Review of Functions

Mathematics 21

Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman)

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For today

1 Functions

2 Basic Types of Functions

3 Operations on Functions

4 Piecewise-defined Functions

5 Circular Functions and Identities

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Functions

Definition
Let X and Y be nonempty sets. A function f from X to Y , denoted f : X → Y , is
a rule that assigns to each element of X a unique element of Y .

X : domain of f , denoted dom f

The set of all elements of Y that are assigned to some element of X is the
range of f , denoted ran f .

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Real-valued functions of a single variable

Real-valued functions of a single variable:

Math 21 deals with functions whose domain and range are subsets of R.
If the domain is not explicitly specified:
Domain: dom f = { x ∈ R
| f ( x ) is a real number}

Examples:
1 f ( x ) = x2 dom f = R
dom f = R \ {−1}
x2 − 2x − 3
2 f (x) =
x+1

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Basic types of functions

Polynomial Functions - functions of the form

f ( x ) = a n x n + a n −1 x n −1 + · · · + a 1 x + a 0

where n ∈ W, an , an−1, ..., a0 are real numbers, with an 6= 0.

leading coefficient: an
degree of f : n
dom f = R
Graphs of polynomial functions: Unit 2

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Some Examples of Polynomial Functions
1. Constant Functions - functions of the form f ( x ) = c, where c is a real number
dom f = R; ran f = {c}
graph: horizontal line intersecting the y-axis at y = c

2. Linear Functions - functions of the form

f ( x ) = mx + b

with m 6= 0
dom f = R; ran f = R
graph: m is slope; y-intercept is b
If m > 0: line slants to the right
If m < 0: line slants to the left
Alternatively, given a point ( x0 , y0 ) on a line and the slope of the line m, one may
write an equation of the line as

y − y0 = m ( x − x0 )

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Some Examples of Polynomial Functions

3. Quadratic Functions - functions of the form

f ( x ) = ax2 + bx + c

with a 6= 0
dom f = R  
b 4ac−b2
graph: parabola with vertex at − 2a , 4a
h 
− b2 , + ∞
If a > 0: parabola opens upward, ran f = 4ac4a
 2
i
If a < 0: parabola opens downward, ran f = −∞, 4ac4a−b

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Basic types of functions

Rational Functions - functions of the form

p( x )
f (x) = ,
q( x )

where p and q are polynomial functions, and q is not the constant zero function.

Domain: { x ∈ R | q ( x ) 6 = 0}
Graphs of general rational functions: Unit 2

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Basic types of functions

Functions involving rational exponents or radicals - functions of the form

√
x = x /n
n 1
f (x) =

n is odd: dom f = R
n is even: dom f = [0, ∞)

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Basic types of functions

Example
√
Square root function: f ( x ) = x

√
y= x =⇒ y2 = x, y ≥ 0

2 2

1 1

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
−1 −1
−2 −2

√
The graph of x = y2 The graph of y = x

√
The graph of f ( x ) = x is the upper branch of the parabola x = y2

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Other Functions involving Radicals

Example
√
Sketch the graph of g( x ) = − 2 − x.

√
y = − 2−x
2
y = 2 − x, y ≤ 0
x = 2 − y2 , y ≤ 0

The graph of g is the lower branch of the parabola x = 2 − y2 .

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Other Functions involving Radicals

Example
√
Sketch the graph of g( x ) = − 2 − x.

−2 −1 0 1 2

−1

−2

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Other Functions involving Radicals

Example
√
Graph h( x ) = 4 − x2 .

The graph of h is the upper semicircle of the circle x2 + y2 = 4.

−2 −1 1 2

−1

−2

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Basic types of functions

Trigonometric/Circular Functions

sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant and cosecant functions

In Math 21, the trigonometric functions are viewed as functions on the set of
real numbers.
(More info at the last part of the slides.)

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Operations on Functions

Definition (Operations on Functions)

Let f and g be functions, c ∈ R.
1 Addition: ( f + g)( x ) = f ( x ) + g( x ); dom( f + g) = dom f ∩ dom g
2 Subtraction: ( f − g)( x ) = f ( x ) − g( x ); dom( f − g) = dom f ∩ dom g
3 dom( f g) = dom f ∩ dom g
Multiplication: ( f g)( x ) = f ( x ) g( x );
 
f f (x)
4 Division: (x) = ;
  g g (x)
f
dom = (dom f ∩ dom g) \ { x ∈ dom g | g( x ) = 0}
g
5 Composition: ( f ◦ g)( x ) = f ( g( x ));
dom( f ◦ g) = { x ∈ dom g | g( x ) ∈ dom f }
6 Scalar Multiplication: c f ( x ) = c ( f ( x )); dom c f = dom f

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Operations on Functions

Example
Express the function F ( x ) = sin2 (3x − 1) as a composition of three functions
listed among the basic types of functions.

