The Language of Relations and Functions

Relations
Objects in mathematics may be related in various ways. A set A may be said to be related to a set B.
For example: A is a subset of B, A and B have at least one common element, or A and B have the same
elements. A number x may also be related to a number y. For example, x < y
A relation is a correspondence between two things or quantities. It is a set of ordered pairs (x, y) where
the x-coordinate is called abscissa and y-coordinate is called ordinate.
The set of all values of x is called the domain while the set of values of y is called the range. A
relation may also be expressed as a statement, arrow diagram, table, equation, set-builder notation and graph.

For example, the relation is given by

R= {(1, 2), (2, 4), (3, 6), (4, 8), (5, 10), …}
The given relation R can be described as follows:
a. By Statement
R is the set of ordered pairs where the second elements is twice of the first elements.

b. By Arrow Diagram
1 2

2 4

3 6

4 8

5 10

.
c. By Table
x 1 2 3 4 5 . . .
y 2 4 6 8 10 . . .

d. By Set-builder Notation
R = {(x, y)|y = 2x, x ∈ N}

e. By a Graph
(5, 10)

(4, 8)

(3,
6)

(2, 4)

(1, 2)

A relation may be formed from two sets A and B.

Cartesian Product
Consider two arbitrary sets M and N. The set of all ordered pairs (m, n) where:
m ∈ 𝑀 and n ∈ N is called the Cartesian Product.
By notation,
M x N = {(m, n)|𝑚 ∈ 𝑀 and n ∈ 𝑁}

Example.
Let M = {a, b, c} and N = {1, 7}. a.) Find M x N and b.) Find N x M.
Solution:
a.) M x N = {(a, 1), (a, 7), (b, 1), (b, 7), (c, 1), (c, 7)}
b.) N x M = {(1, a), (1, b), (1, c), (7, a), (7, b), (7, c)}

Example.
In J={0, 1, 2} and K={1, 2, 3}, can you identify a relation R = {(𝑥, 𝑦) |𝑥 < 𝑦}?
Solution:
Examine the ordered pairs in J x K where the value of the first element is less than the second
element. Hence, we have
R = {(0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 3), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 3)}

Now, we give a formal definition of a relation.

Definition:
Let A and B be sets. A relation from A to B is a subset of AxB. Given an ordered pair (x, y) in AxB,
x is related to y by R, if and only if (x, y) is in R.

To find a relation from A to B, follow these steps:

1st step: Define A x B
2nd step: Examine each ordered pair that satisfies the given relation.

Example.
Find a relation R such that y is twice of x if A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {2, 4, 6}.
Solution: 1st step: Define A x B.
A x B = {(1, 2), (1, 4), (1, 6), (2, 2), (2,4), (2, 6), (3, 2), (3, 4), (3,6)}
nd
2 step: Examine each ordered pair.
R = {(1, 2), (2,4), (3,6)}

Example.
𝑥 −𝑦
Find a relation R such that is an integer if A = {1, 2,} and B = {1, 2, 3}.
2
st
Solution: 1 step: Define A x B
A x B = {(1,1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3)}
nd
2 step: Examine each ordered pair.
R = {(1,1), (1, 3), (2, 2)}
1 −1 0 1 −3 −2
since: (1,1) → = 2 = 0, which is an integer (1,3) → = = −1, which is an integer
2 2 2
2 −2 0
(2,2) → = = 0, which is an integer
2 2
All the other three ordered pairs cannot be part of the relation because the results are not integers. For
1 −2 −1
example, (1, 2) → = which is NOT an integer.
2 2

𝑥+𝑦
TRY!!! 1. Find a relation R such that 2
>1 if A = {0, 1, 2} and B = {0, 1, 2, 3}.
Functions
Function is a special relation in which each element of the domain corresponds to exactly one
element of the range. In simple term, it is a special type of relation wherein no two ordered pairs have the
same abscissa. In other words, “x is faithful to exactly one y”.

Example: Determine the following relation if it is a function or not.

a. {(1, 2), (2, 4), (3, 6), (4, 8)} Function
b. {(0, 2), (2, 1), (3, 7), (5, 10)} Function
c. R = {(1,1), (1, 3), (2, 2)} NOT a Function

Example: In J={0, 1, 2} and K={1, 2, 3}, identify if the relation R = {(𝑥, 𝑦) |𝑥 < 𝑦} is a function or
not.
Solution: The relation where the value of the x is less than the y is given by:
R = {(0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 3), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 3)}
since 0 is repeated in the given relation, then R is NOT a function.

Example: (Mapping)

Vertical Line Test

A graph represents a function if and only if no vertical line intersects the graph in more than
one point.
 We then say that a quantity y is a function of another quantity x if a rule exists such that a unique
value of y is assigned a corresponding value of x. To denote this relationship, we use the functional notation:
y = f(x)
where f indicates that a function exists between variables x and y.
In the equation y = 2x – 3, every value of x gives only one value of y. Then y is a function of x. this
may be written as
f(x) = 2x – 3
The functional notation y = f(x) allows us to denote specific values of a function.

