 DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLES. FUNCTIONAL NOTATION . RANGE AND DOMAIN .

Dependent variable: a variable whose value depends on the value chosen for the independent variable (y)
Domain: set of possible values of x in a given domain for which a function is defined
Function: for each value of x there is exactly one value of y, no two pairs (x,y) have the same x value, all are relations
Independent variable: chosen freely within the domain of the function
Range: set of real numbers that  can take over the domain
FUNCTIONS GRAPHING TECHNIQUES
Vertical line test Domain and range
Find values of x that won’t
give a value of y and exclude
them from the domain

Intercepts

When finding domain: look

Odd and even functions
for x values that are
impossible
When finding range: look at
results when different values
of x are substituted into the
equation

 THE GRAPH OF A FUNCTION. SIMPLE EXAMPLES.

LINEAR FUNCTION

QUADRATIC FUNCTION
f ]x g= ax 2 + bx + c is th e gen eral equ ation of a parabola.
If a 2 0 t h e parabola is con cave u pwards
The bigger a is: the narrower
the parabola
The smaller a is: the wider
the parabola
If a 1 0 t h e parabola is con cave down ward s

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ABSOLUTE VALUE FUNCTION
 Use a table of values
 If the equation is inside ||, sketch the linear function of the equation, then flip the part below the x-axis

HYPERBOLA
a
A h yp erbola is a fun ction wit h its equ at ion in t h e form xy = a or y = x .
1
To find where the asymptotes are: in y = /x x ≠ 0 & y ≠ 0

CIRCLES AND SEMI-CIRCLES

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EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION CUBIC FUNCTION
x
General features of graphs in the form y = a :
 Cuts y-axis at y = 1
 Asymptote at x-axis
 x is +: slowly curves up from L to R
 x is -: slowly curves down from L to R
To sketch:
 Draw up table of values
 Find y-intercept & 1 point
Find domain & range

 REGION AND INEQUALITY. SIMPLE EXAMPLES.

REGIONS
Bounded: the line or curve is included in the region ≥ ≤ <−−−>
Unbounded: the line or curve is not included in the region > < <---->
Curves: need to check a point to see if it lies in the region
2+ inequalities: sketch each region, final region is where they intercept

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LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
To find a limit:
 Factorise
 Simplify
 Substitute
Continuous functions: have a smooth, unbroken line
lim
When /x-->∞, divide the numerator and
denominator by the highest power of x in the
example. Any number with an x value on the
bottom = 0.

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