New Era University – Virtual Learning Environment

College of Engineering & Technology

Math 111
Functions and
Relations

Є
 Objectives:
2
At the end of this module, the student should be
able to:
1. Distinguish a function from a relation,
2. Find the domain and range of functions or
 relations,
3. Determine domains of sum, difference, product
 and quotient of two given functions
4. Sketch the graphs of functions and relations.

College Algebra @NEU-LDH 01/23/2021

Functions and Relation

SUB-TOPICS

• Definition of Function and Relation

• Relating Domain and Range
• Evaluating Function
• The Vertical Line Test
• Determining Domain and Range in
functions
• Assessment Questions
 Introduction

In the real world, we observe that one quantity depends on another.

For example, your height depends on your age, the price of a shirt
depends on its brand, the cost of mailing a package depends on its
weight and so on. We use the term function to describe this
dependence of one quantity to another, such that, we could say that
height is a function of age. We write this as,
Height = f (age)
We could also describe a function by its graph. Another way to picture
a function is by an arrow diagram. Each arrow connects an element of
A to an element of B. Further, a function may be describe
algebraically through a formula and numerically by a table of values.
This module will describe functions and distinguish it from relation.
Identifying the domain and range of a function will help us describe
how it behaves when graph in x-y plane.

01/23/2021 4
For use in College Algebra at NEU-CET
 Functions and Relation

Relation – a
correspondence between sets
X and Y where at least one
element of the set Y
corresponds to an element of
the set X.
 Functions and Relation

Function – a set of ordered

pairs of real numbers (x,y) in
which no two distinct ordered
pairs have the same first
number.
Domain – the set of all
permissible values of x

Range – the set of all

permissible values of y
Determine whether the following set of pairs is a function or a relation

Function
Function
Not a Function
Not a Function
 State the domain and range of the
following relation. Is the relation a
function?
Not a Function
{(2,–3),(4,6),(3,–1),(6,6),(2,3)}

domain:  {2, 3, 4, 6}
range:  {–3, –1, 3, 6}
If you find a duplicate x-value,
then the different y-values mean
that you do not have a function.
 State the domain and range of the
following relation. Is the relation a
function?
Function

{(–3, 5), (–2, 5), (–1, 5), (0, 5),

(1, 5), (2, 5)}

domain:  {–3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2}

range:  {5}
Vertical Line Test Not a Function
Function Not a Function
 Value of functions

Consider the function y=2x+3

Example:
If you were asked to substitute the value of -1 for x, You used to say “y = 2x + 3
solve for y when x = –1”.

But now you say "f(x) = 2x + 3; find f(–1)" (pronounced as "f-of-x is 2x plus
three; find f-of-negative-one").

You do exactly the same thing in either case: you plug in –1 for x, multiply by 2,
and then add the 3, simplifying to get a final value of +1.

How do we go about evaluating functions? First, remember this: While parentheses

have, up until now, always indicated multiplication, the parentheses do not indicate
multiplication in function notation. The expression "f(x)" means "plug a value for x
into a formula f "; the expression does not mean "multiply f and x"! Don't embarrass
yourself by pronouncing (or thinking of) "f(x)" as being "f times x".
 Evaluate the following functions

Given f(x)= x2 – x – 2, find f(2)

f(2) = 22 – 2 – 2
f(2) = 0
Given f(g) = x2 – x – 2, find f(-3)

f(2) = (-3)2 – 3 – 2
f(2) = 4 piecewise function
 Given
f(0) = 2(0)2 – 1 =-1
2x2 – 1 , x<1
f(2) = 2 + 4 = 6
f(x)= x + 4, x≥ 1
f(1) = 1 +4 = 5
 Determine the domain and range
of the given function:
y = x2 + x – 2
x2 – x – 2
This is a rational expression p/q, where q≠0. We then find the roots of q because
knowing the roots will tell us the limits of q

x2 – x – 2 = 0
(x – 2)(x + 1) = 0
x = 2   or  x = –1
Then the domain is "all x not equal to –1 or 2".
Graphing the function will give us 3 curves;
1. for values of x approaching -1 from left, x<-1
2. for values of x approaching 2 from right, x>2
3. for values of x>-1 and x<2

the range is "all real numbers".

 Determine the domain and range of
the given function:

y = - √-2x + 3
Another thing to watch out in functions are rational exponents. The radicand <0!
Hence, we avoid assigning values of x that would make the radicand <0.

–2x + 3 > 0
–2x > –3
2x < 3
x < 3/2 = 1.5
Then the domain is"all x < 3/2
Graphing the function will tell us the range

Then the range is "y < 0".

Determine the domain and
range of the given function:

y = –x + 4
4

the domain is "all x".

The range is "all y < 4".
Assessment:
1. Given the relation D = {(6,4), (8,-1), (x,7), (-3,-6)}. Which of the following values
for x will make relation D a function?
a. -3 b. -6
c. 8 d. 6
2. Is the relation depicted in the chart below a function?

a. Yes b. No
c. Cannot be determined
3. If g (x) = 3x² - 2x - 5, what is the value of g (-1)?
a. -4 b. -10
c. -6 d. 0
4. Which statement is true about the relation shown at the right?
a. It is a function because there exists one y-coordinate for
each x-coordinate.
b. It is a function because there exists one x-coordinate for
each y-coordinate.
c. It is not a function because there are multiple x-values for a given y-value.
d. It is not a function because there are multiple y-values for a given x-value.
This file is exclusively for Math 171 class by LDH
Assessment:
5. If f (x) = -3x - 5, what is the value of f (2) ?
a. -11 b. -1
c. 1 d. 11
6. Which relation is not a function?
a. {(2,5), (3,6), (4,7), (5,8)} b. {(6,-2), (-4,6), (-2,4), (1,0)}  
c. {(-1, 5), (-2,5), (-3,5), (-4,5)} d. {(0,-2), (1,0), (-1,-3), (0,-1)}
7. Which graph represents a function?

a. b. c. d.
8. What type of function is shown by the graph at the right?
a. linear b. exponential
c. quadratic   d. absolute value 
9.   A ball is tossed in the air in such a way that the path of the ball is modeled by the
equation y = -x² + 6x, where y represents the height of the ball in feet and x is the
time in seconds. At what time, x, is the ball at its highest point?
     a.  6                         b.  2                       c.  3                  d.  4
This file is exclusively for Math 171 class by LDH
Assessment:
10. Which equation is represented by the graph at the right?
a.  y = x² + 4 26
b. y = (x + 4)²
c. y = |x| + 4  
d. y = |x + 4|

These questions are of low and medium level of cognitive

complexity to measure the learning of the students after the
discussion. When you score below 9 points, you should
review this topic and understand the concept of
Functons and Relation before you proceed to solve
questions/exercises of higher level of cognitive complexity.
This file is exclusively for Math 171 class by LDH
 References

1. Acelajado, et.al, Algebra Concepts and Processes, 3rd ed. 2005

2. Bellman, Bragg, Chapin, Gardella, Hall, Handlin, Sr., Manfre, Algebra, 2005
3. Stewart, Redlin, Watson, Algebra and Trigonometry, 2nd ed. 2007
4. Kaufmann, Schwitters, Intermediate Algebra, 2010

Website:
Purplemath.com
http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/ALGEBRA/MultipleChoiceReview/Func
tions.html