Let

f (x) = x2
g( x ) = sin x
h( x ) = 3x − 1

Then
F ( x ) = ( f ◦ g ◦ h) ( x )

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Operations on Functions
Example
Let f ( x ) = x2 and g( x ) = x + h, where h is a nonzero constant. Find
1
[( f ◦ g) ( x ) − f ( x )].
h

1 1
[( f ◦ g) ( x ) − f ( x )] = [ f ( g( x )) − f ( x )]
h h
f ( x + h) − f ( x )
=
h
( x + h )2 − x 2
=
h
( x + 2xh + h2 ) − x2
2
=
h
2xh + h2
=
h
= 2x + h
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Piecewise-defined functions

Piecewise-defined functions are functions that are defined by more than one
expression. Such functions can be written in the form


 f 1 ( x ), if x ∈ X1
 f 2 ( x ), if x ∈ X2

f (x) = .. ..


 . if .
f n ( x ), if x ∈ Xn


where X1 , ..., Xn ⊆ R with Xi ∩ Xj = ∅ for all i 6= j.

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The Absolute Value Function

Absolute Value Function - denoted by | x | and defined by

√ 
x, x ≥ 0
|x| = x2 =
− x, x < 0

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The Absolute Value Function

The graph of f ( x ) = | x |

−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
0

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The Absolute Value Function

Example
Write f ( x ) = |2x − 3| + x as a piecewise function.
(
x if x ≥ 0
Recall that | x | = .
−x if x < 0

 (2x − 3) + x, if 2x − 3 ≥ 0
f ( x ) = |2x − 3| + x =
 −(2x − 3) + x, if 2x − 3 < 0

 3x − 3, if x ≥ 23
=
 − x + 3, if x < 23

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The Greatest Integer Function

Greatest Integer Function (GIF) [[ x ]]: greatest integer less than or equal to x

Example
1 [[2.4]] = 2 3 [[−2.1]] = −3
2 [[2]] = 2 4 [[−π ]] = −4

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The Greatest Integer Function

As a piecewise function:

.. ..
. .




− 1, −1 ≤ x < 0




0, 0≤x<1

[[ x ]] =

 1, 1≤x<2
2, 2≤x<3




 .. ..


. .

In general,

[[ x ]] = n, for n ≤ x < n + 1 where n ∈ Z

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The Greatest Integer Function
The graph of f ( x ) = [[ x ]]

−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
0
−1

−2

−3

−4

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The Point Function

Definition
The point function P : R −→ R2 is defined by

P(θ ) = ( x, y)

where ( x, y) is the point on the unit circle making an arclength |θ | from the point
(1, 0), measured counterclockwise if θ > 0, and clockwise if θ < 0.

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Examples:
1 P(π ) = (−1, 0)
2 P( 3π
2 ) = (0, −1)
3 P(0) = (1, 0)
4 P(− 3π
2 ) = (0, 1)
5 P(− 5π
2 ) = (0, −1)
6 P(7π ) = (−1, 0)

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The Sine and Cosine Function

Definition
Let θ ∈ R and P(θ ) = ( x, y).

cosine of θ := x −→ cos(θ )
sine of θ := y −→ sin(θ )

Examples:
1 cos( 3π
2 )=0
2 sin( 3π
2 ) = −1
3 sin( 9π
2 =1
4 cos(15π ) = −1

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Consider the functions defined by f (θ ) = cos θ and g(θ ) = sin θ .
Because (cos θ, sin θ ) lies on the unit circle,

cos2 θ + sin2 θ = 1

dom cos = R = dom sin

ran cos = [−1, 1] = ran sin
For any k ∈ Z, cos(θ + 2kπ ) = cos θ and sin(θ + 2kπ ) = sin θ .

Theorem
Let θ ∈ R.
1 sin(−θ ) = − sin(θ )
2 cos(−θ ) = cos(θ )

That is, sin is an odd function while cos is even.

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The Other Circular Functions

Definition
Let θ ∈ R. The four other circular functions of θ are defined as follows:
 
sin θ 1
1 tan θ = =
cos θ cot θ
 
cos θ 1
2 cot θ = =
sin θ tan θ
1
3 sec θ =
cos θ
1
4 csc θ =
sin θ
From sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1, we also have the following:
1 tan2 θ + 1 = sec2 θ
2 1 + cot2 θ = csc2 θ

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Trigonometric Values of Special Angles

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Examples:
√
3
1 sin 2π
3 = 2
√
2
2 cos 5π
4 =− 2
√
3 tan 11π
6 = − 33
4 sec(− 5π3 )=2
17π
√
5 cot 6 = − 3
√
6 csc 21π
4 =− 2

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Graphs of Circular Functions

f ( x ) = sin( x )

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Graphs of Circular Functions

f ( x ) = cos( x )

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Graphs of Circular Functions

f ( x ) = tan( x )

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Graphs of Circular Functions

f ( x ) = cot( x )

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Graphs of Circular Functions

f ( x ) = sec( x )

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Graphs of Circular Functions

f ( x ) = csc( x )

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Exercises

√
1 Sketch the graph of f ( x ) = 1 − x − 2.
2 Identify f ( x ), g( x ), h( x ) such that ( f ◦ g ◦ h)( x ) = cos(sin2 x ).
g( x + h) − g( x ) 1
3 Simplify , if g( x ) = and h is a nonzero constant.
h x
4 Write f ( x ) = | x2 − 1| as a piecewise function.
5 Write g( x ) = [[1 − x ]] as a piecewise function.
7π 7π 7π 7π
6 Find the circular function values of , , and .
6 4 3 2

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