FUNCTION

Function relates inputs to outputs. A function takes elements from a set (the
domain) and relates them to elements in a set (the codomain). All the outputs
(the actual values related to) are together called the range. A function is a
special type of relation between input values (domain) and output values (range)
where in an input can only have exactly one unique output.
In Algebra, function usually relates one variable to another variable.

Equations ↔ Function
y = 2x + 3 ↔ f(x) = 2x + 3
y = x2 ↔ f(x) = x2
𝒇(𝒙)=𝒚

Equations ↔ Relation
y2 = x – 4y + 5
√�� = �� + 7

Take note that all function are relations, but not all relation are

functions.

Where, the set of domain are the independent variable and the set of range are dependent
variable.

The ordered pairs:

Given the set, A = {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 5)}, (1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 5) are the
ordered pairs. The first element of the ordered pairs, 1, 2, 3, 4 are the domains and the
second elements, 2, 3, 4, 5 are the range. In the figure below, a mapping that describe
the above given function.
Domain (x) Range (y)
Different mapping to determine a function or relation
Example 1: One to One function
Illustrate the function y = 2x - 3 as;
a) Mapping, where – 2 ≤ x ≤ 3
b) Table of values
c) Set of ordered pairs, where x is natural number less than 6
d) Graph

Solution:
a) Take note that the values for x shall be – 2 ≤ x ≤ 3, and those are real numbers
between – 2 and 3. It can be rational, negative, whole, and irrational.

b) Table of values without restriction: All real numbers can be substitute in the
domain
x –∞ –5 – 1/2 0 1 2/3 98 ∞

y –∞ – 13 –4 –3 –1 – 5/3 193 ∞

c) Restriction: x = N < 6
{(0, – 3), (1, – 1), (2, 1), (3, 3), (4, 5), (5, 7)}

d) Graph without restriction, take note of the following,

i. The function is linear because x and y are on the 1st degree
ii. Two points determine a line, so at least 2 point are needed to graph this
function iii. All real numbers passes through this line

The arrow heads at both ends of the line indicates that there are more points it will pass
infinitely
Example 2: Many to One function
Illustrate the function y = x2 + 1 as;
a) Mapping, where – 2 ≤ x ≤ 2
b) Table of values, where – 4 ≤ x ≤ 4
c) Set of ordered pairs, where x is negative integer
d) Graph, where – 3 < x < 3
e) Write the set of Domain and Range of each
item above.
Solution:
a) Mapping: D = {x │– 2 ≤ x ≤ 2} = [ – 2, 2], R = {1 ≤ y ≤ 5} = [1, 5]
IV, Input, Domain, (x) DV, Output, Range, (y)

b) Table of values: D = {x│– 4 ≤ x ≤ 4}, D = [– 4, 4], R = {1 ≤ x ≤ 17}, R = [1, 17]

x –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4

y 17 10 5 2 1 2 5 10 17

c) Set of ordered pairs: D = {x│x = –Z}, = ( – ∞, – 1],

R = {2 ≤ y ≤ ∞}
{(– ∞, ∞), …, (– 2, 5), ( – 1, 2)}
d) Graph: D = {x│– 3 < x < 3}, = (– 3, 3), R = { 1, 2, 5, 10} = [1, 10)
 Set of Range and Domain of a Function

I. Enumerating the domain and range of a function

Example:
1. Set of ordered pairs: F = {(1, 1), (3, 5), (4, 6), (8, 9)}
D = {1, 3, 4, 8}
R = {1, 5, 6, 9}

2. Table of values:
x a e i o

y 100 200 300 400

D = {a, e, i, o}
R = {100, 200, 300, 400}

3. Mapping

D = { M, A, T, H} R = {µ, Σ, ∞, e}

4. Graph:

D = (– 3, 1], R = (0, – 4]

Interval notations on domain and Range

∙ Closed interval: [ ], both ends included, shaded
dot ∙ Open interval: ( ), both ends not included,
unshaded dot ∙ Half closed: [ )
∙ Half open: ( ]
∙ All real numbers: ℝ: (- ∞, + ∞)
∙ Unbound interval:
a. (- ∞, )
b. ( , + ∞)
c. (- ∞, ]
d. [ , + ∞)
The Set Builder Notation
{x │x …} this is read as x such that x is …
Example:
1. {x │2 < x < 5} → x such that 2 is less than x and x is less than 5: D = (2, 5)
2. {x │2 < x ≤ 5} → x such that 2 is less than x and x is less than or equal to 5: D = (2, 5]
3. {x │2 ≤ x < 5} → x such that 2 is less than or equal to x and x is less than 5: D = [2, 5)
4. {x │2 ≤ x ≤ 5} → x such that 2 is less than or equal to x and x is less than or equal to 5: D = [2, 5]

5. {x │x ˃ 5} → x such that x and x is greater than 5: D = (5, ∞)

6. {x │x < 5} → x such that x is less than 5: D = (– ∞, 5)
7. {x │ x ≥ 2} → x such that x is greater than or equal to 5: D = [2, ∞)
8. {x │ x ≤ 2} → x such that x and x is less than or equal to 2: D = ( – ∞, 2]

9. {x │x is ℝ} →x such that x and x is real number: (- ∞, + ∞)

