FUNCTIONS

A relation can be used to express a one to many relationship between the elements of set A and
B, where an element of A may be related to more than one element of B. A function represents a
relation where exactly one element of B is related to each element of A
Definition: A function f from a set A to set B is a rule of correspondence that assigns to each
element x in the set A exactly one element y in the set B The set A is the domain of the function
f, and the set B contains the range.
Example:
Tell whether the following items represent a function from set A to set B
Let A = {a, b, c} and B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
a. {(a, 2), (b, 3), (c, 4)}
b. {(a, 1), (b, 2)}
c.
d.
a
1
a
1
2
2
b
3
b
3
4
4
c
c
e. x2 + y = 1

f.

y2 x = 1

Domain and Range of a Function

The domain of a function is the set of all values of the independent variable for which the
function is defined. If x is in the domain of f, f is defined of f, f is defined at x. The range of a
function is the set of all values assumed by the dependent variable y.
Examples:
Find the domain and range of the following functions
1. f:{(-2,4),(-1,7),(0,10),(1,4),(2,7)}
2. f: {(-3,4),(-1,8),(0,-4),(3,8),(5,11)}
3.
4.

f ( x )=

1
x+1

g (x )=

1
x +3

5.

h ( x )= 9x 2

6.

f ( x )=x 23 x4

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One to One and Onto Functions

Let A and B be sets and f: A B. Then
i.
f is called one to one (or injective) if for all a A, b B
ii.
f is called onto (or surjective) if for every b B there exists at least one a A such that f(a)
= b, that is, the image of f is B.
iii.
f is called one to one correspondence (or bijective) if f is both one one and onto.
Examples:
1. Determine whether the function f from A={1, 2, 3, 4} into B = {a, b, c, d} with f(1) = b, f(2) =
d, f(3) = a, f(4) = c is one one and onto.
2.
a
1
a
1
b
2
b
2
c
3
c
3
d
4

1
2
3
4

a
b
c
d

1
2
3
4

Evaluating a Function
Examples:
Let

f ( x )=x 2+3 x5

and find the following:

a. f(2)
b. f(-6)
c. f(a)
d. f(x+h)
Composition of Two Functions
The composition of the functions f and g is given by
(f g)(x) = f(g(x))

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a
b
c
d

The domain of (f g) is the set of all x in the domain such that g(x) is in the domain of f. The
composition of the functions f and g is illustrated below
A

gf

a
g(a)

f(g(a))

fg
Examples:
1. Let g be a function from A = {1,2,3,4} into B={a,b,c} and let f be the function from B =
{a,b,c} into C={x,y,z}. g and f are defined by the set of ordered pairs
g={(1,b), (2,c), (3,a), (4,b)} and f{(a,y), (b,x), (c,z)}
Find (f g)
2. Given f(x) = 3x + 1 and g(x) = 4x 5, find the following
a. (f g)(x)

b. (g f)(x)

Operations of Functions
Let f and g be two functions, then
1. Sum: (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)
2. Difference: ( f- g )(x) = f(x) g(x)
3. Product: (f g)(x) = f(x) g(x)
4. Quotient:

( gf ) ( x ) = fg(x(x)) , g ( x ) 0

Examples:
Let f(x) = x2 1 and g(x) = 2x + 3, find
a. f + g

b. f g

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c. f g

d.

f
g

The Graph of a Relation or Function

The graph of a relation or function consists of all points in the Cartesian plane whose coordinates
satisfy the relation or function. If the relation or function is defined by an equation, the graph of
the equation is the same as the graph of the function or relation.
Example:
Draw the graph of the function defined by the equation
2x + 3y = 6
Let x = -3, -1, 0, 3, 6

Finding the Inverse of a Function

1. In the equation for f(x), replace f(x) by y
2. Interchange the roles of x and y
3. If the new equation does not represent y as a function of x, the function f does not have an
inverse. If the new equation does represent y as a function of x, solve the new equation for
y.
4. Replace y by f-1(x);
5. Verify that f and f-1(x)are inverses of each other
Example
1. Find the inverse of

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f ( x )=

85 x
3

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