MATH 165

College Algebra
with Analytic Geometry
Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus 8e by Stewart, Redlin and Watson
Course Outcome 1
Algebraic Operations
and Functions
CO1 – Lesson 1.8
Introduction to Functions
 Lesson Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
1. define a function and identify its key components, such as domain, range
2. evaluate functions at specific input values and represent functions using
various forms, including tables, graphs, and equations.
3. determine if a given relation represents a function and explain the vertical
line test for functions.
 Introduction
A function is a rule that describes how one quantity depends on another. Many
real-world situations follow precise rules, so they can be modeled by functions.

In nearly every physical phenomenon we observe that one quantity depends on

another. For example, your height depends on your age.

Your grade in this course is a function of your

weighted average score (WAS).
 Introduction

A function is a rule. To talk about a function, we need to give it a name. We will use letters
such as 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, … to represent functions.
A function can be described in several ways. For example, if 𝑓 is a function from a set 𝐴 to
a set 𝐵. Some common notations used are:
1. Set Notation: 𝑓 = { 𝑥, 𝑦 : 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)}
2. Mapping Form: 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵
 Introduction

A function is a rule. To talk about a function, we need to give it a name. We will use letters
such as 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, … to represent functions.
A function can be described in several ways. For example, if 𝑓 is a function from a set 𝐴 to
a set 𝐵. Some common notations used are:
1. Set Notation: 𝑓 = { 𝑥, 𝑦 : 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)}
2. Mapping Form: 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵
3. Tabular
 Introduction

A function is a rule. To talk about a function, we need to give it a name. We will use letters
such as 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, … to represent functions.
A function can be described in several ways. For example, if 𝑓 is a function from a set 𝐴 to
a set 𝐵. Some common notations used are:
1. Set Notation: 𝑓 = { 𝑥, 𝑦 : 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)}
2. Mapping Form: 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵
3. Tabular
4. Formula
 Introduction

A function is a rule. To talk about a function, we need to give it a name. We will use letters
such as 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, … to represent functions.
A function can be described in several ways. For example, if 𝑓 is a function from a set 𝐴 to
a set 𝐵. Some common notations used are:
1. Set Notation: 𝑓 = { 𝑥, 𝑦 : 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)}
2. Mapping Form: 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵
3. Tabular
4. Formula
5. Graph
 Introduction
The domain of a function is the set of all the first coordinates of the ordered
pairs. The range of a function is the set of all the second coordinates.

If a function is defined by a formula (or equation), the variable that represents

elements of the domain is the independent variable. The variable that
represents elements of the range is the dependent variable.
Remark:
The notation “𝑓” and the notation “𝑓(𝑥)” mean different things. “𝑓” is the name
of the function, whereas “𝑓(𝑥)” is the value of the function at 𝑥. Finding the
value of 𝑓(𝑥) is referred to as evaluating 𝑓 at 𝑥. To evaluate 𝑓(𝑥) at 𝑥 = 𝑎,
substitute 𝑎 for 𝑥 and simplify.
 Vertical Line Test
The vertical line test is a visual way to determine if a graph represents a function. It is a
quick visual check. It works for any graph, regardless of the equation.
It helps reinforce the fundamental concept of a function: one input, one output.
If a vertical line hits the graph twice, it means that one x-value has two different y-values
associated with it, violating the definition of a function.
 Illustrations
1. The set of ordered pairs f = {(2,3),(4,1),(4,5)} does not represent a function because of
the elements (4,1) and (4,5), as these violate the definition “exactly one element should
be paired to 4”. In this case, we can simply call f as a relation.
!
2. The equation 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5 defines a function. Solving for 𝑦, we obtain 𝑦 = (2𝑥 − 5).
"
!
The value " (2𝑥 − 5) is unique for each value of 𝑥.
3. The equation 𝑥 # + 𝑦 # = 9 does not represent a function (only a relation). Solving for
𝑦, we obtain 𝑦 = ± 9 − 𝑥 # which generates at most 2 values of 𝑦 for each value of 𝑥
(e.g., (0,3), (0, -3) are in the ordered pairs of the equation).
 Evaluation of functions
Let 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 1, evaluate the following:
a) 𝑓(2) b) 𝑓(−1) c) 𝑓(0)

#
d) 𝑓 e) 𝑓(𝑘) f) 𝑓(𝑘 + 2)
"
 Piecewise Functions
A piecewise-defined function (or a piecewise function) is a function that is defined by different
formulas on different parts of its domain.

