Course: Diploma in Biomedical Engineering

Diploma in Aeronautical & Aerospace Technology

Diploma in Aerospace Systems & Management
Diploma in Nanotechnology & Materials Science
Diploma in Engineering with Business
Diploma in Robotics & Mechatronics
Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering
Diploma in Infocomm & Media Engineering
Diploma in Advanced & Digital Manufacturing
Diploma in AI & Data Engineering
Common Engineering Programme

Course Code: EGDF09 / 11 / 12 / 13 /17 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / PA/94

Module Code: EGH150, EGF150, EGK150, EGJ150, EGM150, EGR150,

EGE150, EGL150, EGD150, EGT150, EGC150

Module: Algebra

Week 1: Common Engineering Functions

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

1. define functions using variables,

2. use functional notations to manipulate, combine and evaluate composite functions,

3. interpret domain and range of functions as set of input and output for which the
function is defined,
 Engineering Functions

Uses of Functions

(a) In Mathematics

Functions show one variable is related to another variable.

(b) In Real Life

Functions are used to estimate values, stimulate processes, and discover

relationships. You can model the enrolment rate of children in preschool and
estimate the year in which the rate will reach a certain number. This estimate
can be used to plan for future needs, such as adding teachers and buying
books.

(c) In Careers

There are many careers that use functions. Several are listed below.

• Roofing Contractor
• Financial Analyst
• Sociologist
• Biologist

1 Concepts of Functions

The idea of correspondence plays a really important role in understanding the concept of
function, which is easily one of the most important ideas in this module. The good news is
that you have already had years of experience with correspondences in everyday life. For
example,
(a) For every person, there is corresponding age.
(b) For every item in a store, there is a corresponding price.
(c) For every circle, there is a corresponding area.
(d) For every number, there is a corresponding cube.

One of the most basic and important ways that math can be applied to other areas of study
is the establishment of correspondence among various types of phenomena. In many cases,
once a correspondence is known, it can be used to make important decisions and predictions.
An engineer can use a formula to predict the weight capacity of a stadium grandstand. A
political operative decides how many resources to allocate to a race given current polling
results. A computer scientist can use formula to compare the efficiency of algorithms for
sorting data stored on a computer. An economist would like to be able to predict interest
rates, given the rate of change of the money supply. And the list goes on and on.

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 Engineering Functions

Definition of a function

A function is a correspondence between two sets of elements such that to each element
in the first set there corresponds one and only one element in the second set.

The first set is called domain and the set of all corresponding elements in the second
set is called the range.

To help understand the definition of function, look at the function that relates the time of
day to the temperature in the Figure 1 below.

Figure 1

This function can be represented by the following ordered pairs in which the first coordinate
( x -value) is the input and the second coordinate ( y -value) is the output.
{(1,9°) , ( 2,13°) , ( 3,15°) , ( 4,15°) , ( 5,12°) , ( 6,10°)}

Characteristics of a Function from Set A to Set B

1. Each element in A must be matched with an element in B.

2. Some elements in B may not be matched with any element in A.

3. Two or more elements in A may be matched with the same element in B.

4. An element in A (the domain) cannot be matched with two different elements in B.

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 Engineering Functions

Function Notation

In Algebra, it is very common to represent functions by equations or formulas involving two

variables. For instance, the equation
y = x 2 ( y is a function of x )
represents the variable y as a function of the variable x . In this equation, x is the
independent variable and y is the dependent variable. The domain of the function is the
set of all values taken on by the independent variable x , and the range of the function is the
set of all values taken on by the dependent variable y .

