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Functions

Set

A set is a collection of distinct objects. The collected objects are called “elements”. A
relation between two sets is the linking (or pairing) of the elements in both sets. The
relation of linking can be represented by arrow diagram, ordered pair, or a graph.

Example: Two sets are given, set A and set B. Let the set A be the domain, set B be the
codomain.

Domain Codoman

Range

Object
Image
A B
i. Domain – Set A
ii. Codomain – Set B
iii. Object – Elements in set A.
iv. Image – Elements in set B.
v. Range – Elements in set B that linked to elements in set A.

Mention about the linking from set A to set B, there are four types of relations.

i. one-to-one
ii. one-to-many
iii. many-to-one
iv. many-to-many

one-to-one

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one-to-many

many-to-one

many-to-many

Functions

Functions are mathematical ideas that use one or more variables to produce another
variable. A function is a relation where every object has only one image. A function is
also known as a mapping of some domain onto range.

The main properties of functions are

i. one-to-one relation
ii. one-to-many relation
iii. not all elements in codomain are images.

For each item in the domain, there is a corresponding item in the range of the function.
Example: Given f ( x ) = 3x .
When
x = 1, x = 2, x = 3,
f ( x ) = 3(1) f ( x ) = 3(2) f ( x ) = 3(3)
=3 =6 =9
x is the domain, f ( x ) is the codomain. The values of x and f ( x ) are object and image
respectively.

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In another words, function x is linked to 3x . Functional notation can be written as

f : x → 3 x or read as “function f that maps x onto 3x ”.

In this chapter, the significant part is to

i. solve problems involving functions.
ii. find the absolute value functions.
iii. find composite functions
a. “inside” functions
b. “outside” functions
iv. inverse functions

Solve Functions Problem

Example:

Given the function f : x → 2 x 2 + 3x − 1 , find

a. the image of 2, Given 2 is the object
b. the object of 3. -3 is the image.

Solution:

f : x → 2 x 2 + 3x − 1

Object Image

a. f ( x ) = x 2 + 3x − 1 b. f ( x ) = x 2 + 3x − 1 ; f ( x ) = 3
2
f ( 2) = ( 2) + 3 ( 2) −1 x 2 + 3x − 1 = 3
= 4 + 6 −1 x 2 + 3x − 4 = 0
=9 ( x + 4 )( x − 1) = 0
( x + 4 ) = 0 @ ( x − 1) = 0
x = −4 x =1

Absolute Value Functions

Given y = x , with the symbol of modulus, x can be any integer but y is always in
positive value.

The definition of x is

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 x , if x ≥ 0
x =
− x , if x < 0
Meaning that x can be positive or negative value.

Absolute value functions are similar to the theory that mentioned above. The only
difference is absolute value function is in function form. It can be defined by
 f ( x ) , if f ( x ) ≥ 0
f ( x) = 
 f ( − x ) , if f ( x ) < 0

Example:

Given the function f ( x ) = 2 x − 1 , find

a. the image of -1
b. the object of 2
Hence, sketch the graph for the domain −2 ≤ x ≤ 2 .

Solution:

a. f ( x) = 2x −1
f ( −1) = 2 ( −1) − 1
Although it is -3 but due to the modulus,
= −2 − 1
negative value will becomes positive.
=3

b. f ( x) = 2x −1 ; f ( x) = 2
2 = 2 ( x ) −1 To remove the modulus, “2” becomes -2 and 2.

2 ( x) −1 = 2 @ 2 ( x ) − 1 = −2
3 1
x= x=−
2 2

To sketch a graph,
1. prepare a table as shown

x -2 -1 0 1 2
f ( x) -5 -3 -1 1 3
f ( x) 5 3 1 5 3

2. sketch the graph.

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f (x)

× 5
4
× 3 ×
2 Red line:
absolute modulus
1× × function

0
× 1 2
x
-2 -1
-1 ×
-2 Blue line:
without absolute
× -3 modulus function
-4
× -5
-6

Remark: a linear function with modulus will always give a graph in V shape.

Composite function

A composite function is a combination of two functions, where you apply to the first
function and get an answer then apply this answer into the second function. Composite
function can be written as f  g ( x )  where g ( x ) and f ( x ) are two different functions.

f(x)

Properties of composite functions:

i. fg ( x ) = f  g ( x ) 

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ii. fg ( x ) ≠ gf ( x )
iii. f 2 = ff , f 3 = f 2 f
= ff 2
= fff
and so on.

Remarks: f 2 does not mean f × f . It is a composite of function f maps onto itself.

Example: two functions given to find composite function.

The function f and g are defined by f ( x ) = 2 x + 3 and g ( x ) = 2 x 2 − x + 1 respectively.

