MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4: FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS

4.1) Basics of functions
Definition 1:
Relations
Any set of ordered pairs
) , ( b a
where
b a,
is called a relation.
The set of all a is called the domain of a relation and the set of all b that is related to a is
called the range of a relation.
For example:
The relation between set A and set B is given by {(1,r), (2,s), (3,t)} where A= {1,2,3} and B
= {r,s,t}
We can represent the relation as shown in figure below

A B
The domain of relation = {1, 2, 3}
The range of relation = {r, s, t}
Definition 2:
Functions
A function is a correspondence (relation) of each element in the domain to exactly one
element in the range.
1
1
2
3
r
s
t
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Examples:
Relation Description
R

R is one to one correspondence. Each element in
the domain corresponds to only one element in
the range.

R is a function
R
R is one to many correspondence. Element a in
the domain corresponds to element 1 and
element 2 .

R is not a function
R = {(1,6), (2,6), (3,8), (4,9)} R is a function because each element in the
domain corresponds to exactly one element in
the range.
R = {(1,2), (3,4), (5,6) , (5,8)} R is not a function because element 5 in the
domain corresponds to 2 elements in the range
which are 6 and 8.
Example:
Determine whether an equation below represent a function .
(a)
4
2
+ y x
(b)
4
2 2
+ y x
(c)
27
3
+ y x
solution:
2
1
2
3
r
s
t
a
b
1
2
3
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
(a) Given :
4
2
+ y x
Solve the equation for y
4
2
+ x y
For each value of x there is exactly one value for y.
Therefore , by definition,
4
2
+ y x
is a function.
(b) Given :
4
2 2
+ y x
Solve for y
2
4
2
4
2
x y
x y
t

For each value of x there are 2 values for y because of t
By definition,
4
2 2
+ y x
is not a function.
(c) Given :
27
3
+ y x
Solve for y :
3
3
27
27
x y
x y


For each value of x there is exactly one value for y. By definition,
27
3
+ y x
is a
function.
Function Notations
If y is a function of x , we may use the notation
) (x f y
. The notation
) (x f
is read as f
of x where
) (x f
is a value of f at x.
Example :
5 ) 2 ( f

the value of f at 2 is 5
0 ) 5 ( f

the value of f at -5 is 0
3
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Evaluating a function
Example:
If
5 3
2
) ( + + x x x f
then evaluate the following:
(a) f(2) (b) f(-5) (c) f(a + h)
(d) f(r
2
) (e) the value of f at 10
(f) find x if the value of f is 15. (g)
h
x f h x f ) ( ) ( +
, 0 h
Solutions:
Given :
5 3
2
) ( + + x x x f
(a)
15 5 6 4 5 ) 2 ( 3
2
2 ) 2 ( + + + + f
(b)
15 5 15 25 5 ) 5 ( 3
2
) 5 ( ) 5 ( + + + f
(c)
5 3 3
2
2
2
5 ) ( 3
2
) ( ) ( + + + + + + + + + + h a h ah a h a h a h a f
(d)
5
2
3
4
5 )
2
( 3
2
)
2
( )
2
( + + + + r r r r r f
(e)
135 5 10 3 10 10 10 at of value The
2
+ + ) ( ) ( ) ( f f
(f) If
15 ) ( x f
, what is x ?
2 or 5
0 2 or 0 5
: principle product - zero applying By
0 2 5 0 10 3 15 5 3
2 2

+
+ + + +
x x
) x ( ) x (
) x )( x ( x x x x
(g)
5 3 3
2
2
2
5 ) ( 3
2
) ( ) ( + + + + + + + + + + h x h xh x h x h x h x f
Therefore:
h
x x h x h xh x
h
x f h x f ) 5 3
2
( 5 3 3
2
2
2
) ( ) ( + + + + + + +

