Concepts of Function
Introduction:
The word “function” was introduced by Leibniz in 1694 to
denote any quantity connected with a curve.
In 1718, Johann Bernoulli regarded function as any expression
made up of variables and constants.
Later, Leonhard Euler (1707-1783) considered function as any
equation of formula.
It was Lejeune Dirichlet (1805-1859) who first associated the
concept of correspondence in the definition of function.
Examples of the Idea of Correspondences:
To each person there corresponds an age.
To each item in a store there corresponds a price.
To each cellular phone there corresponds a mobile number.
Self-assessment:
Identify if the given statement show a correspondence between two
quantities.
1. Net profit is a function of the amount of investment.
2. Population growth is a function of the period of time.
3. Weight is a function of height.
4. Age is function of Sex
The following table shows how relations and functions are the same and how
Recall: they are different
RELATION FUNCTIONS
A relation is a rule that relates values from a A function is a set of relation where each element
set of values (called the domain) to a second in the domain is related to only one value in the
set of values (called the range) range by some rule.
A relation is also a set of ordered pairs (x, y). A function is a set of ordered pairs (x, y) such
that no two ordered pairs have the same x-value
but different y-values.
Examples:
{(1,2), (1,6), (2,4), (2,5)} Examples:
{(4,8), (3,9), (4,2), (7,3), (3,5)} {(1,2), (2,6), (3,4), (5,5)}
{(4,8), (3,9), (7,2), (1,3), (6,5)}
Definition of Functions:
• A function is a relation defined as a set of ordered pairs (x, y) where no two
or more ordered pairs have the same first element (x).
• Every value of x corresponds to a unique value of y. A function can be
named using any letter of the English alphabet.
• Every input is related to exactly one output.
Functions as a Table of Values
Commonly observed when describing a function. This shows the correspondence
between a set of values of x and a set y in tabular form.
f = {(0,5), (1,-4), (4,-1),(9,4),(16,11)}
x 0 1 4 9 16
y 5 -4 -1 4 11
Examples:
Which of the following relations are functions?
(a) f = {(1,2),(2,2),(3,5),(4,5)}
(b) g = {(1,3),(1,4),(2,5),(2,6),(3,7)}
(c) h = {(1,3),(2,6),(3,9),(4,7),(5,8)}
Solution:
The relations f and h are functions because no two ordered pairs have the same
x-value but different y-values, while g is not a function because (1,3) and (1,4)
are ordered pairs with the same x-value but different y-values.
Functions and Relations by Mapping Diagrams
Functions and relations can be represented by mapping
diagrams where the elements of the domain are mapped to
the elements of the range using arrows.
In this case, the relation or functions is represented by the
set of all the connections represented by the arrows.
Examples:
Which of the following mapping diagrams represent functions?
X Y X Y X Y
f g h
1 3 5 7 11
2 5 6 0 13
3 9 7 2 17
4 17 8 1 19
5 33 9 1 23
Solution:
The relations f and g are functions because each element of X
correspond to a unique element of Y.
The relation h is not a function because there is at least one element
in X for which there is more than one corresponding y-value.
For example, x=7 corresponds to y=11 or y=13. Similarly, x=2
corresponds to both y=17 or y=19.
Functions as a graph in the Cartesian Plane
Recall from Grade 8 that a relation between two sets of numbers can be
illustrated by a graph in the Cartesian plane, and that a function passes the
vertical line test (A vertical line can be drawn anywhere and intersect the
graph in at most one point).
The VERTICAL LINE TEST for a function states that if each vertical line
intersects a graph in the x-y plane at exactly one point, then the graph
illustrates a function.
If any vertical line passes through two or more points on the graph of an
equation, then the equation does not define a function.
Example:
Which of the following graphs can be graphs of functions?
a. b.
Example:
c. d. e.
Solution:
Graphs (a), (b), (c) are graphs of functions while (d) and (e) are not because if
you draw vertical lines, it will touch two points.
Functions as Representation in Real Life
Situations
Functions can often be used to model real situations. Identifying an appropriate
functional model will lead to a better understanding of various phenomena.
Example:
Give a function C that can represent the cost of buying x meals, if one meal
costs ₱40.
Solution:
Since each meal costs ₱40, then the cost function is C(x) = 40x
