Conceptualized by: Raymond D.

Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
Lesson 3: Graphs of Function

Lesson Objectives:
1. Identify the Graph of a Function.
2. Obtain Information from or about the Graph of a Function

In applications, a graph often demonstrates more clearly the relationship between two variables
than, say, an equation or table would. For example, Table 1 below shows the average price of gasoline
at a particular gas station in Texas (for the years 1980–2009 adjusted for inflation, based on 2008
dollars). If we plot these data and then connect the points, we obtain Figure 1.

Figure 1
We can see from the graph that the price of gasoline (adjusted for inflation) fell from 1980 to
1986 and rose rapidly from 2003 to 2007.The graph also shows that the lowest price occurred in 2001.
To learn information such as this from an equation requires that some calculations be made.
Look again at Figure 1. The graph shows that for each date on the horizontal axis there is only
one price on the vertical axis. The graph represents a function, although the exact rule for getting from
date to price is not given.
When a function is defined by an equation in x and y, the graph of the function is the graph
of the equation, that is, the set of points (x, y) in the xy-plane that satisfy the equation.

Identify the Graph of a Function

Not every collection of points in the xy-plane represents the graph of a function. Remember,
for a function, each number x in the domain has exactly one image y in the range. This means that the
graph of a function cannot contain two points with the same x-coordinate and different y coordinates.
Therefore, the graph of a function must satisfy the following vertical-line test.

Theorem:
A set of points in the xy – plane is the graph
of a function if and only if every vertical line intersects
the graph in at most one point.

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 63

Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
Example 1: Obtaining Information from the Graph of a Function
Let f be the function whose graph is given in
Figure 2. (The graph of f might represent the distance y
that the bob of a pendulum is from its at-rest position at
time x. Negative values of y mean that the pendulum is
to the left of the at-rest position, and positive values of y
mean that the pendulum is to the right of the at-rest
position.)
3𝜋
(a) What are f(0), f( 2 ), and f(3𝜋)
(b) What is the domain of f?
(c) What is the range of f? Figure 2
(d) List the intercepts. (Recall that these are the points, if any, where the graph crosses or touches
the coordinate axes)
(e) How many times does the line y = 2 intersect the graph?
(f) For what values of x does f(x) = -4?
(g) For what values of x is f(x) > 0?

Solution:
(a) Since (0, 4) is on the graph of f, the y – coordinate 4 is the value of f at the x – coordinate
3𝜋 3𝜋
0; that is, f(0) = 4. In a similar way, we find that when x = 2 , then y = 0, so f( 2 ) = 0.
When x = 3𝜋, then y = -4, so f(3𝜋) = -4.

(b) To determine the domain of f, we notice that the points on the graph of f have x-coordinates
between 0 and 4𝜋 inclusive; and for each number x between 0 and 4𝜋, there is a point (x,
fx)) on the graph. The domain of f is {x/0 ≤ x ≤ 4𝜋} or the interval [0, 4𝜋]

(c) The points on the graph all have y-coordinates between -4 and 4, inclusive; and for each
such number y, there is at least one number x in the domain. The range of f is {y/-4 ≤ y ≤
4} or the interval [-4, 4].

(d) The intercepts of are the points

𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋 (7𝜋
(0, 4), ( 2 , 0), ( 2 , 0), ( 2 , 0), and 2 , 0),

(e) If we draw the horizontal line y = 2 on the graph in Figure 15, we find that it intersects the
graph four times.

(f) Since (𝜋, -, -4) and (3𝜋, -4) are the only points on the graph for which y = f(x) = -4, we
have f(x) = -4 when x = 𝜋 and x = 3𝜋.

(g) To determine where f(x) > 0, look at figure 2 and determine the x – values from 0 to 4𝜋 for
𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋 7𝜋
which the y – coordinate is positive. This occurs on [0, 2 ) ∪ ( 2 , 2 ) ∪ ( 2 , 4𝜋]. Using
𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋 7𝜋
inequality notation, f(x) > 0 for 0 ≤ 𝑜𝑟 <𝑥< or < 𝑥 ≤ 4𝜋.
2 2 2 2

When the graph of a function is given, its domain may be viewed as the shadow created by the
graph on the x-axis by vertical beams of light. Its range can be viewed as the shadow created by the
graph on the y-axis by horizontal beams of light. Try this technique with the graph given in Figure 2.

