Relations

And
Functions
A relation is a set of ordered
pairs.
The domain is the set of all x values in the relation

domain = {-1,0,2,4,9}
These are the x values written in a set from smallest to largest

This is a
{(2,3), (-1,5), (4,-2), (9,9), (0,-6)} relation

These are the y values written in a set from smallest to largest

range = {-6,-2,3,5,9}

The range is the set of all y values in the relation

 A relation assigns the x’s with y’s

1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Domain (set of all x’s) Range (set of all y’s)

This relation can be written {(1,6), (2,2), (3,4), (4,8), (5,10)}

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1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

This is a Whew!
functionWhat
---it meets oursay?
did that Must use all the x’s
conditions
The x value can only be assigned to one y
 Let’s look at another relation and decide if it is a function.
The second condition says each x can have only one y, but it CAN
be the same y as another x gets assigned to.

1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

This is a function
---it meets our Must use all the x’s
conditions
The x value can only be assigned to one y
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1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

2 was assigned both 4 and 10

Is the relation shown above a function? NO Why not???
 Check this relation out to determine if it is a function.
It is not---3 didn’t get assigned to anything
Comparing to our example, a student in maths must receive a grade

1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

This is not a
function---it Must use all the x’s
doesn’t assign
each x with a y The x value can only be assigned to one y
 Check this relation out to determine if it is a function.
This is fine—each student gets only one grade. More than one can
get an A and I don’t have to give any D’s (so all y’s don’t need to be
used).
1
2
2
4
3
6
4 8
5 10

Set A is the domain Set B is the range

This is a function Must use all the x’s

The x value can only be assigned to one y

 Injections (one-to-one)

f : A  B is an injection iff every element of B is f of

at most 1 thing
≤ 1 arrow in
f( ) =
A B
 Surjections (Onto)

f :A B is a surjection iff every element of B is f

of something
1 arrow in
f( ) =

A B
 Bijections

f : A  B is a bijection iff it is surjection and

injection.
exactly one arrow in

f( ) =
A B
 Functions

a. One-to-one, b. Onto, c. One-to-one, d. neither d. Not a

Not onto not one-to-one and onto function
a 1 a a 1 a 1 1
b 2 b 1 b 2 b 2 a 2
c 3 c 2 c 3 c 3 b 3
4 d 3 d 4 d 4 c 4

12
 We commonly call functions by letters. Because function
starts with f, it is a commonly used letter to refer to
functions.
f  x   2 x  3x  6
2
This means
the right The left side DOES NOT
hand side is This means MEAN f times x like
a function the right hand brackets usually do, it
called f side has the simply tells us what is on
variable x in it the right hand side.

The left hand side of this equation is the function notation.

It tells us two things. We called the function f and the
variable in the function is x.
Remember---this tells you what
is on the right hand side---it is
f  x   2 x  3x  6
2

f 2   22   32   6
not something you work. It says 2
that the right hand side is the
function f and it has x in it.

f 2  24  32  6  8  6  6  8

So we have a function called f that has the variable x in it.
Using function notation we could then ask the following:
This means to find the function f and instead of
Find f (2). having an x in it, put a 2 in it. So let’s take the
function above and make brackets everywhere
the x was and in its place, put in a 2.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Find f (-2). f  x   2 x  3x  6
2

f  2  2 2  3 2  6
2

f  2  24  3 2  6  8  6  6  20

This means to find the function f and instead of having an x

in it, put a -2 in it. So let’s take the function above and make
brackets everywhere the x was and in its place, put in a -2.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Find f (k). f  x   2 x  3x  6
2

f k   2k   3k   6
2

 
f k   2 k  3k   6  2k  3k  6
2 2

This means to find the function f and instead of having an x

in it, put a k in it. So let’s take the function above and make
brackets everywhere the x was and in its place, put in a k.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Find f (2k). f  x   2 x  3x  6
2

f 2k   22k   32k   6

2

 
f 2k   2 4k  32k   6  8k  6k  6
2 2

This means to find the function f and instead of having an x in

it, put a 2k in it. So let’s take the function above and make
brackets everywhere the x was and in its place, put in a 2k.

Don’t forget order of operations---powers, then

multiplication, finally addition & subtraction
Let's try a new function Find g(1)+ g(-4).

g x   x  2 x
2

g 1  1  21  1

2

g  4   4  2 4  16  8  24
2

So g 1  g  4  1  24  23
The last thing we need to learn about functions for
this section is something about their domain. Recall
domain meant "Set A" which is the set of values you
plug in for x.

