025-1MB-FX

FALL 2016

BLOC 1
Reminders and Functions

1. Real Numbers
2. Polynomials and Factoring
3. Functions
a. Graph Analysis
b. Domain
c. Basic Functions (linear, quadratic, piecewise defined, absolute value)
d. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
4. Exercises
1. Real Numbers

The set of real numbers is denoted by ℝ and represented by a line with an arrow.

a. Intervals
ℝ interval

ℝ interval

ℝ _______

ℝ intervals

 a and b are named the _____________ of the interval.

 a is the left bound and b is the right bound.

An interval may contain one or two infinite bound(s).

is denoted by _________________
a
ℝ is represented by

is denoted by _________________
b
ℝ is denoted by ____________ and represented by

Example 1:
True or false? 0, 1  0, 1

2
Example 2:
Write as an interval :

a)  
-5 -2 2 7

b)

1 5
b. Arithmetic
Example Operation Result Components

or

Exponent properties:

** Important case:

Example 3:
a) What is the difference between and ?

b) What is the difference between and ?

c) If ℝ and , then and

2
d) Evaluate 23  8 3
 1 1  3
1 3
1 

3
2. Polynomials and Factoring

A polynomial in one variable is an expression of the form

an x n  an1 x n1  an2 x n2  ...  a2 x 2  a1 x  a0
where x is the variable, the coefficients ai are elements in ℝ and the exponents are elements in ℕ.

The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent of x. We will mostly work with polynomials of degree 1, 2 and 3. The
degree of a term is the exponent of x present in that term.

 A binomial is a sum of 2 terms,

a trinomial is a sum of 3 terms,
a polynomial is a sum of many terms.

Here are the main methods of factoring.

a. Simple Polynomial Factoring

This method consists in factoring out a common factor of every term of the polynomial.

Example 1: Factor 21a 3b  14a 2  42a.

21a 3b  14a 2  42a 

Verification of the result:

b. Factoring in Pairs (for an even number of terms):

We use this method when no factor is common to every term, but if we regroup the terms in pairs, there are common
factors.

Example 2:

4
Example 3:

x2  mxy  4 xy  4my 2 

c. Difference of Two Squares:

Example 4:

b 2  81 

Example 5:

16x 2  25 

Example 6:

3x 2  17 

Example 7:

d. Degree Two Trinomial:

1) Product-sum method

Example 8:

5
Example 9:
2 x 2  15 x  8

Example 10:

x 2  13 x  30

2) Factoring with the quadratic formula

If we cannot find two integers which product is ac and which sum is b, we can use the quadratic formula to find the
zeros of the polynomial (if they exist!).

Quadratic formula

b  b 2  4ac
The values xi  given by the quadratic formula are the zeros of the polynomial where
2a
, because when is replaced by one of those values, the polynomial becomes 0.

If b2 – 4ac > 0, then ax  bx  c  a (x – x1) (x – x2).

2

If b2 – 4ac = 0, then ax  bx  c  a (x – x1)2.

2

If b2 – 4ac < 0, then ax  bx  c is irreducible (i.e. it cannot be factored).

2

6
Example 11:

Let's factor 4 x  23 x  15 using the quadratic formula.

2

e. Degree Three Polynomial:

When it is possible, we can factor those polynomials using simple polynomial factoring or factoring in pairs. When it is
not possible, we have to use polynomial long division.

Definition of a zero of a polynomial

A zero (or root) of a polynomial is a value of x for which the polynomial becomes zero. In other words, x = a is a zero of
the polynomial P(x) if and only if P(a) = 0.

Factor theorem

If the real number a is a zero of the polynomial P(x), then (x – a) is a factor* of P(x).

* This means that P(x) may be written as P( x)   x  a  Q( x) , where Q(x) is a polynomial of degree inferior to P(x).

Example 12 :

Factor the polynomial 2 x  4 x  2 x  4 .

3 2

7
Example 13:

Let's factor the polynomial P( x)  x3  x 2  14 x  24.

Neither simple polynomial factoring nor factoring in pairs will help us factor this polynomial. We must use polynomial
long division.

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3. Functions
A function is a correspondence that assigns to each element of a set of departure at most one element of a set of
destination. In this class, we will study only real functions.

Definition of a real function

A real function is a function for which the set of departure is ℝ and the set of destination is ℝ.

f ( x)  x 3 x2  y 2  4

a. Graph Analysis

 Domain: Set of real values of x which image under the function f is real.