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 64

Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
Example 2: Obtaining Information about the Graph of a Function
Consider the function:
𝑥+1
f(x) = 𝑥+2

(a) Find the domain of f.

(b) Is the point (1, ½) on the graph of f?
(c) If f = 2, what is f(x)? What point is on the graph of f?
(d) If f(x) = 2, what is x? What point is on the graph of f?
(e) What are the x-intercepts of the graph of f (if any)? What point(s) are on the graph of f?

Solution:
(a) The domain of f is {x/x≠ −2}.

(b) When x = 1, then

𝑥+1
f(x) = 𝑥+2

1+1 2
f(1) = 1+2 = 3

The point (1, ½) is on the graph of f; the point (1, ½) is not on the graph of f.

(c) If x = 2, then
𝑥+1
f(x) = 𝑥+2

2+1 3
f(2) = 2+2 = 4

3
The point (2, 4) is on the graph of f.

(d) If f(x) = 2, then

f(x) = 2
𝑥+1
=2
𝑥+2

𝑥 + 1 = 2(𝑥 + 2) Multiply both sides by x + 2.

𝑥 + 1 = 2𝑥 + 4 Remove parenthesis

x=3 Solve for x

If f(x) = 2, then x = -3. The point (-3, 2) is on the graph of f.

(e) The x-intercepts of the graph of f are the real solutions of the equation f(x = 0 that are in
the domain of f. The only real solution of the equation
𝑥+1
f(x) = =0
𝑥+2

is x = 1, so -1 is the only x-intercept. Since f(-1) = 0, the point ( -1, 0) is on the graph of f.

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 65

Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
Summary:

Graph of a Function The collection of points (x, y) that satisfies the equation y = f(x).

Vertical Line Test A collection of points is the graph of a function provided hat every
vertical line intersects the graph in at most one point.

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 66

Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
PROBLEM SET NUMBER 3A
Graph of a Function

Name: _________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Course/Year/Section: _____________________________ Score: ___________________
Direction: Use the graph of the function below to answer the questions that follows. Use separate
sheets when needed.

1. Find f(0) and f(-6). 9. What are the x – intercepts?

2. Find f(6) and f(11). 10. What are the y – intercepts?
1
3. Is f(3) positive or negative? 11. How often does the line y = = intersect the graph?
2
4. Is f(-4) positive or negative? 12. How often does the line x = 5 intersect the graph?
5. For what values of x is f(x) = 0? 13. For what values of x does f(x) = 3?
6. For what values of x is f(x) > 0? 14. For what values of x does f(x) = -27?
7. What is the domain of f? 15. Find f(3) and f(-3).
8. What is the range of f?
Answer:

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 67

Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
PROBLEM SET NUMBER 3B
Graph of a Function

Name: _________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Course/Year/Section: _____________________________ Score: ___________________
Direction: Answer the questions about the given functions below. Use separate sheets when needed.

1. f(x) = 2x2 – x – 1
(a) Is the point (-1, 2) on the graph of f?
(b) If x = -2, what is f(x)? What point is on the graph of f?
(c) If f(x) = -1, what is x? what point(s) are on the graph of f?
(d) What is the domain of f?
(e) List the x – intercepts, if any, of the graph of f.
(f) List the y – intercept, if there is one, of the graph of f.

𝑥+2
2. f(x) = 𝑥−6
(a) Is the point (3, 14) on the graph of f?
(b) If x = 4, what is f(x)? What point is on the graph of f?
(c) If f(x) = 2, what is x? What point(s) are on the graph of f?
(d) What is the domain of f?
(e) List the x – intercepts, if any, of the graph of f.
(f) List the y – intercept, if there is one, of the graph of f.

Answers:

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 68

Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
SCRATCH WORKS

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 69

Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College
Chapter 2: Functions Graph of a Function
SCRATCH WORKS

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 70