When an equation is used to represent a function, it is convenient to name the function so

that it can be referenced easily. For example, the equation y = 1 − x 2 describes y as
function of x . Suppose we give this function the name “ f ” Then you can use the following
function notation.
Input Output Equation
x f ( x) f ( x ) = 1 − x2

The symbol f ( x ) is read as the value of f at x or simply f of x. The symbol f ( x )

corresponds to the y -value for a given x . So, we can write y = f ( x ) . Keep in mind that f
is the name of the function, whereas f ( x ) is the value of the function at x. For instance, the
function given by
f ( x )= 3 − 2 x
has function values denoted by f ( −1) , f ( 0 ) , f ( 2 ) and so on. To find these values,
substitute the specified input values into the given equation.
For x = −1 , f ( −1) = 3 − 2 ( −1) = 3 + 2 = 5
For x = 0 , f ( 0) = 3 − 2 ( 0) = 3 − 0 = 3
For x = 2 , f ( 2 ) = 3 − 2 ( 2 ) = 3 − 4 = −1
Although f is often used as a convenient function name and x is often used as the
independent variable, we can use other letters. For instance,
f ( x ) = x2 − 4 x + 7 , f ( t ) = t 2 − 4t + 7 and g ( s ) = s 2 − 4s + 7
all define the same function.

Caution
The symbol “ f ( x ) ” should never be read as “f times x”. The notation does not represent a
product. It tell us that the function named f has independent variable x.
f ( x ) is the value of the function f at x.
2 ( x ) = 2 x is algebraic multiplication

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 Engineering Functions

Example 1

Given f ( x=
) 3x − 2 , find the following:
(a) f ( 2 ) (b) f ( 0 ) (c) f ( −7 ) (d) f ( t ) (e) f ( t + 1) (f) f ( 2t )

Solution:

(a ) ) 3( 2) − =
f ( 2= 2 4 (d) f ( t ) = 3 ( t ) − 2 = 3t − 2

(b) f ( 0 ) =3 ( 0 ) − 2 =−2 (e) f ( t + 1) = 3 ( t + 1) − 2 = 3t + 1

(c) f ( −7 ) =3 ( −7 ) − 2 =−23 (f ) f ( 2t ) = 3 ( 2t ) − 2 = 6t − 2

Practice 1

1. Given f ( t ) = 0.5t , write down (a) f ( 4t ) (b) f ( −t ) ( )

(c) f t 2

x
2. Given y ( x ) = x 2 + x + 1 , write down (a) y ( x + 2 ) (b) y  
2

Solution:

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 Engineering Functions

Composition of functions
Consider the function y ( x ) = 2 x 2 . We can think of y ( x ) as being composed of two
functions. One function is described by the rule: 'square the input' while the other function
is described by the rule: 'double the input'.
g hf

Square the input x2

Double the input 2 x2
x

Mathematically, if f ( x ) = 2 x and g ( x ) = x 2 then,

y (=
x ) 2= )) f ( g ( x ))
x 2 2 ( g ( x=

When two functions are applied consecutively, we call the result the composition of
functions. We will use f  g to represent the composition of f and g , which we formally
define now.

Composition of function

The composition of a function f with another function g is denoted by f  g (read “f

composed with g”) and is denoted by
( f  g )( x ) = f ( g ( x ) )

Example 2

If f ( x ) = 2 x and g ( x )= x + 3 , write expressions for the compositions:

(a) ( f  g )( x ) (b) ( g  f )( x )

Is ( f  g )( x ) = ( g  f )( x ) ?

Solutions:

(a) ( f  g )( x ) = f ( g ( x ) ) = f ( x + 3) = 2 ( x + 3) = 2x + 6

(b) ( g  f )( x ) = g ( f ( x )) = g ( 2x ) = ( 2x ) + 3 = 2x + 3

Clearly ( f  g )( x ) ≠ ( g  f )( x )

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 Engineering Functions

Example 3

If f ( x ) =
x + 1 and g ( x ) =
3x + 2 ,
(a) find the composite function ( f  g )( x ) and ( g  f )( x ) .
(b) what are the values of ( f  g )( 3) , ( g  f )( 3) , ( f  g )( −1) and ( g  f )( −1) ?

