Math in Our World

Section 6-4

Functions
 Learning Objectives
Identify functions.
Write functions in function notation.
Evaluate functions.
Find the domain and range of functions.
Graph linear functions.
Interpret the graph of a function.

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 Relations
A relation is a rule matching up two sets of objects.
Relations are often represented by sets of ordered
pairs.

The following are examples of relations:

A = {(Apple, AAPL), (Ford, F), (Google, GOOG),
(Kraft Foods, KFT)}
B = {(9, 0), (-3, 1), (3, 9), (-1, 5), (3, 3)}
C = {(x, y) | 3x + 5y = 7}

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 Functions
A function is a set of ordered pairs in which no two
ordered pairs have the same first coordinate and
different second coordinates.

Relation A is a function because no first coordinate is

repeated.
Relation B isn't a function because the ordered pairs (3, 9)
and (3, 3) have the same first coordinate.

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EXAMPLE 1 Identifying Functions Defined by
Equations (1 of 2)

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EXAMPLE 1 Identifying Functions Defined by
Equations (2 of 2)
SOLUTION
(a) Careful! Even though all ordered pairs have the same
second coordinate, this is still a function. It’s repeats in
the FIRST coordinate that are bad.
(b) This is a function. Every number has only one square, so
every value of x has only one associated y.
(c) This is also a function. Every x will again have only one
associated y.
(d) This is not a function. Positive values of x will correspond
to two possible values of y. (i.e. if x = 2, y can be 2 or -2.)

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 Function Notation (1 of 2)
The equation y = x2 represents a function that
relates variables x and y.
We call x the independent variable and y the
dependent variable because its value depends on
the choice of x.
Another way to write the same function is f(x) = x2.
This is known as function notation, and is read
aloud as “f of x equals x squared.”

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 Function Notation (2 of 2)
The independent variable is sometimes called the
input of a function, and the dependent variable is
called the output.

Functions can also be called by names other than f.

Letters like f, g, h, and k are commonly used to
represent functions, but a letter that is more
representative can be used.

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EXAMPLE 2 Writing a Function in
Function Notation
Write 3x − 2y = 6 in function notation.

SOLUTION
We need to solve the equation for y, then replace y with f(x).
3x − 2y = 6 Subtract 3x from both sides
−2y = −3x + 6 Divide both sides by -2
3
y= x−3 Replace y with f(x)
2
3
f(x) = x − 3
2

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 Evaluating a Function
When a function is written as f(x), f(2) means to find
the value of the function when x = 2.
This is known as evaluating a function.

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EXAMPLE 3 Evaluating a Function

Let f(x) = x2 + 3x − 5 and g(x) = 4 + x + 1.

Find f(3), f(-2), g(0), and g(-3).

SOLUTION
f(3) = (3)2 + 3(3) − 5 = 9 + 9 − 5 = 13
f(−2) = (−2)2 + 3(−2) − 5 = 4 − 6 − 5 = −7
g(0) = 4 + 0 + 1 = 4 + 1 = 4 + 1 = 5
g(−3) = 4 + (−3) + 1 = 4 + −2
Since −2 isn’t a real number, we say that g(−3) is
undefined.

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 Domain and Range
The domain of a function is the set of all values of
the independent variable x that result in real
number values for y.
The range of a function is the set of all possible y
values.

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EXAMPLE 4 Finding the Domain and Range of
a Function (1 of 3)
Find the domain and range of each function:
(a) f(x) = x2
(b) f(x) = x
3x − 2
(c) f(x) =
x+1

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EXAMPLE 4 Finding the Domain and Range of
a Function (2 of 3)
SOLUTION
(a) There are no restrictions on what values x can be;
therefore the domain is all real numbers. Since x2 is never
negative, the range is {yy ≥ 0}.
(b) Since the square root of a negative number is undefined,
x cannot be negative. Therefore, the domain is {xx ≥ 0}.
Since the square root of x is never negative the range is
{yy ≥ 0}.

