Function
Function
Function
Function
• So exactly what do we mean by
‘a function’?
• Machine analogy
• Natural domain of a function
• Miscellaneous exercise three
So exactly what do we mean by ‘a function’? WS
of the second set. For example, Alex in the first set maps onto
5 in the second set. We write Alex 5.
The first set we call the domain, the second set we call the co-domain and those elements of the
co-domain that the elements of the first set map onto form the range.
Thus in the above function, the domain is {Alex, Bob, Chris, Dan, Eric},
the co-domain is {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
and the range is {3, 5, 6, 7}.
Notice that in this function two elements of the domain, Alex and Chris, map onto the same element of
the range, 5. We call such functions, in which more than one element of the domain map onto the same
element of the range, many-to-one functions.
If each element of the domain is mapped onto a different element of the range then the function is said
to be one-to-one.
One-to-many relationships can occur but under our requirement that a function takes one element
from the domain and assigns to it one and only one element from the range, a one-to-many relationship
would not be called a function. (Thus the arrow diagram for a function cannot have any elements in the
first set from which more than one arrow leaves.) This terminology is further illustrated below:
D K S
A H P
E L T
B I Q
F M U
C J R
G N V
√x x2 (x – 1)3
1 1 –3 1 0
0
4 2 0 2 1
9
25 5 3 3 8
These functions may be one-to-one, as in x and (x – 1)3 shown above, or they may be many-to-one, as in
x2 shown above, for which (–3)2 and (3)2 have the same output, 9.
The domain and range of most of the functions we will deal with will be sets of numbers.
For example:
The ‘× 2’ function The ‘× 2 and subtract 1’ function
with domain {1, 2, 3} with domain {1, 2, 3}
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5
3 6 3 3 6 6 3 6
When several functions are used in one question, g(x) and h(x) are commonly used to distinguish
between them.
EXAMPLE 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 The
Input square it and add
three Output
function machine 4, 7, 12, 19, 28
EXAMPLE 2
State the range of each of the following functions for the given domain.
a f (x) = x + 1 {x ∈ : 2 ≤ x ≤ 5} b f (x) = x for the natural domain of f (x).
Solution
a Adding 1 to all the real numbers from 2 to 5 will give all the real numbers from 3 to 6.
Thus the range is {y ∈ : 3 ≤ y ≤ 6}.
Note that we could use any letter to define the range but in this book we will tend to use x as
the variable when defining a domain and y as the variable when defining a range.
b The natural domain of the function is {x ∈ : x ≥ 0}.
This function could then output any non negative real number.
Thus the range is {y ∈ : y ≥ 0}.
If a vertical line is moved from the left of the domain to the right it must never cut the graph in
more than one place.
This is called the vertical line test.
y y y y
x x x x
Note: We could use a similar horizontal line test to determine whether a function is a one-to-one
function or not.
Exercise 3A
1 Which of the following arrow diagrams show functions?
a b c
d e f
x x x
d e
y f
y y
x x x
3 State the range of each of the following function machines for the domains shown.
a
The multiply by two
Input: and then add three Output:
1, 2, 3, 4 function machine ?
b
The add three and
Input: then multiply by two Output:
1, 2, 3, 4 function machine ?
c
The divide the
Input: number by itself Output:
1, 2, 3, 4 function machine ?
d
Input: The multiply the
All real number by itself Output:
numbers function machine ?
6 Which numbers can each of the following functions not cope with? (i.e. which numbers must not
be included in the domain?)
1 1
a f (x) = x − 1 b f (x) = x2 + 1 c f (x) = d f (x) =
x 1− x
7 Which numbers is it impossible for each of the following functions to output? (i.e. which numbers
will not be included in the range?)
1 1
a f (x) = x − 1 b f (x) = x2 + 1 c f (x) = d f (x) =
x 1− x
For questions 8 to 22 state the range of each function for the given domain.
27 f (x) = x , domain: {x ∈ : 1 ≤ x ≤ 4} 28
f (x) = x , for the natural domain of the function
State the natural domain and corresponding range for each of the following.
29 f (x) = 2x + 3 30 f (x) = x2
31 f (x) = x 32 f (x) = x − 3
33 f (x) = x + 3 34 f (x) = 5 + x − 3
1 1
35 f (x) = 36 f (x) =
x−3 x−3
2x − 1 3x + 2 3x − 1 2x + 7
1 Solve a = b +7 =
3 5 2 3
2 Find the range of the function f (x) = 3 – 2x for the domain {1, 2, 3, 4}.
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 x –3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4 5 x
–1 –1
Graph 1 Graph 2
–2 –2
–3 –3
5 For each of the following diagrams, state whether the relationship shown is a function or not and,
for those that are functions, state whether the function is one-to-one or many-to one.
a y b y c y
x x x
d y e y f y
x x x
6 The isosceles triangle ABC has AB = AC = 10 cm and BC = 12 cm. Three circles are drawn,
one with centre A, radius 4 cm, another with centre B, radius 6 cm, and a third with centre C,
radius 6 cm. Find the area of that part of triangle ABC not lying in any of the circles.
7 Three ships A, B and C are such that B is 4.8 km from A on a bearing 115° and C is 5.7 km from
A on a bearing 203°.
How far and on what bearing is B from C?
100° 120°
72 m