+

3 2
) 3 2 ( 3
2
2
+ +
+ +

+ +

h x
h
h x h
h
h h xh
4
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Exercise:
(1) Given that
2
2
) ( x x f
and
3 2 ) ( x x g
, find and simplify each of
the following expressions.
(a)
) 3 ( f
(b)
) 5 ( g
(c)
) 1 ( + a f
(d)
h
x g h x g ) ( ) ( +
, 0 h
(2) Find each of the following for the function 1 2 ) ( x x f
(a)
) 5 ( f
(b) x , if
0 ) ( x f
(c)
) 2 ( + a f
Answers:
(1) (a) 7 2 ) 3 ( ) 3 (
2
f
(b)
7 3 ) 5 ( 2 ) 5 ( g
(c) 1 2 2 ) 1 ( ) 1 (
2 2
+ + + a a a a f
(d)
3 2 2 3 ) ( 2 ) ( + + + h x h x h x g
2
2 ) 3 2 ( 3 2 2 ) ( ) (

+

+
h
h
h
x h x
h
x g h x g
(2) (a) 3 9 1 ) 5 ( 2 ) 5 ( f
(b)
0 ) ( x f
2 / 1 0 1 2 0 1 2 x x x
(c) 3 2 1 ) 2 ( 2 ) 2 ( + + + a a a f
Piecewise defined Functions
For some functions different formulas are used in different regions of domain. Such
functions are called piecewise-defined function.
Example:
0 for
0 for
,
,
) (
<

'

x
x
x
x
x f
for 0 x , a formula
x ) x ( f
is used to obtain a certain value and for 0 < x , a formula
x ) x ( f
is used.
5
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Example (Evaluating piecewise-defined function):
If given
0
0
3 5
3
2

<

'

+
+

x
x
,
,
x
x
) x ( f
, then find :
(i)
) ( f 5
(ii)
) ( f 6
(iii)
) ( f 0
Solution :
(i) Since 5 x < 0 , use the first formula
3
2
+ x ) x ( f
28 3 25 3 5 5
2
+ + ) ( ) ( f
(ii) Since 0 6 > x , use the second formula
3 5 + x ) x ( f
33 3 30 3 6 5 6 + + ) ( ) ( f
(iii) Use the second formula :
3 3 0 5 0 + ) ( ) ( f
Exercise:
(1) If
0
0
3 7
1 6

<

'

x
x
,
,
x
x
) x ( g
then find
) ( g ) ( g ), ( g 4 and 0 3
.
(2) Given :

2
2
1
1 2
2

<

'

+
+ +

x
x
,
,
x
x x
) x ( f
Find : (a)
) ( f 3
(b)
) ( f 5
6
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Finding the domain of function
If the given function has neither division nor even root, the domain of the
function is all real number (R).
If the given function has division, exclude any value that make division by zero
in the domain.
If the given function has even root, make sure the radicand is positive number to
get the real domain.
Example:
Find the domain of each following function:
Function Domain
3 2
2
+ x x ) x ( f
The function has no division and no even root.
) , (- numbers) real all (
f
D
9
2
2

x
x
) x ( g
The function has division. Exclude any values that make
division by zero.
3
0 9
2
t

x
x
The domain of g is :
) , ( ) , ( ) , ( } x x {
{ D
g
t

3 3 3 3 3
3} - and 3 except numbers real all
12 3 + x ) x ( h
The function has even root. Make sure the radicand must
be positive number.
4 0 12 3 + x x
The domain of h is :
) , [ } x x { D
h
4 4
Example: Find the domain of the following function:
7
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
(a)
5
2
+

