2.

Relations & Functions

Important Concepts & Formulae
Ordered pair: A pair of elements grouped together in a particular order.
Cartesian product: 𝐴 × 𝐵 of two sets A and B is given by 𝐴 × 𝐵 = {(𝑎, 𝑏): 𝑎 ∈ 𝐴, 𝑏 ∈ 𝐵}; In particular
𝑹 × 𝑹 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑹} and 𝑹 × 𝑹 × 𝑹 = {(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧): 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ 𝑹}.

Some Properties of Cartesian Product:

i. If (a, b) = (x, y), then a = x and b = y.

ii. If 𝑛(𝐴) = 𝑝 and 𝑛(𝐵) = 𝑞, then 𝑛(𝐴 × 𝐵) = 𝑝𝑞.
iii. 𝐴×𝜑 =𝜑
iv. In general, 𝐴 × 𝐵 ≠ 𝐵 × 𝐴.

Relation: A relation R from a set A to a set B is a subset of the Cartesian product 𝐴 × 𝐵 obtained by describing a
relationship between the first element 𝑥 and the second element 𝑦 of the ordered pairs in 𝐴 × 𝐵.
Number of Relations: If 𝑛(𝐴) = 𝑝 and 𝑛(𝐵) = 𝑞, then the number of relations from set A to set B is given by 2𝑝𝑞 .

Image of an Element: The image of an element 𝑥 under a relation R is given by 𝑦, where (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝑅

Domain: The domain of R is the set of all first elements of the ordered pairs in a relation R.

Range: The range of the relation R is the set of all second elements of the ordered pairs in a relation R.
Codomain: Codomain of R from set A to set B = Set B. 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 ⊆ 𝐶𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛.

Inverse of a Relation: If R is a relation from set A to set B, then the inverse of R denoted by 𝑅 −1 is a relation from
set B to set A, which is defined by 𝑅 −1 = {(𝑏, 𝑎): (𝑎, 𝑏) ∈ 𝑅}.
Function: A function 𝑓 from a set A to a set B is a type of relation for which every element 𝑥 of set A has one and
only one image y in set B. We write 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵, where 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦. A is the domain and B is the codomain of 𝑓.

Range: The range of the function is the set of images. A real function has the set of real numbers or one of its
subsets both as its domain and as its range.

Number of functions: If 𝑛(𝐴) = 𝑝 and 𝑛(𝐵) = 𝑞, then the number of functions from set A to set B is given by 𝑞 𝑝 .
Algebra of functions: For functions 𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑹 and 𝑔: 𝑋 → 𝑹, we have
1. (𝑓 + 𝑔) (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋 2. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋

3. (𝑓. 𝑔) (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) . 𝑔 (𝑥), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋 4. (𝑘𝑓) (𝑥) = 𝑘 (𝑓(𝑥)), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋, 𝑘 ∈ 𝑅.

𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
5. (𝑔) (𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) , 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋, 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0.

Some Important Functions:

1. Identity Function: 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
2. Constant Function: 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑐 ∈ 𝑅
𝑓(𝑥)
3. Rational function: Rational functions are functions of the type 𝑔(𝑥), where 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are polynomial
functions of 𝑥 defined in a domain, where g(x) ≠ 0.
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 −𝑥, 𝑥 < 0
4. Modulus or Absolute Value Function: 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, |𝑥| = {
𝑥, 𝑥 ≥ 0
−1, 𝑥 < 0
5. Signum Function: 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = { 0, 𝑥 = 0
1, 𝑥 > 0
6. Greatest Integer Function: 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = [𝑥] ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅. 𝑓(𝑥) assumes the value of the greatest
integer, less than or equal to 𝑥.
7. Polynomial function: All polynomials including quadratic polynomials and cubic polynomials which are given
by 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 and 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 respectively.

Level 1
1. If 𝐴 = {1, 2, 3}, 𝐵 = {𝑥: 𝑥 ∈ 𝑁, 𝑥 is prime less than 5}, 𝐴 × 𝐵 and 𝐵 × 𝐴.
2. If 𝐴 = {1, 2}, form the set 𝐴 × 𝐴 × 𝐴.
3. If 𝐴 = {1, 2, 4}, 𝐵 = {2, 4, 5}, 𝐶 = {2, 5}, then find (𝐴 − 𝐵) × (𝐵 − 𝐶).
4. Let 𝐴 = {1,2}, 𝐵 = {2,3,4}, 𝐶 = {4,5}, then find A × (B ∩ C).
5. If 𝑅 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑍, 𝑥² + 𝑦² = 64}, then write R in roster form.
6. Let 𝐴 = {−2, −1, 0, 1, 2} and 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝑍 be a function defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3. Find:
i) The range of 𝑓, 𝑖. 𝑒. 𝑓(𝐴). ii) pre-images of 6, −3 and 5
7. A function 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 is defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 . Determine:
i) The range of 𝑓 ii) {𝑥: 𝑓(𝑥) = 4} iii) {𝑦: 𝑓(𝑦) = −1}
8. Which of the following relations are functions? Give reason.
i) R = { (1,1), (2,2), (3,3), (4,4), (4,5)}
ii) R = { (2,1), (2,2), (2,3), (2,4)}
iii) R = { (1,2), (2,5), (3,8), (4,10), (5,12), (6,12)}
9. Let 𝐴 = {12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17} and 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝑍 be a function given by 𝑓(𝑥) = highest prime factor of 𝑥. Express
the function as an arrow diagram.
10. Express the function 𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑅 given by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 1 as a set of ordered pairs where 𝑋 = {−1, 0, 3, 9, 7}