Evaluation of Functions
To evaluate a function is to substitute the specified values of the independent variable in the formula
and simplify.

Example. When f(x) = 2x – 3, find

a. f(0)
c. f(-1)
d. f(5-x)

Solution:
a. f(0) = 2(0) – 3 = 0 – 3 = – 3
c. f(-1) = 2(-1) – 3 = – 2 – 3 = – 5
d. f(5-x) = 2(5 – x) – 3 = 10 – 2x – 3 = – 2x + 7

TRY!!!
Given f(x) = 2x³ –4x² + 5, find the following
a) f(-2) b) f(5) c) f(2x)

Operations on Functions
This deals with the basic operations on functions and their effects on the domain of functions.
Let f and g be two functions:
a. The sum of two functions, f + g, is the function defined by
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
b. The difference of two functions, f - g, is the function defined by
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
c. The product of two functions, f. g, is the function defined by
(𝑓⦁𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)⦁𝑔(𝑥)
d. The quotient of two functions, f /g, is the function defined by
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
( ) (𝑥) =
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)

The domain of the first three new functions: f + g, f – g, and f⦁g is defined as the intersection of the
domains of f and g. The domain of the quotient f/g excludes those numbers that will make the denominator
g(x) zero.

Example. Let f(x) = 5x – 2 and g(x) = x – 1. Find the following:

1. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) 2. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)
 𝑓
3. (𝑓⦁𝑔)(𝑥) 4. (𝑔) (𝑥)
Solution:
1. 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) = (5𝑥 – 2) + (𝑥 – 1) = 5𝑥 – 2 + 𝑥 – 1 = 𝟔𝒙 – 𝟑
2. 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) = (5𝑥 – 2)– (𝑥 – 1) = 5𝑥 – 2 – 𝑥 + 1 = 𝟒𝒙 – 𝟏
3. 𝑓(𝑥)⦁𝑔(𝑥) = (5𝑥 – 2)(𝑥 – 1) = 5𝑥2 – 5𝑥 – 2𝑥 + 2 = 𝟓𝒙𝟐 – 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟐
𝑓(𝑥) 𝟓𝒙 – 𝟐
4. 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝒙–𝟏

Composition of Functions
This pertains to the combinations of two or more functions. The new function is called a composite
function.
Let two functions be f and g. The composition of f with g, denoted by f ∘ g (read as “f of g”), is the
function defined by
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))
where the domain of f ₒ g consists of all numbers x in the domain of g for which g(x) is in the domain
of f.

Example. Let f(x) = 3x + 2 and g(x) = 1 – x.

a. Find (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥)
b. Find (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥)
Solution:
a. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) b. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥))
= f (1 – x) = g(3x + 2)
= 3(1 – x) + 2 = 1 – (3x + 2)
= 3 – 3x + 2 = 1 – 3x – 2
= 5 – 3x = – 3x – 1

TRY!!!
Let f(x) = x – 3, g(x) = 2x + 1 and h(x) = x2 – 5. Find the following:
1. (ℎ + 𝑔)(𝑥) 2. (𝑓 − ℎ)(𝑥)

𝑓
3. (ℎ⦁𝑔)(𝑥) 4. (𝑔) (𝑥)

ℎ
5. (ℎ + 𝑔)(2) 6. (𝑔) (−3)

7. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥) 8. (ℎ ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥)
Domain of a Function
For the function y = f(x), we call the set from which we take values of the independent variable x the
Domain of the function. The set of all possible values of y as x varies over the domain is called the Range of
the function.
When we define functions, we should be aware of two restrictions.
The first restriction concerns rational expressions: we should never divide by zero. The domain of
functions involving rational expressions excludes those values of the independent variable that will make the
denominator zero.
The second restriction involves radical expressions: we never take the square root of a negative
number. Therefore, the domain of this type of function does not include those values of the independent
variable that will make the radicand negative.
Example . Discuss the domain of each function:
a. f(x) = 2x + 1
b. g(x) = x2
3
c. h(x) = 𝑥+4
d. k(x) = √𝑥 + 3

Solution:
a. f(x) = 2x + 1 is a linear function. Its domain is the set of real numbers.
b. g(x) = x2 is a quadratic function. Its domain is the set of real numbers.
3
c. h(x) = 𝑥 + 4 is a rational function. Note that x can not assume a value of x that makes the denominator
equal to zero. The only exemption to the domain of the function is x = − 4 since x + 4 = − 4 + 4 = 0.
d. k(x) = √𝑥 + 3 is a square root function. Note that x cannot assume values of x that make the radicand
less than zero. To find the domain are the values of x that satisfy the quality 𝑥 + 3 ≥ 0 → x ≥ −3.
Hence, the domain is the set {x ≥ −3}.