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Basic Concepts of Functions

General Mathematics (STI College)

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Basic Concepts of Functions

I. Definition of function

A function is a correspondence between two (2) sets of elements such that with each element in the
first set, there corresponds to one and only one element in the second set. The first set is called the
domain and the set of all corresponding elements in the second set is called the range.
Function means that each element in the set A must have corresponding only one element in the
set B. An input must only have one output. However, two (2) inputs can have the same output.

Examples:
For any real number𝒙, the square of 𝒙 is
a. 𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 2𝑥 𝑥 = any real number
a unique real number. When you
Answer: 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥2 + 2𝑥
subtract 4, the
This equation assigns to each domain value
result is again unique. So for any input𝒙,
𝑥 and one (1) range value 𝑦. For example,
there is exactly one (1) output𝒚, and the
If 𝑥 = 4, then 𝑦 = (4)2 + 2(4) = 24
equation defines a function.

c. 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 16
1 1 1 Answer: In this case, it will be helpful to
If 𝑥 = − , then 𝑦 = (− 2 + 2 (− =
) )
3 3 3 solve the equation for the dependent variable.
5
−
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 16
9

There is only one (1) dependent variable to 𝑦2 = 16 − 𝑥2

any independent variable. Hence, 𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑦 = ±√16 − 𝑥2
𝑥2 + 2𝑥 is a function.
For any 𝑥 that provides an output (when 16 −
b. 𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 4
𝑥2 ≥ 0), there are two (2) choices for 𝑦, one
Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4
(1) positive and one (1) negative. The
equation has more than one (1) output for
some inputs, so does not define a function.

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Theorem: Vertical Line Test for a Function

An equation defines a function if each vertical line in a rectangular coordinate system passes
through at most one point on the graph of the equation.
If any vertical line passes through two (2) or more points on the graph of an equation, then the
equation does not define a function.

Piece-wise function
Piece-wise functions are functions that behave differently based on the input (x) value.

II. Evaluating Functions

Example:

• Evaluate 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 when x = 3. • Evaluate 𝑔(𝑡) = 𝑡2 − 3𝑡 + 7 when t = -2.

𝑓(3) = 2 ∙ 3 + 1 = 6 + 1 = 7 𝑔(−2) = (−2)2 − 3(−2) + 7

=4+6+7
= 17

• Find 𝑓(6), 𝑓(𝑎), and 𝑓(6 + 𝑎) for • Find 𝑔(7),𝑔(ℎ) and 𝑔(7 + ℎ) for
15
𝑓(𝑥) = . 𝑔(𝑥) = 16 + 3𝑥 − 𝑥2.
𝑥−3

15 15 𝑔(7) = 16 + 3(7) − (7)2

𝑓(6) = = =5 = 16 + 21 − 49
6−3 3
= −12
15
𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑔(ℎ) = 16 + 3ℎ − ℎ2
𝑎−3
15 15 𝑔(7 + ℎ) = 16 + 3(7 + ℎ)
𝑓(6 + 𝑎) = = − (7 + ℎ)2
(6 + 𝑎) − 3 3−𝑎 = 16 + 21 + 3ℎ
− (49 + 14ℎ + ℎ2)
= 37 + 3ℎ − 49 − 14 − ℎ2
= −12 − 11ℎ − ℎ2
III. Operations on Functions
A. Addition
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be any two (2) functions. Then, (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥).
Example:
𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 5𝑥 + 6 𝑔(𝑥) = ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2
𝑥−3
Evaluate: (𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥)
Solution: (𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 5𝑥 + 6 + 𝑥 − 2
(𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 4
Evaluate: (𝑔 + ℎ)(𝑥)
𝑥
Solution: (𝑔 + ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥) = + (𝑥 − 2)
𝑥−3
𝑥+(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3) 𝑥+(𝑥2−5𝑥+6) 𝑥2−4𝑥+6
(𝑔 + ℎ)(𝑥) = = =
𝑥−3 𝑥−3 𝑥−3

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B. Subtraction
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be any two (2) functions. Then, (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥).
Example:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥2
Evaluate: (ℎ − 𝑓)(𝑥)
Solution: (ℎ − 𝑓)(𝑥) = ℎ(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 2
Evaluate: (𝑔 − 𝑓)(𝑥)
Solution: (𝑔 − 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 − (𝑥 − 2)
(𝑔 − 𝑓)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 5
C. Multiplication
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be any two (2) functions. Then, (𝑓∙𝑔)(𝑥)=𝑓(𝑥)∙𝑔(𝑥).
Example:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥2
Evaluate: (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution:(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)(2𝑥 + 3)
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 2𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 6
Evaluate: (𝑓 ∙ ℎ)(𝑥)
Solution: (𝑓 ∙ ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ ℎ(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)( 𝑥2)
(𝑓 ∙ ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑥3 − 2𝑥2
D. Division
𝑓
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be any two (2) functions. Then, ( ) (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) , where 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0.
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)
Example: 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 − 5𝑥 + 6 𝑔(𝑥) = ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2
𝒇
𝑥−3
Evaluate: ( ) (𝒙)
𝒉
Solution:( 𝑓) (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥2−5𝑥+6
=
ℎ ℎ(𝑥) 𝑥−2
𝑓 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 2)
( ) (𝑥) = =𝑥−3
ℎ (𝑥 − 2)
Evaluate: (𝒉) (𝒙)
𝒇
ℎ ℎ(𝑥) 𝑥−2
Solution:( ) (𝑥) = =
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥2−5𝑥+6
ℎ 𝑥−2 1
( ) (𝑥) = =
𝑓 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 2) 𝑥 − 3
Composition of function
Composition of function is a special operation on functions. It is applying one (1)
function to the result of another. It is like the result of f(x) is sent through g(x).
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be any two (2) functions. Then, (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥)).
Example:
Consider f(x) = 2x + 3 and g(x) = x2.
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥))
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑔(2𝑥 + 3)
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = (2𝑥 + 3)2
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 4𝑥2 + 12𝑥 + 9

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