 Image (or range): Set of every possible real value y under the function f.

 y-intercept: Value of y where the function f intersects with the y-axis.

 Zeros : Value(s) of x where the function f intersects with the x-axis.

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  Increasing and decreasing function :

o Increasing function ( ) : Set of real values of x for which the values of y increase as the values of x
increase.

o Decreasing function ( ) : Set of real values of x for which the values of y decrease as the values of x
increase.

 Intervals of positive and negative values:

o Positive function: Set of real values of x for which the function f is located above the x-axis.

o Negative function: Set of real values of x for which the function f is located under the x-axis.

 Asymptotes:

o Vertical asymptote: Vertical line of equation x = a to which the function f gets closer and closer without
ever reaching it.

o Horizontal asymptote: Horizontal line of equation y = b to which the function f gets closer and closer
without ever reaching it.

 The image of a real number under a function, f (a): Value of y when x = a.

Example 1:

Let f be the following function:

f(x)

-2 -1 1 4 x
-1

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a) Identify the domain:

b) Identify the image:

c) Identify the y-intercept:

d) Approximate the zeros:

e) Identify the intervals where the function is increasing:

f) Identify the intervals where the function is decreasing:

g) Identify the intervals where the function is positive:

h) Identify the intervals where the function is negative:

i) Identify the asymptotes (if possible):

k) Identify, if possible, the following values:

i. iii.

ii. iv.

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Example 2:

Let be the following function:

a) Identify the domain:

b) Identify the image:

c) Identify the y-intercept:

d) Approximate the zeros:

e) Identify the intervals where the function is increasing:

f) Identify the intervals where the function is decreasing:

g) Identify the intervals where the function is positive:

h) Identify the intervals where the function is negative:

i) Identify the asymptotes (if possible):

k) Identify, if possible, the following values:

i. iii.
ii. iv.

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 Example 3: Identify, using algebra, the y-intercept and the zeros of the following functions.

a)

b)

c)

1
Example 4: Let f ( x)  2 x  1 , g ( x )  5  x and h( x) 
2
be three functions. Evaluate
3x
a)
g)
b)

c) h)

d)
i)

e)

f)

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b. Domain
The domain of a real function f of variable x is the set of real values of the variable x which image under the function f is
real.
Notation : Dom f =  x  | f  x   
If every operation involved in the function are closed in ℝ, the domain is ℝ. Therefore, every polynomial function has ℝ
as a domain. But some operations are not closed ℝ.

Elements to look for when seeking the

Associated restriction
domain of a function

numerator
1) presence of a division
denominator

2) presence of a nth root with n even

EVEN
radicand

Rule of zero product

AB  0 iff A  0 or B  0.

This rule implies the following: AB  0 iff A  0 and B  0.

Example 5:
9  3x
Identify the domain of h  x   .
2 x  8 x  24
2

Example 6:

Identify the domain of v  x   9  3 x .

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Example 7:

Identify the domain of w  x   2 x 2  8 x  24.

Example 8:
2x  3
Identify the domain of f ( x)  .
9  3x

Example 9:

Identify the domain of

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c. Basic Functions

1) Linear function:

Let and be two points of the function f. The slope is

The slope represents a rate of change.

The y-intercept of the linear function is .

The geometrical representation is a line.

Example 10:

Sketch the line described by .

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Example 11:

Find the equation of the line that passes through the points and

2) Quadratic function:

Example 12:

Complete the following table:

Quadratic function Value of a Value of b Value of c

f ( x)  2 x 2  5 x  6

x2 2 x 1
f ( x)   
2 5 3
f ( x)  6 x  x 2
x2
f ( x)  3 
6

The geometrical representation is a parabola.

The parabola opens upward if a  0 and opens downward if a  0 .

The vertex of the parabola is the point where and .

The parabola has an axis of symmetry, which is the vertical line of equation .

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Example 13:

Identify the key elements of the following parabolas.

According to the position in the Cartesian plane, a quadratic function has none, one or two zero(s).

(no zero) (one zero) (two zeros)

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Example 14:

Sketch the parabola described by the quadratic function .

3) Piecewise defined function

A function is piecewise defined when its description includes, explicitly or implicitly, more than one correspondence
rule.

Example 15:

 2 if  9  x  1

Let f be the function f  x    5  x if  1  x  5 .
 3 if x  5

x4

Evaluate the following expressions:

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Example 16:

Let f be the following function:

 x if x  1

f  x    3 if  1  x  0.
 x 2 if 0  x  3


a) Sketch a graphical representation of the function.

b) Find the domain of the function.