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EXAMPLE 4 Finding the Domain and Range of
a Function (3 of 3)
SOLUTION continued
(c) Since the denominator of a fraction cannot be zero, we
must exclude x = – 1. Every other x value will result in a
real number output, so the domain is all real numbers
except – 1, which we write as {xx ≠ – 1}.
The range is not obvious, but notice that an output of 3
3x − 2
would make the equation 3 = . Multiplying both
x+1
sides by x + 1, we get the contradiction 3x + 3 = 3x – 2,
so the range is {yy ≠ 3}.

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 Linear Functions
The graph of a function is a diagram of all ordered
pairs matched up by that function.
A linear function is a function of the form
f(x) = ax + b,
where a and b are real numbers.

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EXAMPLE 5 Graphing Linear Functions
(1 of 3)
Graph each linear function.
(a) f(x) = 3x − 2
2
(b) f(x) = x + 3
3

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EXAMPLE 5 Graphing Linear Functions
(2 of 3)
SOLUTION
(a) The slope is 3 and the y
intercept is (0, -2). Plot
the point (0, -2), and
then use rise of 3 and
run of 1 to find the
second point. Then we
draw the line connecting
those points.

Jump to long description

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EXAMPLE 5 Graphing Linear Functions
(3 of 3)
SOLUTION continued
(b) For this we’ll evaluate the
function of three x values then
plot the associated points, and
again draw a line connecting
the points.
2
f(−3) = (−3) + 3 = −2 + 3 = 1
3
f(0) = 3
2
f(3) = (3) + 3 = 2 + 3 = 5
3

Jump to long description

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EXAMPLE 6 Interpreting the Graph of a
Function (1 of 4)
It’s no secret that the makeup of families in the
United States has changed considerably in the last
40 years. In 1975, only 14.3% of all children were
born to an unmarried mother. By 2010, that number
had risen to over 41%.
The function f(x) = 0.773x + 10.925 can be used to
model this percentage, where x is years after 1970
and the output f is the percentage.

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EXAMPLE 6 Interpreting the Graph of a
Function (2 of 4)
The function that represents
the percentage of babies in
the United States born to
unwed mothers is shown in
the graph. Use it to answer
these questions:
(a)About what percentage of
babies born in 2005 had
unmarried mothers?
(b)About when did the
percentage go above
25%?
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Jump to long description
EXAMPLE 6 Interpreting the Graph of a
Function (3 of 4)
SOLUTION
(a) The year 2005 was 35
years after 1970, so we
need the output of the
function, which
corresponds to the height
of the graph, at x = 35. the
point with that x coordinate
looks to be about (35, 38),
so we conclude that the
percentage was about 38%
in 2005.

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EXAMPLE 6 Interpreting the Graph of a
Function (4 of 4)
SOLUTION continued
(b) The percentage went
above 25% when the height
of the graph reached
heights higher than 25. it
looks like the point (18, 25)
is on the graph, so the
percentage rose above
25% about 18 years after
1970, or in 1988.

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 Appendix of Image Long
Descriptions

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 Long description of image (1 of 3)
Both the x and y axis go from negative 3 to 3 and have a scale of
one half. A point is plotted 4 tick marks down on the y axis, at a
value of negative 2. From this point a horizontal line goes two
units right and is labeled Run 1. From the end of this line a
vertical line labeled Rise 3 goes 6 units up to the point 1 comma
1. A double arrowed line labeled f of x equals 3 x minus 2 runs
through and beyond the points.

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 Long description of image (2 of 3)
Both the x and y axis run by 1 from negative 5 to 5. The points
negative 3 comma 1, 0 comma 3, and 3 comma 5 are plotted. A
double arrowed line labeled f of x equals two thirds x plus 3 runs
through and beyond the points.

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 Long description of image (3 of 3)
Both the x and y axis run by 10 from 0 to 50. The line f of x
equals 0 point 7 7 3 x plus 10 point 9 2 5 begins slightly above 10
on the y axis and rises through quadrant 1.

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