x
) x ( f (b) 2 + x ) x ( g (c)
36
12
2

x
x
) x ( h
(d)
3
1

x
) x ( k
Solutions:
(a)
) , ( ) , ( } x x { } x x { D
f
+ 5 5 5 0 5
(b)
) , [ } x x { } x x { D
g
+ 2 2 0 2
(c) The division :
6 0 36
2
t x x
) , ( ) , ( ) , ( } x x { D
h
t 6 6 6 6 6
(d) Since 3 x becomes a denominator, exclude any value that make division by
zero.
3 0 3 > > x x (to avoid division by zero)
The domain :
) , ( } x x { D
k
> 3 3
4.2) Graphs of functions
8
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Graph of a function
The graph of a function f(x) is a graph of equation y = f(x) for all x in the domain.
Graphing a function by plotting points
Example: Sketch the graph of
1 ) (
2
+ x x f
Solution:
1) Set up a table of values :
x
y =
1
2
+ x ) x ( f
-2
-1
0
1
2
5
2
1
2
5
2) Plot each ordered pair (x, y) and connect all points with a smooth curve.
y
1
2
+ x ) x ( f
x
9
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Analyzing the graph of a function
y
d

Range
f(a) (a,b) y = f(x)

c

x
1
a x
2
x
Domain
(a)
We can define from the graph of function f(x) (a) above:
function value at a = f(a) = b
Domain = [x
1
, x
2
) , Range = [c, d)
Open dot = the endpoint is not included.
Closed dot = the endpoint is included.
y
up

y-intercept
x-intercept
x

down
(b)
An arrow means the graph extends infinitely to the direction in which arrow points.
From the graph (b) above, we can define the domain and the range as:
Domain = (-, ) , Range = (-, )
Intercept: the points at which the graph crosses the axes.
(The function can have more than one x-intercept but at most only one y-intercept).
10
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Example: Use the graph f(x) below to find:
a) domain and range.
b) indicated values.
c) Intercept(s) (if any).


i)
3
1
-1 0 3

a) Domain : ________
Range : __________
b) f(-2) = ?
what is the value of x if f(x) = 3 ?
c) Intercept(s) : _________________

ii)

4


3 4
-2

a) Domain : ________
Range : __________
b) f(3) = ?
what is the value of x if f(x) = 0 ?
c) Intercept : _________________

iii)



-3 0 4



a) Domain : ________
Range : __________
b) f(-3) = ?
what is the value of x if f(x) = 0 ?
c) Intercept : _________________

11
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
VERTICAL LINE TEST
If any vertical line intersects a graph in more than one point then the graph is not a
function.
Example:

12
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Example:
Determine whether the graphs below is a function by using vertical line test.
a)










b)












c)










13
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Increasing and decreasing functions
(1) A function is increasing on open interval I if for any x
1
, x
2
in I and x
1
< x
2
then
f(x
1
) < f( x
2
)

y


f(x
2
)

f(x
1
)

x
1
x
2
x
(2) A function is decreasing on open interval I if for any x
1
, x
2
in I and x
1
< x
2
then :
f(x
1
) > f( x
2
)

y


f(x
1
)
f(x
2
)


x
1
x
2
x
(3) A function is constant on open interval I if for any x
1
, x
2
in I and x
1
< x
2
then :
f(x
1
) = f( x
2
)
y


f(x
1
) = f(x
2
)



a x
1
x
2
b x
14
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Example:
y
y = g(x)




-1 1 3 5 x


Based on the graph, find the intervals on which a function g is increasing, decreasing or
constant.
Answer:
i) increasing : _______________
ii) decreasing : _______________
iii) constant : _______________
Example:
Determine the intervals on which the graph of the function below is increasing, decreasing
or constant.
a) y

2



0 2 3 x


-2


Answer:
i) increasing : _______________
ii) decreasing : _______________
iii) constant : _______________
15
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
b) y
6


4



0 3 5 7 10 x

Answer:
i) increasing : _______________
ii) decreasing : _______________
iii) constant : _______________
Relative Maxima and Relative Minima
Definition:
(1) A function value f(a) is a relative maximum of f if there exists an open interval
about a such that
f(a) > f(x) , for all x in the interval
(2) A function value f(b) is a relative minimum of f if there exists an open interval
about b such that
f(b) < f(x) , for all x in the interval
Illustration :
y

y = f(x)



b a x



Relative min = f(b) , Relative max = f(a)
16
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Example:
y