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4) Absolute value function:

Let's sketch a graphical representation of f :

This function f is implicitly defined by two correspondence rules.

d. Exponential and logarithmic functions

1) Exponential function
x
1
Let's sketch the graphical representation of the exponential functions f ( x)    and g ( x)  2 x .
2

-3 -3
-2 -2
-1 -1
0 0
1 1
2 2
3 3

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 The exponential function with base is the function defined by
where

The number e :
The number e is an irrational number which decimal representation is infinite, non-periodic and which approximate
value is 2,71828. We often use e as the base of the exponential function to describe situations that are
encountered, among other, in biology, physics, economy and demography.

Characteristics of the exponential function:

where where
= =
I = =
The function f always passes through the point (0 ; ___ ). The function g always passes through the point ( 0 ; ___ ).

The function f is strictly __________________________ The function g is strictly _________________________

(increasing or decreasing) on ℝ. (increasing or decreasing) on ℝ.
The x-axis is a __________________________ (horizontal or The x-axis is a __________________________ (horizontal or
vertical) asymptote of the graph of f. vertical) asymptote of the graph of g.

Example 1:

Circle the exponential functions among the following functions.

a) y  4 b) y   c) y  x
x x 4

e) y   4 
x
d) y  3 f) y  1x
x

2) Logarithmic function

A logarithmic function of variable x with base b is a function of the form where is a real constant
( .
is the exponent by which the base must be raised to obtain the argument x .
y  logb ( x)  x b y

Logarithmic form Exponential form

Example 2:

Evaluate the following logarithms.

a) f)
b) g)
c) h)
i)
d)
e)
 Let's sketch the graph of the logarithmic functions f ( x)  log 1 ( x) and g ( x)  log 2 ( x) .
2

-1 -1
-2 -2
0 0
1/4 1/4
1/2 1/2
1 1
2 2

Characteristics of the logarithmic function:

where where

= =
= =
The function f always passes through the point ( ___ ; ___ ) The function g always passes through the point ( ___ ; ___ )
The function f is strictly __________________________ The function g is strictly _________________________
(increasing or decreasing) on _________________ . (increasing or decreasing) on _________________ .
The y-axis is a __________________________ (horizontal or The y-axis is a __________________________ (horizontal or
vertical) asymptote of the graph of f. vertical) asymptote of the graph of g.

Remarks:

 A logarithmic function with base b is the inverse of an exponential function with base b. Therefore, if the point
(c ; d) is part of the graph of f, then the point (d ; c) is part of the graph of f -1.
  Two bases are particularly useful to describe many concrete situations: base 10 and base e. Scientific calculators
are programmed to compute logarithms in these two basis. Particular notations exist for these two basis.

log10 x  log x logarithm with base 10

log e x  ln x natural logarithm or napierian logarithm (with base e)

Change of base

If a, b and c are real positive numbers and we want to compute with a calculator, we must use the change of
base formula: .
The new base is normally chosen as base 10 or base e :
or

Logarithmic properties

If u, v and b are real positive numbers, k is a real number and b 1, complete the following equalities.

1) 2)

3) 4)

5) 6)

3) The domain of exponential and logarithmic functions

Elements to look for when seeking the

Associated restriction
domain of a function

numerator
1) We want:
denominator

2) EVEN
radicand We want:

3) log a (argument) or ln (argument) We want:

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Example 3:

Identify the domain of the function g ( x)  log(3  4 x) .

Example 4:

Identify the domain of the function h( x)  log( x 2  3x  4) .

Example 5:
8x
Identify the domain of the function f ( x)  .
3x

Example 6:
1
Identify the domain of the function r ( x)  .
2 2
x

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 EXERCISES
Bloc 1

1. Factor the following expressions.

a) x 3  16 x f)  x 2  11x  30
4 x  x  3  9 x 2  x  3
2
g) x2  2x  1
b)
3  x  1  x2  x  1 h) 4 x  15 x  9
2
c)
d) 27x  x x 2  9 x  36
3 6
i)
e) x 2  x  20 j) 4 x2  8x 1

2. For each of the graphs, say whether the variable y is a function of the variable x.

a) y b)
y

x x

3. Let f be the following function. Identify…

a) the domain;
b) the image;
c) the y-intercept;
d) the zeros;
e) the increasing intervals;
f) the decreasing intervals;
g) the intervals where the function is
positive;
h) the intervals where the function is
negative;
i) the vertical asymptotes;
j) the horizontal asymptotes.