Solutions

(a ) f ( g ( x )) =
f  g ( x) = f ( g ( x )) =
3x + 3 g  f ( x ) = 3x + 5

(b) f  g ( 3=
) 3 ( 3) + =
3 12 g  f ( 3=
) 3 ( 3) + =
5 14
f  g ( −1) = 3 ( −1) + 3 = 0 g  f ( −1) = 3 ( −1) + 5 = 2

Practice 2

Find f  g ( x ) and g  f ( x ) given,

(a) f ( x ) = 2 x + 3 and g ( x ) = x 2 − 2 x + 4
x+5 x
(b)
= f ( x) = and g ( x )
x x−2
x −1
(c) f ( x) =
2 x − 1 and g ( x ) =
x+2
Solutions:

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 Engineering Functions

2 Domain and Range

The term domain and range have been mentioned earlier in this chapter. It was stated earlier
that if we let the function y = f ( x ) , then the variable x is called independent variable and
the variable y, whose values depends on x, is called the dependent variable.

Domain

The domain of a function is the set of all values (inputs) of the independent variables
for which the function is defined. If x is in the domain of f, f is said to be defined at x.
If x is not in the domain of f, f is said to be undefined at x.

In determining the domain of a function, we need to find what restrictions, if any, are to be
placed on the independent variable x.

In general, if a function is defined by a rule relating x to f ( x ) without specific mention of

its domain, it is understood that the domain will consist of all values of x for which f ( x ) is
a real number. In this connection, you should keep in mind that:
x
(a) division by zero   is not permitted; and
0
( )
(b) the square root of a negative number − x is not defined.
1
) 3x + 5 is all real number. For g ( x ) =
For example, the domain of f ( x= , since g ( x )
x
is undefined only when x = 0 , then the domain of g ( x ) , D=
g { x ≠ 0} .
Range
The range of a function consists of all the values assumed by y = f ( x ) . Simply put,

The range of a function is the set of all values (outputs) assumed by the dependent
variable (that is, the set of all function values).

For example, in the arrow diagram below,

Set X Set Y

f
s
a
t
b
u
c
v

the domain and range are as follows:

Domain, D f = {s, t , u , v} and Range, R f = {a, b, c}

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 Engineering Functions

Example 4
Find the domain and range of the following functions.
3
(a) f ( x=
) 2x + 1 (d) f ( x) =
x−2
1 x +1
(b) f ( x) = (e) f ( x) =
x 10 ( x − 2 )
(c) f ( x=
) x −1
Solution:

(a ) Df
= { x : x ∈ } or all real numbers
=Rf { f ( x ) : f ( x ) ∈ } or all real numbers

(b) { x ∈  : x ≠ 0} or all real numbers except zero

Df =
{ f ( x ) ∈  : f ( x ) ≠ 0} or all real numbers except zero
Rf =

(c) { x ∈  : x ≥ 1}
Df =
R f = { f ( x ) ∈  : f ( x ) ≥ 0}

(d ) { x ∈  : x > 2}
Df =
{ f ( x ) ∈  : f ( x ) > 0}
Rf =

(e) { x ∈  : x ≠ 2} or all real numbers except x =

Df = 2
 1 1
Rf = f ( x ) ∈  : f ( x ) ≠  or all real numbers except f ( x ) =
 10  10

In summary, we have determined the domain of each function by looking for those values
of the independent variable which cannot be used. The range of each was found through an
inspection of the function.
We have seen that the domain of a function is restricted by definitions or by practical
considerations in an application. See Example 5 below as an illustration.

Example 5

The height h, in metres, of a certain projectile as a function of the time t, in seconds, is

h = 20t − 4.9t 2 .
Generally, negative values of time do not have meaning in such application. This leads us
to state the domain as values of t ≥ 0 . And, of course the projectile will not continue in
flight indefinitely, and there is some upper limit on the value of t. These restrictions are not
usually stated unless there is a particular reason which affects the solution.