Evaluation of Function
From the function notation f(x) = y evaluate the following;
1. y = 3x + 5 ↔ f(x) = 3x + 5, solve for f(2), f( – 3) and f(2/3)
a. f(2) = 3(2) + 5 = 6 + 5 = 11
b. f( – 3) = 3( – 3) + 5 = – 9 + 5 = – 4
c. f(2/3) = 3(2/3) + 5 = 2 + 5 = 7

2. g(x) = 5 – 2x, solve for a) g(0), b) g(1), c) g(– 2), and d) g(x – 3)
a. g(0) = 5 – 2(0) = 5 – 0 = 5
b. g(1) = 5 – 2(1) = 5 – 2 = 3
c. g(– 2) = 5 – 2(– 2) = 5 + 4 = 9
d. g(x – 3) = 5 – 2(x – 3) = 5 – 2x + 6 = 11 – 2x

3. Given that, H(x) = x3– 2x2 + 3x – 4, determine a) H(2), b) H(– 3) and c)

H(2c).

a. H(2) = 23– 2(22) + 3(2) – 4 = 8 – 2(4) + 6 – 4 = 8 – 8 + 6 – 4 = 2

b. H(– 3) = (– 3)3– 2(– 3)2 + 3(– 3) – 4 = – 27 – 2(9) – 9 – 4 = – 27 – 18 – 9 – 4 = – 58
c. H(2c) = (2c)3– 2(2c)2 + 3(2c) – 4
= 8c3– 2(4c2) + 6c – 4
= 8c3– 8c2 + 6c – 4 factor out 2
= 2(4c3 – 4c2 + 3c – 2)
4. Given that F(x) = x2– 2x + 1, determine F(x – 1)
Solution:
F(x – 1) = (x – 1)2– 2(x – 1) + 1
= x2– 2x + 1 – 2x + 2 + 1
= x2 – 4x + 4
 ● What is a set?

A set is a collection of distinct or well-defined members or elements. In mathematics,

members of a set are written within curly braces or brackets {}. Members of assets can be
anything such as; numbers, people, or alphabetical letters, etc.

For example,

{a, b, c, …, x, y, z} is a set of alphabet letters.

{…, −4, −2, 0, 2, 4, …} is a set of even numbers.

{2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, …} is a set of prime numbers

Two sets are said to be equal; they contain the same members.

Consider two sets, A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {3, 1, 2}.

Regardless of the members’ position in sets A and B, the two sets are equal because they
contain similar members.

● What are ordered-pair numbers?

These are numbers that go hand in hand. Ordered pair numbers are represented within
parentheses and separated by a comma. For example, (6, 8) is an ordered-pair number
whereby the numbers 6 and 8 are the first and second elements, respectively.
 ● What is a domain?

A domain is a set of all input or first values of a function. Input values are generally ‘x’
values of a function.

● What is a range?

The range of a function is a collection of all output or second values. Output values are ‘y’
values of a function.

● What is a function?

In mathematics, a function can be defined as a rule that relates every element in one set,
called the domain, to exactly one element in another set, called the range. For example, y =
x + 3 and y = x2 – 1 are functions because every x-value produces a different y-value.

● A relation

A relation is any set of ordered-pair numbers. In other words, we can define a relation as a
bunch of ordered pairs.
Types of Functions
Functions can be classified in terms of relations as follows:

● Injective or one-to-one function: The injective function f: P → Q implies that

there is a distinct element of Q for each element of P.
● Many to one: The many to one function maps two or more P’s elements to the
same element of set Q.
● The Surjective or onto function: This is a function for which every element of set
Q there is a pre-image in set P
● Bijective function.

The common functions in algebra include:

● Linear Function
● Inverse Functions
● Constant Function
● Identity Function
● Absolute Value Function

How to Determine if a Relation is a Function?

We can check if a relation is a function either graphically or by following the steps below.

● Examine the x or input values.

● Examine also the y or output values.
● If all the input values are different, then the relation becomes a function, and if
the values are repeated, the relation is not a function.

Note: if there is a repetition of the first members with an associated repetition of the second
members, the relation becomes a function.

Example 1

Identify the range and domain the relation below:

{(-2, 3), {4, 5), (6, -5), (-2, 3)}

Solution

Since the x values are the domain, the answer is, therefore,

⟹ {-2, 4, 6}

The range is {-5, 3, 5}.

Example 2

Check whether the following relation is a function:

B = {(1, 5), (1, 5), (3, -8), (3, -8), (3, -8)}
Solution

B = {(1, 5), (1, 5), (3, -8), (3, -8), (3, -8)}

Though a relation is not classified as a function if there is a repetition of x – values, this

problem is a bit tricky because x values are repeated with their corresponding y-values.

Example 3

Determine the domain and range of the following function: Z = {(1, 120), (2, 100), (3, 150), (4,
130)}.

Solution

Domain of z = {1, 2, 3, 4 and the range is {120, 100, 150, 130}

Example 4

Check if the following ordered pairs are functions:

1. W= {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 5)

2. Y = {(1, 6), (2, 5), (1, 9), (4, 3)}

Solution

1. All the first values in W = {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 5)} are not repeated, therefore, this
is a function.
2. Y = {(1, 6), (2, 5), (1, 9), (4, 3)} is not a function because, the first value 1 has been
repeated twice.

Example 5

Determine whether the following ordered pairs of numbers are a function.

R = (1,1); (2,2); (3,1); (4,2); (5,1); (6,7)

Solution

There is no repetition of x values in the given set of ordered pairs of numbers.

Therefore, R = (1,1); (2,2); (3,1); (4,2); (5,1); (6,7) is a function.