Find
a. the composite of
i. f ( 2 )
ii. fg ( x ) ,
iii. gf ( x ) ,
iv. f 2 ( x ) .
b. the value of fg ( 3)
c. the value of x if fg ( x ) = gf ( x ) .

Solution:

a. i. f ( x) = 2x + 3
Given x = 2, replace x by 2.
f ( 2) = 2 ( 2) + 3
=7

Replace g ( x ) by 2 x 2 − x + 1
ii. fg ( x ) = f ( 2 x − x + 1)
2

= 2 ( 2 x 2 − x + 1) + 3
2
( )
If f ( x ) = 2 x + 3 , f 2 x 2 − x + 1 means replace x
= 4x − 2x + 2 + 3 by 2 x 2 − x + 1
2
= 4x − 2x + 5

iii. gf ( x ) = g ( 2 x + 3)
2
= 2 ( 2 x + 3) − ( 2 x + 3) + 1
= 2 ( 4 x 2 + 12 x + 9 ) − 2 x − 3 + 1
= 8 x 2 + 24 x + 18 − 2 x − 2
= 8 x 2 + 22 x + 16
= 2(4 x 2 + 11x + 8)

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iv. f 2 ( x ) = f  f ( x ) 
= f ( 2 x + 3)
= 2 ( 2 x + 3) + 3
= 4x + 9

b. fg ( x ) = 4 x 2 − 2 x + 5
2
fg ( 3) = 4 ( 3) − 2 ( 3) + 5
= 4 (9) − 6 + 5
= 35

c. fg ( x ) = gf ( x )
4 x 2 − 2 x + 5 = 2(4 x 2 + 11x + 8)
4 x 2 − 2 x + 5 = 8 x 2 + 22 x + 16
4 x 2 + 24 x + 11 = 0
( 2 x + 1)( 2 x + 11) = 0
( 2 x + 1) = 0 @ ( 2 x + 11) = 0
1 11
x=− x=−
2 2

Example: Given a composite function and a function g to find function f.

a. Given a composite function fg ( x ) = 2 x − 1 and g ( x ) = x + 1 . Find the function f.

Function f in (a) is “outside”
Function f in (b) is “inside”
b. Given a composite function gf ( x ) = 2 x − 2 and g ( x ) = x + 1 . Find the function f.

Solution:

a. fg ( x ) = 2 x − 1
Substitute g ( x ) = x + 1 into fg(x).
f ( x + 1) = 2 x − 1

Replace x by u-1.
Let u = x + 1 , x = u −1
Therefore, f ( u ) = 2 ( u − 1) − 1
= 2u − 3
The function is in terms of x, therefore the u in RHS changes
∴ f ( x) = 2x − 3 into x.

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b. gf ( x ) = 2 x − 2
From g ( x ) = x + 1 , replace the x by f(x),
g  f ( x )  = 2 x − 2
[ ]
therefore g f ( x ) = f ( x ) + 1 .
f ( x) + 1 = 2x − 2
f ( x) = 2x − 3

Inverse Functions

-1 -1
f g

f g
x f(x) gf(x)

-1 -1
f g

From the diagram above, inverse function of f can be written as f −1 . The only
difference of inverse functions with the normal functions is the direction. Normal
functions move ( → ) but inverse functions move ( ← ) .

The properties of inverse functions:

−1 −1
i. ( fg ) = g −1 f −1 and ( gf ) = f −1 g −1
2 −1 2
ii. (f ) = ( f −1 )
iii. ff −1 ( x ) = f −1 f ( x ) = x

The conditions for the existence of inverse functions are

i. The normal function is a one-to-one function.
ii. The elements of normal function in codomain must be link to an object.

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Example:

2x −1
The function f is defined by f ( x ) = .
x +1
Add in this equation.
a. Find the inverse function Purpose:
b. Find the value of x if f is undefined. 1. Form an equation with subject y if
given reverse function and asked
Solution: to find normal function.
2. Form an equation with subject x if
question gives a normal function
a. Let y = f ( x) to find inverse function.
f −1 ( y ) = x

2x −1
Since y = f ( x ) , y=
x +1
y ( x + 1) = 2 x − 1
xy + x = 2 x − 1 Try to form an equation in
xy − x = −1 terms of y in order to get the
subject x.
x ( y − 1) = −1
1
x=−
( y − 1)
−1 Since we let x be the inverse
∴ f −1 ( x ) = function, so inverse function is
( x − 1) the x found in previous step.
1
=
1− x The negative sign multiplied into the
denominator.
b. x is undefined when the denominator of the function is zero,
∴ x +1 = 0
x = −1

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