An Introduction to

Functions
A relation is a rule of correspondence that
relates two sets.

For instance, the formula I = 500r describes a

relation between the amount of interest I
earned in one year and the interest rate r.

In mathematics, relations are represented by

sets of ordered pairs (x, y) .
A function from a set A to a set B is a relation
that assigns to each element x in the set A
exactly one element y in the set B.

The set A is called the domain of the function.

The set B is called the range of the function.

 Function
Set B
Set A
y

x y

x y

x y

x y

Domain Range
Example: Determine whether the relation
represents y as a function of x.

a) {(-2, 3), (0, 0), (2, 3), (4, -1)}

Function

b) {(-1, 1), (-1, -1), (0, 3), (2, 4)}

Not a Function
Functions represented by equations are often
named using a letter such as f or g.

The symbol f (x), read as “the value of f at x” or

simply as “f of x”, is the element in the range of f
that corresponds with the domain element x. That
is,
y = f (x)
The domain elements, x, can be thought of as
the inputs and the range elements, f (x), can
be thought of as the outputs.

Function Input Output

f x f (x)
To evaluate a function f (x) at x = a, substitute
the specified value a for x into the given
function.

Example: Let f (x) = x2 – 3x – 1. Find f (–2).

f (x) = x2 – 3x – 1
2
f (–2) = (–2) – 3(–2) – 1 Substitute –2 for x.

f (–2) = 4 + 6 – 1 Simplify.

f (–2) = 9 The value of f at –2 is 9.

 Example: Let f (x) = 4x – x2. Find f (x + 2).

f (x) = 4x – x2
f (x + 2) = 4(x + 2) – (x + 2)2 Substitute x + 2 for x.

f (x + 2) = 4x + 8 – (x2 + 4x + 4) Expand (x + 2)2.

2
f (x + 2) = 4x + 8 – x – 4x – 4 Distribute –1.

f (x + 2) = 4 – x2 The value of f at x + 2
is 4 – x2.
The domain of a function f is the set of all real
numbers for which the function makes sense.

Example: Find the domain of the function

f (x) = 3x +5

Domain: All real numbers

Example: Find the domain of the function

f ( x) = x − 3

The function is defined only for x-values for

which x – 3 ≥ 0. Solving the inequality yields

x–3≥0
x≥3
Domain: {x| x ≥ 3}
Example: Find the domain of the function
x +2
g ( x) = 2
x −1
The x values for which the function is undefined
are excluded from the domain. The function is
2
undefined when x – 1 = 0.
x2 – 1 = 0
(x + 1)(x – 1) = 0
x=±1
Domain: {x| x ≠ ± 1}