Piecewise functions are great at modeling situations where different rules or calculations apply
depending on the input value. Here are some real-life examples:
1. The tax an income-earning individual is a piecewise function of his/her income, with different
tax rates applied to different income ranges.
2. Many cell phone plans have a base cost and then charge extra for going over a certain data
limit. Thus, the monthly bill is a piecewise function of data usage.
3. Employees earn a regular hourly rate for the first 40 hours and then a higher overtime rate
for any hours worked beyond that. We then say that the weekly earnings are a piecewise
function of hours worked.
4. Parking fee is a piecewise function of the parking duration. Parking lots may have a flat fee for
the first hour and then charge an hourly rate for each additional hour.
 Example
3𝑥 + 1 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 5
Define 𝑓 𝑥 = = , evaluate the following:
𝑥 # − 1 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 5

a) 𝑓(−5) b) 𝑓(0) c) 𝑓(5)

! #
d) 𝑓 "
e) 𝑓 − $
 Example
A cell phone plan costs $39 a month. The plan includes 5 gigabytes (GB) of free high-speed
data and charges $15 per gigabyte for any additional high-speed data used. The monthly
charges are a function of the number of gigabytes of data used, given by
39 𝑖𝑓 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5
𝐶 𝑥 ==
39 + 15(𝑥 − 5) 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 5
How much will a customer pay if he consumes
a) 500 MB of high-speed data?
b) 5 GB of high-speed data?
c) 8 GB of high-speed data?
 Domain of a Function
If the function is implicitly defined as 𝐹 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0, first obtain the explicit form expressing
𝑦 as a function of 𝑥, i.e., 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥).
If 𝑓(𝑥) is an algebraic expression, then refer to the table below:
Algebraic
General Form Domain
Expression
Polynomial 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎! 𝑥 ! + ⋯ + 𝑎" 𝐷# = ℝ = (−∞, ∞)
𝑁(𝑥)
Rational 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷# = {𝑥 ∈ ℝ: 𝐷 𝑥 ≠ 0}
𝐷(𝑥)
𝐷# = 𝑥 ∈ ℝ: 𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 0 , 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛
!
Radical/Irrational 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑟(𝑥)
𝐷# = ℝ = −∞, ∞ , 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑

The domain for non-algebraic function (e.g., exponential, logarithmic) will be discussed in
separate lessons.
The domain of piecewise functions may be explicitly defined in the function.
 Range of a Function
Although finding the range of a function is generally tricky, we can follow the same
process as when finding the domain.
Here, we re-write 𝑦 = (𝑥) as 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑦). That is, this time, we solve for 𝑥 in terms of 𝑦.
If 𝑔(𝑦) is algebraic, then we use the same rule as the domain.

Algebraic
General Form Domain
Expression
Polynomial 𝑔 𝑦 = 𝑏! 𝑦 ! + ⋯ + 𝑏" 𝑅# = ℝ = (−∞, ∞)
𝑛(𝑦)
Rational 𝑔 𝑦 = 𝑅# = {𝑦 ∈ ℝ: 𝑑 𝑦 ≠ 0}
𝑑(𝑦)
𝑅# = 𝑦 ∈ ℝ: 𝑞 𝑦 ≥ 0 , 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛
!
Radical/Irrational 𝑔 𝑦 = 𝑞(𝑦)
𝑅# = ℝ = −∞, ∞ , 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑
 Example
Find the domain and range of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 # − 2𝑥 + 2.
a) Domain
Since 𝑓(𝑥) is a polynomial, 𝑫𝒇 = ℝ.
b) Range
From 𝑦 = 𝑥 # − 2𝑥 + 2, we solve for 𝑥 in terms of 𝑦.
𝑦 = 𝑥 # − 2𝑥 + 1 + 1
𝑦 = 𝑥−1 #+1
𝑦−1= 𝑥−1 #
𝑦−1=𝑥−1
𝑥 = 𝑔 𝑦 = 𝑦 − 1 + 1, 𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑦 − 1 ≥ 0 =⇒ 𝑦 ≥ 1
𝑹𝒇 = 𝒚 ∈ ℝ: 𝒚 ≥ 𝟏 = [𝟏, ∞)
 Example
$
Find the domain and range of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = % " &'%.
a) Domain
𝑓(𝑥) is rational with denominator 𝑥 ( − 4𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑥 − 4). So, the denominator will be
zero if either 𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥 = 4. Therefore,
𝑫𝒇 = 𝒙 ∈ ℝ: 𝒙 ≠ 𝟎, 𝒙 ≠ 𝟒 = −∞, 𝟎 ∪ 𝟎, 𝟒 ∪ (𝟒, ∞)
b) Range
$ $ $ $+'*
𝑦 = % " &'% =⇒ 𝑥 ( − 4𝑥 = * =⇒ 𝑥 ( − 4𝑥 + 4 = * + 4 =⇒ 𝑥 − 2 (
= *

1 + 4𝑦 1 + 4𝑦
𝑥−2= =⇒ 𝑥=𝑔 𝑦 = + 2 [Radical function]
𝑦 𝑦
1 + 4𝑦 1
≥ 0 =⇒ 𝑦 ≤ − 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 > 0 [Left as exercise, use the method of Lesson 1.7]
𝑦 4
𝟏 𝟏
𝑹𝒇 = 𝒚 ∈ ℝ: 𝒚 ≤ − 𝟒 𝒐𝒓 𝒚 > 𝟎 = −∞, − 𝟒 ∪ (𝟎, ∞)
 Exercises
Specify the domain and range of the following functions:
1. 𝑦 = 5𝑥 ( + 4
(
2. 𝑦 = .+%
%
3. 𝑦=
'&%
4. 𝑦 = 2−𝑥
$
5. 𝑦= (%+.
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