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4. Let g be the following function. Identify…

a) the domain;
b) the image;
c) the y-intercept;
d) the zeros;
e) the increasing intervals;
f) the decreasing intervals;
g) the intervals where the function is
positive;
h) the intervals where the function is
negative;
i) the vertical asymptotes;
j) the horizontal asymptotes.

5. Identify the y-intercept and the zero(s) of the following functions.

a) c)
b)
d)

6. If and , calculate:
a) e)
b) The image of 4 under the function
f)
c) The image of 4 under the function
g)
d)
h)

7. Identify the domain of the following functions.

a) d)
b)
e)
c) f)

8. Complete each of the following statements.

a) The graph of the function defined by the equation y = mx + b is a .
b) The slope of the line defined by is .
c) The slope of the line defined by is .
d) The equation of the line of slope 7 and of y-intercept 5 is .
e) The equation of the line of slope 6 that passes through the point (2; - 3) is .
f) The equation of the line that passes through the points (- 1; 1) and (0; 2) is .
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9. Complete each of the following statements.
a) The graph of the function defined by the equation y  ax 2  bx  c is a .
b) The parabola opens upward if _________.
c) The parabola opens downward if __________.

10. Sketch the graph of each of the following functions.

a) c)
b) d)

x  2 if x  0

11. Let f be the function defined by f ( x)   x 2 if 0  x  2 .
6  x if x  2

a) Evaluate the following expressions.
i. iv.
ii. v.
iii.
b) Sketch a graphical representation of f.

12. Identify, without calculator, the value of the logarithm.

 1 
a) log10 (100) b) log5 (125) c) log3   d) log 20 (20)
 27 

13. Identify the value of x in each of the following equations.

a) log3 ( x)  4 b) log16 (4)  x c) log x (8)  3

14. Express the given equation in logarithmic form.

1 3
a) 2  64
6
b) 32  c) 10  0,001
9

15. Sketch the graph of the following functions.

a) b) c) d)

16. Identify the domain of the following functions.

log9  x  8
a) f  x   log 12  x  b) f  x  c) f  x   ln  x 2  x  6 
x2  4

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 ANSWERS TO THE EXERCICES
Bloc 1

1.
a) x  x  4 x  4 g)  x  1
2

b) x  x  313x  12  h)  x  3 4x  3
c)  x  1  3x  3x  i)  x  3 x  12
d) x3  27  x3   x3 ( x  3)( x 2  3x  9)  8  80  8  80 
j) 4  x  
 x   or
 8  8 
e)  x  4 x  5
 2  5  2 5 
f)  x  5 6  x  or ( x  5)( x  6) 4  x  

2 
x 
2 


2. a) Function b) Not a function

3.
a) Dom f  \{2} f) x  ;  4  1; 2  2; 5
b) Ima f   150,  g) x  ,  5  2;2  2;3  6, 
c) f (0)  175 h) x  5,  2  3, 6
d) x1  5 x2  2 x3  3 x4  6 i) None
e) x  4;1  5;  j) None
4.
a) Domg  \{1, 1} f) x  ,  1  1, 0
b) Ima g  , 2  8,  g) x  ,  2  1, 1  2, 
c) g (0)  8 h) x  2,  1  1, 2
d) x1  2 x2  2 i) VA x  1 x  1
e) x  0, 1  1,  j) HA y  2

x3 h  0  3
5. a) f  0  3 and 2 c) 4 and x  3
b) g  0   3 and x  3 d) i  0   and x  4 / 5
4

29
 6.
a) f (4)  9 b) f (4)  9 c) g (4)  5
d) x  2 e) 1 if h  0 f) h(h  1)  h2  h
g) 2  x h) h

7.
 1 4 5
a) Dom f    d) Domi   ; 
 4 5 4
 3
b) Domg   ;  e) Dom j   4;  5
 4
 1
c) Domh  1; 4 f) Domk   ; 
 4

8.
a) line d) y  7 x  5
b) e) y  6 x  15
2 f) y  x  2
c) m  
3

9.
a) parabola b) c)

10.
a) b)
Vertex Vertex

Zeros : Zeros :

30
c) d)
Vertex Vertex

Zeros : Zeros : none

11.
a) i. b)
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

12.
a)
b)
c)
d)

13.
a) b) c)

14.
a) b) c)

31
15.
a) b)

c) d)

16.
a)
b)
c)

32