For the functions we will be dealing with, there

are two "illegals":
1. You can't divide by zero (denominator (bottom)
of a fraction can't be zero)
2. You can't take the square root (or even root) of
a negative number

When you are asked to find the domain of a function,

you can use any value for x as long as the value
won't create an "illegal" situation.
 Find the domain for the following functions:
Since no matter what value you
 choose for x, you won't be dividing
f x  2x 1 by zero or square rooting a negative
number, you can use anything you
Note: There is
want so we say the answer is:
nothing wrong with
the top = 0 just means All real numbers x.
the fraction = 0
If you choose x = 2, the denominator
will be 2 – 2 = 0 which is illegal
x3
g x   because you can't divide by zero.
x2 The answer then is:
illegal if this All real numbers x such that x ≠ 2.
is zero means does not equal
Let's find the domain of another one:

h x   x  4
Can't be negative so must be ≥ 0

x4 0 solve
this x4
We have to be careful what x's we use so that the second
"illegal" of square rooting a negative doesn't happen. This
means the "stuff" under the square root must be greater
than or equal to zero (maths way of saying "not negative").

So the answer is:

All real numbers x such that x ≠ 4

 Determine whether each relation
is a function.
1. {(2, 3), (3, 0), (5, 2), (4, 3)}
2 3
f(x)

3 0
f(x)

5 2
f(x)

4 3
f(x)

YES, every domain is different!

 Determine whether the relation is
a function.
2. {(4, 1), (5, 2), (5, 3), (6, 6), (1, 9)}
4 1
f(x)

5 2
f(x) NO,
5
f(x)
3 5 is paired with 2 numbers!
6 6
f(x)

1 9
f(x)
 Is this relation a function?
{(1,3), (2,3), (3,3)}
1. Yes
2. No

Answer Now
 Vertical Line Test (pencil test)
If any vertical line passes through more
than one point of the graph, then that
relation is not a function.
Are these functions?

FUNCTION! FUNCTION! NOPE!

 Vertical Line Test

FUNCTION!
NO!

NO WAY! FUNCTION!
 Is this a graph of a function?

1. Yes
2. No

Answer Now
 Given f(x) = 3x - 2, find:
1) f(3) = 7

3 3(3)-2 7
2) f(-2) = -8

-2 3(-2)-2 -8
 Given h(z) = z2 - 4z + 9, find h(-3)

-3 2
(-3) -4(-3)+9 30
9 + 12 + 9

h(-3) = 30
 Given g(x) = x –
2 2, find g(4)
1. 2
2. 6
3. 14
4. 18

Answer Now
 Given f(x) = 2x + 1, find
-4[f(3) – f(1)]
1. -40
2. -16
3. -8
4. 4

Answer Now
 Identifying from an equation:
Linear Quadratic Exponential

Has an x with Has an x2 in the Has an x as the

no exponent. equation. exponent.

y = 5x + 1 y = 2x2 + 3x – 5 y = 3x + 1
y = ½x y = x2 + 9 y = 52x
2x + 3y = 6 x2 + 4y = 7 4x + y = 13
 Examples:
• LINEAR, QUADRATIC or EXPONENTIAL?

a)y = 6x + 3

b)y = 7x2 +5x – 2

c)9x + 3 = y

d)42x = 8
 Identifying from a graph:
Linear Quadratic Exponential
Makes a straight Makes a U or ∩ Rises or falls
line quickly in one
direction
 LINEAR, QUADRATIC or
EXPONENTIAL?
a) b)

c) d)
 Is the table linear, quadratic or
exponential? Exponential
Linear Quadratic
• y changes
• Never see the • See same y more quickly
same y value more than than x.
twice. once.
• Never see the
• 1st difference • 2nd difference same y value
is the same is the same twice.

• Common
multiplication
pattern
EXAMPLE 2 Identify functions using differences or ratios

b.
x –2 –1 0 1 2
y –2 1 4 7 10

Differences: 3 3 3 3

ANSWER

The table of values represents a linear function.

EXAMPLE 2 Identify functions using differences or ratios

Use differences or ratios to tell whether the table of

values represents a linear function, an exponential
function, or a quadratic function.

a. x –2 –1 0 1 2
y –6 –6 –4 0 6

First differences: 0 2 4 6

Second differences: 2 2 2

ANSWER

The table of values represents a quadratic function .

GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 1 and 2

2. Tell whether the table of values represents a

linear function, an exponential function, or a
quadratic function.

x –2 –1 0 1
y 0.08 0.4 2 10

ANSWER exponential function

POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
GENERAL SHAPES OF
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

f(x) = 3
Constant
Function
Degree = 0

Max. Zeros: 0
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
GENERAL SHAPES OF
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

f(x) = x + 2
Linear
Function
Degree = 1
Max. Zeros: 1
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
GENERAL SHAPES OF
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

f(x) = x2 + 3x + 2
Quadratic
Function
Degree = 2
Max. Zeros: 2
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
GENERAL SHAPES OF
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

f(x) = x3 + 4x2 + 2
Cubic
Function
Degree = 3
Max. Zeros: 3
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
GENERAL SHAPES OF
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

f(x) = x4 + 4x3 – 2x – 1
Quartic
Function
Degree = 4
Max. Zeros: 4
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
GENERAL SHAPES OF
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS
f(x) = x5 + 4x4 – 2x3 – 4x2 + x – 1

Quintic
Function
Degree = 5
Max. Zeros: 5