Module 3 Characteristics of Functions

Objectives:
1. Identify a function as a relation, graph, and equation.
2. Evaluate function values
3. Recognize a one-to-one function
4. Apply and interpret function representations in application problems
Why do we study functions?

In real life, many times we want to examine the relationship between quantities. Functions are used to model
situations where the relationships can be governed by a rule that allows us to determine the output based on the
input and make prediction. They are used in almost every field. To name a few, engineers use functions to
determine and compare their designs; biologists use functions to make mathematical models for populations of
organisms and development of diseases; economists use functions to predict demand and supply.

Vocabulary:
• A relation is a set of ordered pairs.
• The set of the first components, (which is called “inputs”) of each ordered pair is
called the domain of the relation, and the set of the second components (which is
called “outputs”) of each ordered pair is called the range of the relation.

Example 1: Consider the relations A = {(1, 10), (2, 20), (3, 30), (4, 40), (5, 50)} and
B = {(2, 10), (2, 20), (1, 6), (1.5, 10), (0.5, 5)}
a) Find the domain and range.

b) Rewrite each relation in the form of a table.

(1) Functions
Definition: A function is a special relation. A function is a relation in which each input
value leads to exactly one output value. [EIEOO]

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Example 2: Determine whether each relation is a function.
a) {(3, 12), (4, 20), (5, 48), (3, 40), (6, 25)}

b) {(10, 120), (20, 200), (30, 120), (40, 240)}

c)

Practice 1: Find the domain and range of the relations and determine whether each relation is a function.
a. {(3, 4), (5, 6), (7, 3), (9, 4)}

b. {(2, 5), (3, 7), (4, 5), (2, 8)}

Characteristics of a Function
Definition of a function: “E-I-E-O-O” Notation: 1(2) read as "1 of 2"
The value 2 must be put into the function 1 to
A function is a ______________ that assigns to Each get a result.
Input value Exactly _________Output value.
y = f(x) where:
x is the input of the function f
y or f(x) is the output of the function f.

Key property of the graph of a function Ways of representing a function:

The Vertical Line Test: The VLT can be used to -Use a function notation
determine whether a graph represents a function. If we -Use a table
can draw any vertical line that intersects a graph more -Use a graph
than once, then the graph does not define a function
because a function has only one output for each input
value.
Tip: to be a function, the graph intersects each vertical
line at only one point.

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Example 3: Use function notation to present given information:

Let !(#) represent the population (in thousands) in a region # years since year 2000.
Use function notation to represent that the population is 120,000 in year 2018.

(2) Evaluate and Solve Functions

Evaluating functions: • Input is %

Ø What to do: Find !(#) • Plug % in the function &
• The result is the function value
Solving functions: • Output is %
Ø What to do: Find ' so that • Set the function equal to % and solve the equation
!(') = # • The result is the unknown input

Example 4: Let &()) = −2) + 5. Find the following:

a) Find &(−2) =

b) Find &(% + ℎ) =

c) Find ) so that &()) = −2

(3) One-to-One Function

What is a one-to-one Features of a one-to-one Why are they important?

function? function
Ø % ≠ 1 ⟹ f(a) ≠ &(1) Understand 1-1 function
A one-to-one function is Ø Graphical features: past the will help to:
a function in which every
output value corresponds Horizontal Line Test. -Understand the concept of
to exactly one input. No The HLT can be used to determine inverse functions
two input values can be whether a graph represents a 1-1 -Solve certain types of
paired with the same function. If we can draw any equations
output value. horizontal line that intersects a graph
more than once, then the graph does
not define a 1-1 function because in
a 1-1 function, each output value
corresponds to exactly one input.

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Example 5: Consider the following relations. Is each a function? Is each a one-to-one function?
a) b)
# 3 5 8 # 3 5 8
' 16 26 16 ' 10 26 16

Practice 2: Determine if the relation represented in each table represents ! as a function of "?
a) b)
# 5 10 13 # 3 8 14
' 3 8 14 ' 5 10 10

Practice 3: Use the function # represent in the table.

a. Evaluate #(3).

b. Solve #(") = 1

Example 6: The graph of !(#) is given on the right.

a) Is !(#) a one-to-one function? Why or why not?

b) Find !(0)

c) Find # such that !(#) = 0

Practice 3:
The graph of ' = !(#) is given below.
a. Find !(0).

b. Find !(−2).

c. At what #-values of x is !(#) = 0?

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 4) Expressing a function from a given equation: Tip: Solve for y then answer as y= ….(Write
the result you just found)

Example 7: Express each equation as a function ! = #(%) if it is possible.

a) % + ! = 1 b) % ! + ! ! = 1 c) % " + ! " = 1

Practice Problems:

1) Which of the graphs represents a function ?

a)
.
b)

2) The Function #(%) is represented below as a graph. Use #(%) to answer the following questions.

a) Evaluate #(1):

b) For what value(s) of % does #(%) = 1?

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3) Determine if the given graph is a one-to-one function.
1.

4) Given the function !(#) = √−9 − #

a) Find !(−34)

b) If !(#) = 7, then find #.

5) Use the function ! represent in the table.

b. Evaluate !(3).

c. Solve !(#) = 1

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 !#$%
6) Given function !(#) = &#'", evaluate !(−').

Ex7: Consider !(#) = −5# ! + 2# − 1. Evaluate :

!(2) =

!(?) =

!(? + h) =

((*'+)$((*)
+
=

8) Express each equation as a function A = !(#) if it is possible.

a) # + A = 1

b) # ! + A ! = 1

c) # " + A " = 1

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 #
9) Let !(#) = 2 − # ! ; ((#) = 2# ! + 1 ; -(#) = − ! − 6 ; /(#) = 3# " − 9

Evaluate !(2) Evaluate !(# + ℎ)

Evaluate !(# + ℎ) − !(#) Evaluate ((−1)

Evaluate p(2) %
Evaluate ( \− -]

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Evaluate !(# + ℎ) − !(#) %
Evaluate ! \!]

Evaluate !(−#) Find # such that *(#) = −20

Evaluate .(2) Evaluate *(# − ℎ) − /(#)

Evaluate !(#) − *(# + ℎ) Evaluate

((#)$((#'/)
/

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 !
Evaluate !(# + ℎ) − !(#) Evaluate (( √# )

Evaluate *(3) + ((−1) Evaluate ((−#)

Answer: 3# − 9 Answer: 43
%
________ Evaluate !(−12) ________ Evaluate ((")

Answer: 0
________ Evaluate g(# − ℎ)

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