x2 y =± x

Finding Zeros and y-Intercepts of a Function


To help us graph a function when we are given a formula, it is helpful to nd where the graph
intersects the x-axis (i.e. the zeros) and the y-axis (i.e. the y-intercept).

Example: Graph the function y = x + 1 − 1 by nding the zeros and y-intercept.


fi
fi
Example: Find the zeros of f (x) = x 3 − 5x 2 + 6x.

Combining Functions.

By combining functions f and g using operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division, we can create new functions. We can also create new functions using an operation
called function composition.

Example: For the functions f (x) = 2 − 5x and g(x) = x , create the following new functions
and state their domain:

(A) ( f + g)(x)

( f )(x)
g
(B)

(C) ( f ∘ g)(x)

(D) (g ∘ f )(x)
Symmetry of Functions.

Another useful feature for understanding functions and their graphs is called symmetry.

If f (x) = f (−x) for all x in the domain, then the function is called even. An even function is symmetric about the y-axis .
If f (−x) = − f (x) for all x in the domain, then the function is called odd. An odd function is symmetric about the origin .

Example: The function f (x) = x 2 is even. The function f (x) = x 3 is odd.

Example: Determine whether f (x) = 4x 3 − 5x is even, odd, or neither.

Absolute Value Function.

The absolute value function is an even symmetric function that you’ll see often in calculus. The
absolute value function f (x) = | x | , is de ned, piecewise, as:
fi
This function’s graph is:

This function’s domain is:

This function’s range is:

Example: Find the domain and range for the function f (x) = | x + 2 | − 4.

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