Functions and Models

1.1 & 1.
2: Functions & Models

Definition: A function is a rule that assigns an output number to an input number.
The domain is the set of input numbers and the range is the set of output numbers.
Q. Is the following plot a function? Why or why not?
Interval Notation
Often we use intervals of numbers to describe a particular range of numbers. For

example we might have a function whose input is the numbers between 0 to 1 but
not including 1.
• The set of numbers t such that a ≤ t ≤ b is called a closed interval and

written [a, b].
• The set of numbers t such that a < t < b is called an open interval and
written (a, b).
So closed intervals include their endpoints whereas open intervals do not. We can
also have intervals which are neither open nor closed e.g. [2, 3).
Functions can be represented by formulas, graphs, tables, and words. The following
includes an example of each.
Formulas
y = x2 + 5
1
Notation: Notice that we will use y and y(x) interchangeably, in other words these
symbols have the same meaning in this context.
Q. What is the domain of this function?
Q. What is the range of this function?
Q. Sketch the graph of this function in the space provided.
Graphs
Q. Roughly speaking, what is the x-
intercept of this function? What is the
y-intercept?
Q. What other information can you

gleam from the graph of this function?
2
Tables
The table below gives the height of a tree measured at the beginning of each month
starting in January.
month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
height (cm) 20 25 33 38 40 41 42 42
Q. If we were to call this function h for the height of the tree at m months then what
is the value of h(3)?
Q. What does the table tell you about the growth of the tree? Explain.
Word Problems
When a patient takes a Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor their blood
vessels dilate(vasodilation) and as a result in the first hour their systolic blood pres-
sure drops from 155 mm Hg to 115 mm Hg. In the 7 hours that follow their systolic
blood pressure steadily rises to 150 mm Hg.
Q. Sketch the graph of this function.
3
Q. Give a hypothesis about how the drug is released into the bloodstream.
Definition: The horizontal intercept, or x-intercept, is the coordinate at which

a function crosses the x-axis. The vertical intercept , or y-intercept, is the coor-
dinate at which a function crosses the y-axis.
Example The graph below represents the temperature in Celcius of an object, h(t),
corresponding to minutes t.
Q. Use the figure above to fill in the following table:
x 2 3.5 5
h(x) -2.5 -4
Q. In the context of this problem, what significance does h(2) have?
4
Q. Is the temperature of the object increasing, decreasing, neither, or both? How
can you tell?
Q. Is the temperature increasing/decreasing linearly? Why or why not?
Q. What is the vertical intercept of h(x)?
In addition to becoming comfortable with the different representations of functions

you should also make sure you’re comfortable with the various types of functions(p.50-
51 of the text). Some of the types functions we will regularly use are:
• Linear • Rational • Cubic • Absolute

Value
• Quadratic • Polynomial • Exponential • Square Root
Additionally, given each type of function you should know:
1. The general form or an example of the function.
2. What the graph of the function tends to look like.
3. How the values of any constants effect the behavior of the function. For example
given the general exponential function Aekx , where A and k are constants, how
do the values of A and k effect the behavior of the function?
5
Additionally, functions can take a piecewise form. Piecewise functions are defined
by two or more functions. For example, the functions n(t) and S(x), given by
( x2 if − 2 ≤ x ≤ 2
4t 0≤t≤3
n(t) = , S(x) = −0.5x + 3.5 2 < x ≤ 4
12 + 23(t − 3)2.7 3 < t ≤ 6
5e−0.2x 4 < x ≤ 10
are piecewise functions. Their plots can be seen in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Two examples of piecewise functions n(t) and S(x) given above.
Mathematical Modeling
A mathematical model is an equation or equations that represent some physical sit-
uation approximately under some assumptions.
In this course we will explore mathematical models related to business and economics.
Some of the most basic monetary business models are functions that describe cost,
revenue, and profit. Models for supply and demand are also of interest to any business.
In the first two labs we will explore these models in detail.
Today...
function, domain, range, independent variable, dependent variable, piecewise func-
tion, vertical line test, general types of functions
Looking Ahead...
review the functions in your text, difference quotient(delta notation), linear function,
slope, intercept

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1.1 & 1.

2: Functions & Models

Q. Is the following plot a function? Why or why not?

Often we use intervals of numbers to describe a particular range of numbers. For

• The set of numbers t such that a ≤ t ≤ b is called a closed interval and

Q. What is the domain of this function?

Q. What is the range of this function?

Q. Sketch the graph of this function in the space provided.

Q. What other information can you

Q. Sketch the graph of this function.

Definition: The horizontal intercept, or x-intercept, is the coordinate at which

Q. Use the figure above to fill in the following table:

Q. In the context of this problem, what significance does h(2) have?

Q. Is the temperature increasing/decreasing linearly? Why or why not?

Q. What is the vertical intercept of h(x)?

In addition to becoming comfortable with the different representations of functions

• Linear • Rational • Cubic • Absolute

• Quadratic • Polynomial • Exponential • Square Root

Additionally, given each type of function you should know:

1. The general form or an example of the function.

2. What the graph of the function tends to look like.

are piecewise functions. Their plots can be seen in Figure 1.

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