4 y = f(x)



x
-3 3


Find from the graph above:
a) Relative maxima is 4 at 0.
b) Relative minima is 0 at 3 and -3.
Even and Odd Functions and Symmetrical of Graph
1) If f(-x) = f(x) for all x in the domain then f is an even function
y

(-x, y) (x,y)

x



The graph of a function f is symmetry with respect to y-axis.
2) If f(-x) = -f(x) for all x in the domain then f is an odd function
y

(x,y)

x


(-x,-y)

The graph of a function f is symmetry to the origin.
Note: If the graph is not symmetry to the origin and also to y-axis then the graph f is
neither function.
Example:
17
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Determine whether the functions below are even, odd or neither function. Discuss the
symmetrical of the graph of the functions.
a)
3
x ) x ( f
b)
2 4
2x x ) x ( g
c)
x x ) x ( h 2
2
+
solution:
a)
3
x ) x ( f
Replace x by -x :
) x ( f x ) x ( ) x ( f
3 3
odd function
b)
2 4
2x x ) x ( g

Replace x by -x :
) x ( g x x ) x ( ) x ( ) x ( g
2 4 2 4
2 2
even function
c)
x x ) x ( h 2
2
+
Replace x by -x :
) x ( h ) x ( h x x ) x ( ) x ( ) x ( h + 2 2
2 2
neither function
Exercise 1:
18
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Use graphs below to identify:
i) domain and range
ii) intercepts (if any)
iii) symmetrical of the graph
iv) Even, odd or neither
v) the intervals on which the graph is increasing, decreasing or constant
vi) Relative maximum and minimum (if any)

i) y

8
y = g(x)

6


-5 -3 0 3 5 x



y
ii) 7
6

4 y = f(x)


-7 -5 0 3 7 10 x
-1

Exercise 2:
19
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Sketch the graph based on:
a)
0 4 4 ) ( f ) ( f
,
3 0 ) ( f
, Domain =
) , (
, Range =
] , ( 4
Increasing on
) , ( ) , ( 2 0 2
, decreasing on
) , ( ) , ( 2 0 2
Relative maxima is 4 at 2 and 2.
Relative minima is 3 at 0, f is an even function.
b)
0 3 0 1 2 0 ) ( g , ) ( g , ) ( g
, Domain =
) , ( 6
, Range =
) , ( 8
Relative maxima is 2 at 0, Relative minima is 2 at 2.
Increasing on
) , ( ) , ( 6 2 0
, decreasing on (0,2), g is neither function.
4.3) Transformation of Functions
20
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
The graph of basic functions of algebra
Identity Function Linear Function
y

x

f(x) = x
y

b
x
Quadratic Function Constant Function
y


x
f(x) = x
2

y
a

x
f(x) = a
Square Root Function Cubic Function
y


x

x x f ) (
y

x


3
) ( x x f
Reciprocal Function Absolute Value Function
y


x

x
x f
1
) (
y


x

x x f ) (

f(x) = ax + b
Types of transformations
A) Vertical and horizontal shifting
21
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Vertical Shifting
Let 0 > c and f be a function.
The graph of
c ) x ( f y +
is shifting up vertically about c units from the
graph
) x ( f y
The graph of
c ) x ( f y
is shifting down vertically about c units from
the graph
) x ( f y
Horizontal Shifting
Let 0 > c and f be a function.
The graph of
) c x ( f y
is shifting to the right horizontally about c
units from the graph
) x ( f y
The graph of
) c x ( f y +
is shifting to the left horizontally about c units
from the graph
) x ( f y
Examples:


