Ch.

1 – Functions and Their

Graphs
1.2 – Functions
 Vocab
• Function = A set of ordered pairs that has each input
(x) giving exactly one output (y)
• Ex: Function or not?
X Y X Y X Y
-2 3 5 3 -2 3
0 4 0 4 0 -1
8 32 8 32 8 -2
7 5 5 -6 7 3

Yes No; Yes

One input gives 2 outputs

• In a function, one input can’t give 2 different outputs!

More Vocab
• (x, y) = (input, output)
• f(x) is another way to write an output
• Domain = the set of all inputs (x)
• Range = the set of all outputs (y)
• Ex: For the function f(x) = x – 3 , evaluate the
following:
▫ f(-3) f (3)  (3)  3 6
▫ f(x+1)
f ( x  1)  ( x  1)  3 x2
• Ex: For the function f(x) = 2 – x2 , evaluate the
following:
▫ f(x+1) f ( x  1)  2  ( x  1)2 2  ( x 2  2 x  1)
2  x  2x 1
2
 x2  2 x  1

• Ex: For the function f(x) = x2 + x , evaluate the

following:
▫ f(2x)
f (2 x)  (2 x)  (2 x)
2
4 x2  2 x
• Ex: For the function f(x) = x2 – 2x + 3, evaluate
the following:
▫ f(x+h)

f ( x  h)  ( x  h)  2( x  h)  3
2

 x  2 xh  h  2 x  2h  3
2 2
• Ex: For the function f(x) = 2x2 – 3 , evaluate the
following:
▫ The difference quotient f ( x  h)  f ( x)
h
(2( x  h) 2  3)  (2 x 2  3)
h
(2( x 2  2hx  h 2 )  3)  2 x 2  3
h
2 x 2  4hx  h 2  3  2 x 2  3
h
4hx  h 2
h
4x  h
f(x) = 5x + 6. Find f(x – 3).
1. 5x – 3
2. 5x + 3
3. 5x – 9
4. 5x – 15

3 0% 0% 0% 0%

15
–

–
5x

5x

5x

5x
f(x) = 2x – x2 . Find f(x + 1).
1. -x2 + 1
2. -x2 + 2x + 1
3. -x2 +4x + 3
4. -x2

0% 0% 0% 0%

2
3
+1

-x
x+
x+
2

+4
-x

+2

2
2

-x
-x
• Ex: The function below is a piecewise function.
Find f(0) and f(1). x  3, x  1
f ( x) 
2 x  4, x  1

▫ Since 0<1, use the top function for f(0).

▫ f(0) = -3!

▫ Since 1≥1, use the bottom function for f(1).

▫ f(1) = -2!
More Vocab
• y = x2 means y is a function of x
• Y is not a function of x when a ± is in play
• Ex: Which of these has y as a function of x?
▫ x2 – y = 7
 Solve for y first…
 - y = 7 – x2
 y = x2 – 7 … no ± means YES!
▫ x2 + y2 = 2x
 y2 = 2x – x2
 y =  2 x  x 2 … so NO!
 Finding Domain and Range
• The domain (set of all x’s) is always assumed to be all
real numbers unless some values cannot create
outputs (y’s).
• Ex: Find the domain of the following functions:
▫ y = 2x – 3
 Any x will produce a y, so the domain is xϵℝ (all reals)
▫ y= x
 The square root can’t be negative, so the domain is x≥0
▫ y= 3
2x  4
 The denominator can’t be 0, so 2x – 4 ≠0…
 …x≠2
 Finding Domain and Range
• To find range, graph the function and infer the range
(set of all y’s).
• Ex: Find the domain and range of the function y  x  3
▫ Graph the function first.
▫ For the domain, we know from the equation given that
x ≥ 3. Our graph confirms that.
▫ For the range, the graph shows us
that there are no negative values
for y, and the values will continue
to increase as x increases.
▫ Range: y ≥ 0
 f ( x)  4  x 2

What is the domain?

1. xϵℝ
2. -2≤x≤2
3. x≥0
4. -2<x<2
 x2
f ( x) 
x 3
What is the domain?

1. xϵℝ
2. x ≠ -2
3. x≠3
4. x ≠ -2 and x ≠ 3
 f ( x)  2 x  5
2

What is the range?

1. yϵℝ
2. y≠5
3. y < -5
4. y ≥ -5
Ch. 1 – Functions and Their
Graphs
1.3 – More Functions
Vertical Line Test
• Vertical is up and down!
• Vertical Line Test: If you can draw some vertical line on
a graph and it goes through MORE THAN ONE point,
the graph is NOT a function.
▫ Ex: Are these graphs functions?

YES! YES! NO!

Vocab
• As we read left to right, the function
to the right is…
▫ …decreasing in the red region
 Decreasing for x<-1, so we write (, 1) to
indicate that y decreases over that x interval
▫ …constant in the blue region
 Constant for -1≤x≤2, so we write
(1, 2)
▫ …increasing in the green region
 Increasing for x>2, so we write
(2, )
Vocab
• When a function goes from increasing to
decreasing (or visa versa), it will have a relative
minimum or a relative maximum.

• The graph below has a relative maximum at (-2, 2)

and a relative minimum at (1, -2).

• A graph can have any amount of

relative minima or maxima.
 Functions
• A function is even if it is
symmetric about the y-axis
▫ f(-x) = f(x)

• A function is odd if it is
symmetric about the origin
▫ f(-x) = -f(x)

• A graph symmetric about the x-

axis is…
▫ …not a function!
The function y = 4x2 – 2 is…
1. Even
2. Odd
3. None of the above
4. Not a function

0% 0% 0% 0%

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No
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No
The function y = 1/x is…
1. Even
2. Odd
3. None of the above
4. Not a function

0% 0% 0% 0%

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No
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The function y = x3 – x is…
1. Even
2. Odd
3. None of the above
4. Not a function

Figure it out algebraically – 0% 0% 0% 0%

no graphing!!!

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No
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No