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 Engineering Functions

TUTORIAL 1

1 Concepts of Functions

1. Find the following:

(a) f ( 3) given f ( x=
) 5x − 7 (b) f ( 8 ) given f ( x ) = 4
1 4
(c) f ( −2 ) given f ( x ) =
2x (d) f   given f ( x ) =
2 x
(e) f ( −3) given f ( x ) =
−x 2
(f) f ( −2 ) given f ( x )= 2 x 2 − x − 3

2. Given f ( x ) =
3 x − 2 and g ( x ) =
x 2 − 5 x , determine the following:
2 4 1
(a) f ( −3) (b) g   (c) g ( x − 5 ) (d) f   + g  
5 3 3

3. A demolition ball is used to tear down a building. Its distance s (in m) above the
ground as a function of time t (in s) after it is dropped is=s 17.5 − 4.9t 2 . Since
s = f ( t ) , find f (1.2 ) .

4. If f ( x ) = x 2 and g ( x )= x − 2 , find
(a) ( f  g )( x ) (b) ( g  f )( x ) (c) ( f  g )( 5 ) (d) ( g  f )( 5 )

5. If f ( x=
) x 2 − 6 and g ( x=) x + 1 , find
(a) ( f  g )( x ) (b) ( g  f )( x ) (c) ( f  g )( 2 ) (d) ( g  f )( 3)

6. Determine f  g and g  f given the following functions.

(a) f ( x ) =
4 x + 7 and g ( x ) =
2x − 3 (b) f ( x ) =
x 2 + 1 and g ( x ) =
2x
1
(c) f ( x ) 3=
= x and g ( x ) (d) f ( x ) =
x 2 − 2 x and g ( x ) =
x +1
x
3x + 1
(e) f ( x=
) 2 x and g ( x=) 5 x + 7 (f) f ( x )= and g ( x )= x − 1
2− x
2 Domain and Range

7. Determine the domain and range of each function.

2 2
(a) y= x + 3 y x −2
(b) = (c) y =
x+5
y
(d) = x −3 y
(e) = x+2

8. (S1Y16/17 CT Q1a)
3
Given the functions f ( x ) =
3 x − 5 and g ( x ) = , x≠0,
x
(a) write down the domains of f ( x ) and g ( x ) ,
(b) find f ( −1) .

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 Engineering Functions

Suggested Answer:
1
1. (a) 8 (b) 4 (c) (d) 8 (e) −9 (f) 7
4

46 4
2. (a) −11 (b) − (c) x 2 − 15 x + 50 (d)
25 9

3. 10.4m

4. (a) ( f  g ) ( x= ( x − 2) (b) ( g  f ) ( x=
) x2 − 2
2
) (c) 9 (d) 23

5. (a) ( f  g ) ( x)= x − 5 (b) ( g  f ) =

( x) x2 − 5 (c) -3 (d) 2

6. (a) ( f  g ) ( x=
) 8 x − 5 , ( g  f ) ( x=
) 8 x + 11
(b) ( f  g ) ( x=
) 2x +1 , ( g  =
f ) ( x) 2 ( x 2 + 1)
3 1
(c) ( f  g ) ( x) = , ( g  f ) ( x) =
x 3x
(d) ( f  g ) ( x=
) x − 1 , ( g  f ) ( x) = x 2 − 2 x + 1
2

)( x ) 5 ( 2 x ) + 7
(e) ( f  g ) ( x) = 25 x + 7 , ( g  f =
3x − 2 4x − 1
(f) ( f  g ) ( x) = , ( g  f ) ( x) =
3− x 2− x

7. (a) Domain= { x : all real numbers} , Range={ y : all real numbers}

(b) Domain= { x : all real numbers} , Range={ y : y ≥ −2}
(c) Domain= { x : x ≠ −5} , Range={ y : y ≠ 0}
(d) Domain= { x : x ≥ 0} , Range={ y : y ≥ −3}
(e) Domain= { x : x ≥ −2} , Range={ y : y ≥ 0}

8. (a) D f= { x ∈ℜ} or all real numbers and Dg= { x ∈ ℜ : x ≠ 0}

(b) f ( −1) = −8

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