2
) ( x x f
2
) 4 ( ) ( + x x f 3 ) (
2
+ x x f
B) Reflection
The graph of
) (x f y
is a reflection in the x-axis of the graph
) x ( f y
.
22
Basic quadratic function Shifting to the left by 4
units
Shifting upwards by 3 units
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Example 1: Reflection to x-axis from the graph y = x
2
.
Example 2: Reflection to x-axis from the graph y = x
3
.
C) Stretching & Shrinking.
Let f be a function and 0 > c and
) x ( f y
. The graph of
) x ( cf y
is obtained from the
graph of
) x ( f y
by multiplying each y-coordinate by c. If:
i) 1 > c , then the graph of
) x ( cf y
is vertically stretching.
ii) 1 0 < < c , then the graph of
) x ( cf y
is vertically shrinking.
Examples:
2x
2
x
2
_
1
/
2
x
2
_
23
y = -x
2
y = x
2
y = x
3
y = -x
3
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Example: Given the following graph of f(x), graph the transformation f(x + 1) 3
Solution: (shifting to the left by 1 unit reflection to x-axis shifting down 3 units).
First, the point (3, 2). shift left by 1unit: (4, 2). flip over the x-axis: (4, 2).
24
stretching vertically by 2
units.
The graph is tall and
skinny
shrinking vertically by 2
units.
The graph is short and
fat.
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
move the point down 3 units: (
4, 1).
second point: (2, 4).
move the point back to the left by
1unit: (3, 4).

Flipping across the x-axis: (
3, 4).
Moving the point 3 units down:
(3, 1).
The third point is at (2, 3).
Copyright Elizabeth Stapel 2003-2011 All Rights Reserved
Shifting left by 1 unit: (1, 3). Flipping across the x-axis: (1,
3).
Moving down 3 units: (1, 0)..

25
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
The last point is (4, 2). Shifting left 1unit: (3, 2). Flipping across the x-axis takes
the point to (3, 2).
Moving down 3 units: (3, 5).
Graph after transformation.
Example: Sketch the following functions by using transformations:
a) 1 + x ) x ( h b) 5 + x ) x ( k c) 5 1 x ) x ( G
26
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
4.4) Combination of functions: Composite functions
The Sum, Difference, Product and Quotient of functions
Let f and g be a function
Operations Domain
1) The sum of f and g
) x ( g ) x ( f ) x )( g f ( + +
g f ) x )( g f (
D D D
+
2) The difference of f and g
) x ( g ) x ( f ) x )( g f (
g f ) x )( g f (
D D D

3) The product of f and g

) x ( g ) x ( f ) x )( fg (
g f ) x )( fg (
D D D
4) The quotient of f and g
) x ( g / ) x ( f ) x )( g / f (
where
0 ) x ( g
0 ) x ( g , D D D
g f ) x )( g / f (
Example:
Let f(x) = x 5 and g(x) = x
2
1, then find the indicated operations and its domain.
a) (f + g)(x) b) (f - g)(x) c) (f g)(x) d) (f / g)(x)
solution:
It is known that
R D , R D
g f

a) (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x) = x 5 + x
2
1 = x
2
+ x 6
g f ) x )( g f (
D D D
+ = R
b) (f - g)(x) = f(x) - g(x) = x 5 (x
2
1) = -x
2
+ x 4
g f ) x )( g f (
D D D
= R
c) (f g)(x) = f(x) g(x) = (x 5)(x
2
1) = x
3
5x - x + 5
g f ) x )( fg (
D D D
= R
27
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
d) (f/g)(x) = f(x) / g(x) = (x 5)/( x
2
1)
g f ) x )( g / f (
D D D
, where
0 ) x ( g
( the denominator cannot be zero )
{ } { } 0 1 0
2
x , R x x ) x ( g , R x x (avoid division by zero)
{ } 1 t x , R x x
All real numbers except 1 and -1
Composite function
Definition:
Let f and g be a function. The composite function of f and g is defined as :
)) x ( g ( f ) x )( g f (
and
)) x ( f ( g ) x )( f g (
where the domain :
{ }
f g ) x )( g f (
D g , D x x D

{ }
g f ) x )( f g (
D f , D x x D

Examples:
1) Let f(x) = 3x 4 and g(x) = x
2
+ 6, find
) )( ( x g f
and
) )( ( x f g
. Determine the
domain of each function.
solution:
R D , R D
g f

