Section 2.
4: A Library of Functions
Even and Odd Functions
A function f is called an even function if, for each x in the domain of f , −x
is also in the domain of f and
f (−x) = f (x)
Graphically an even function is symmetric with respect to the y-axis.
A function f is an odd function if, for each x in the domain of f , −x is also
in the domain of f and
f (−x) = −f (x)
Graphically an odd function is symmetric with respect to the origin.
Example 0.1. 1. Show that f (x) = x2 is an even function.
2. Show that f (x) = x3 is an odd function.
3. Show that f (x) = xn is an odd function when n is odd and it is an even
function when n is even.
2x
Example 0.2. Determine whether the function f (x) = is even,
x2 + x + 3
odd, or neither.
1
Basic Functions
1. Linear Function f (x) = mx + b
We know that the graph of a linear equation y = mx + b is a straight line
with slope m and y-intercept b. For this reason, a function f defined by
the equation
f (x) = mx + b
is called a linear function. If m = 0, the function f (x) = b is called a
constant function. If m = 1 and b = 0, the resulting function f (x) = x
is called the identity function.
Example 0.3. Write a linear function g for which g(1) = 4 and
g(−3) = −2
2
2. Squaring Function. f (x) = x2
(a) Sketch the graph of y = x2 by plotting points.
(b) Domain: Range:
(c) Increasing: Decreasing:
(d) Maximum Value: Minimum Value:
3
3. Cubing Function. f (x) = x3
(a) Sketch the graph of y = x3 by plotting points.
(b) Domain: Range:
(c) Increasing: Decreasing:
(d) Maximum Value: Minimum Value:
4
√
4. Square Root Function. f (x) = x
√
(a) Sketch the graph of y = x by plotting points.
(b) Domain: Range:
(c) Increasing: Decreasing:
(d) Maximum Value: Minimum Value:
5
5. Absolute Value Function. f (x) = |x|
(a) Sketch the graph of y = |x|.
(b) Domain: Range:
(c) Increasing: Decreasing:
(d) Maximum Value: Minimum Value:
6
Piecewise Function
In the definition of some functions, different rules for assigning output values
are used over different part of the domain. Such functions are called
piecewise functions.
Example 0.4. Let 2
x If x<1
f (x) =
3x + 1 If x≥1
a. Find f (0), f (1) and f (2)
b. Sketch the graph of y = f (x)
Example 0.5. Let 3
x If x≤2
f (x) =
4x If 2<x
a. Find f (1), f (2) and f (3)
b. Sketch the graph of y = f (x)
7
Basic Functions
In the next box, we list some of the common functions of algebra, along with
their properties.