4 6 3 6
2 2
+ + ) x ( ) x ( f )) x ( g ( f ) x )( g f (
(replacing x
2
+ 6 for x in function f )
{ } R D g , D x x D
f g ) x )( g f (

6 4 3 4 3
2
+ ) x ( ) x ( g )) x ( f ( g ) x )( f g (
( replacing 3x - 4 for x in function g )
{ } R D f , D x x D
g f ) x )( f g (

28
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
2) If
1
2

x
) x ( f and
x
) x ( g
3
, find:
a) domain of f and g.
b)
) x )( g f (
and its domain.
c)
) x )( f g (
and its domain.
solution:
a)
{ } { } 0 1 x x D , x x D
g f
b) x
x
x
)
x
( f )) x ( g ( f ) x )( g f (

,
_

3
2
1
3
2 3

{ }

'

f g f g ) x )( g f (
D
x
, D x x D g , D x x D
3

{ } 3 0 1
3
0

'

x , x x
x
, x x

all real numbers except 0 and 3
c)
2
1 3
1
2
3
1
2 ) x (
x
)
x
( g )) x ( f ( g ) x )( f g (

{ }

'

g f g f ) x )( f g (
D
x
, D x x D f , D x x D
1
2

{ } 1 0
1
2
1

'

x x
x
, x x

all real numbers except 1
29
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
4.5) Inverse Functions.
Let f and g be a function such that:
x ) x )( g f (
, g
D x
and
x ) x )( f g (
, f
D x
then f and g are the inverses of each other.
Notation :
The inverse of f is denoted as: f
-1
The inverse of g is denoted as: g
-1
Example:
Show that each pair of functions below are inverses of each other.
a) f(x) = 4x , g(x) = x/4
b) f(x) = 3x + 8 , g(x) = (x - 8)/3
solution :
a)
x ) / x ( ) / x ( f )) x ( g ( f ) x )( g f ( 4 4 4
x / ) x ( ) x ( g )) x ( f ( g ) x )( f g ( 4 4 4
Therefore :
x ) x )( g f (
and
x ) x )( f g (
, so f and g are inverses of
each other.
b) x x )
x
( ) / ) x (( f )) x ( g ( f ) x )( g f ( + +

8 8 8
3
8
3 3 8
x / x / ) ) x (( ) x ( g )) x ( f ( g ) x )( f g ( + + 3 3 3 8 8 3 8 3
Therefore :
x ) x )( g f (
and
x ) x )( f g (
, so f and g are inverses of
each other
30
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
The inverse of a function
Definition:
Let y = f(x) is a one to one function. Then x = f
-1
(y) is an inverse function of f.
Steps on finding an inverse of f(x):
(1) Let y = f(x)
(2) Solve for x
(3) Replace x in step 2 by f
-1
(y)
(4) Change variable to x.
Example: Find the inverse of f(x) = 7x 5
Solution:
Let y = f(x): y = 7x 5
Solve for x: 7x = y + 5
x = (y + 5)/ 7
Replace x by f
-1
(y):
f
-1
(y) = (y + 5)/ 7
change variable to x:
f
-1
(x) = (x + 5) / 7
(Exercise in class)
Find the inverse of the following functions:
a)
3
5
+

x
x
) x ( f b)
4
5

x
) x ( g
solution:
a) Let y =
) x ( f

3
5
+

x
x
y
Solve for x
5 3 + x ) x ( y
5 3 + x y xy
5 3 1 5 3 + + y ) y ( x y xy x
y
y
x

+

1
5 3
31
MATF 104 College Algebra Chapter 4
Replace x by f
-1
(y):
y
y
) y ( f

+


1
5 3
1

change variable to x:
x
x
) x ( f

+


1
5 3
1

b) Let y =
) x ( g

4
5

x
y
Solve for x
5 4 ) x ( y
5 4 y xy
5 4 + y xy
y
y
x
5 4 +

Replace x by f
-1
(y):
y
y
) y ( f
5 4
1
+



change variable to x:
x
x
) x ( f
5 4
1
+


32