Level 2
11. Express the following relations as sets of ordered pairs and determine their domain and range:
i) A relation R from set {2, 3, 4, 5} to set {3, 6, 7, 10} defined by (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝑅 ⇔ 𝑥 and 𝑦 are co-primes.
ii) A relation R from set 𝐴 = {5, 6, 7, 8} to set 𝐵 = {10, 12, 15, 16, 18} defined by (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ 𝑅 ⇔ 𝑥 divides 𝑦.
iii) A relation R from set 𝐴 = {3, 5} to set 𝐵 = {7, 11} defined by (𝑎, 𝑏) ∈ 𝑅 ⇔ 𝑎 − 𝑏 is odd.
iv) A relation R from set 𝐴 = {4, 6} to set 𝐵 = {7, 8, 10} defined by (𝑎, 𝑏) ∈ 𝑅 ⇔ 𝑎 − 𝑏 is even.
12. If 𝐴 = {1, 3} and 𝐵 = {1, 2, 4}, find the total number of relations from A to B.
13. Determine the domain and range of the following relations:
i) 𝑅 = {(𝑎, 𝑏): 𝑎 ∈ 𝑁, 𝑎 < 5, 𝑏 = 4} ii) 𝑆 = {(𝑎, 𝑏): 𝑏 = |𝑎 − 1|, 𝑎 ∈ 𝑍, |𝑎| ≤ 3}
14. Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 3} and 𝑅 = {(𝑎, 𝑏): |𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 | ≤ 5, 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ 𝐴}, then write R as a set of ordered pairs.

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15. If 𝑅 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑍, 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 4}. If (𝑎, −2) and (4, 𝑏 2 ) ∈ 𝑅, then write the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
16. Solve as directed:
1 1
i. If 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥 − 2|, find 𝑓(2), 𝑓(0), 𝑓(−2), 𝑓 (2) and 𝑓 (− 4)

ii. If 𝑓(𝑥) = [𝑥], where [⋅] represents the G.I.F., find 𝑓(3), 𝑓(0), 𝑓(−0.5), 𝑓(1.9), 𝑓(−3.9) and 𝑓(6.3)
3 1 1
iii. If 𝑓(𝑥) = [2𝑥 + 1], where [⋅] represents the G.I.F., find 𝑓 ( ) , 𝑓(0), 𝑓 (− ) , 𝑓 ( ) , 𝑓(−1.9) and 𝑓(2.8)
2 2 4

iv. If 𝑓(𝑥) is the signum function, find 𝑓(−0.99), 𝑓(0), 𝑓(0.001), 𝑓(−20), 𝑓(1) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓(5)
1
v. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 5, find 𝑓 (2) , 𝑓(6), 𝑓(5), 𝑓(0) and 𝑓(−8)

𝑥2, 𝑥<0
17. If 𝑓(𝑥) = { 𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 1, find:
1
𝑥
𝑥>1
1
i) 𝑓 (2) ii) 𝑓(−2) iii) 𝑓(1) iv) 𝑓(√3) v) 𝑓(√−3)
𝑥−1 1 1 1
18. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1, then show that: i) 𝑓 (𝑥) = −𝑓(𝑥) ii) 𝑓 (− 𝑥) = − 𝑓(𝑥)
1 1
19. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − , prove that 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑓 ( ) = 0.
𝑥3 𝑥
𝑥+1
20. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1, show that 𝑓(𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑥.

Level 3
1
21. If 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑎 − 𝑥 𝑛 )𝑛 , 𝑎 > 0 and 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁, then prove that 𝑓(𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑥 for all 𝑥.
22. Find the domain and range of the following real functions:
𝑥−3 1
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−4 h) 𝑓(𝑥) = 4−𝑥2 m) 𝑓(𝑥) = √1−𝑥2
𝑥−2

𝑥−2 1
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+6 i) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6 |𝑥+1|
n) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
5−𝑥
c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2+3𝑥 j) 𝑓(𝑥) = √
1
1+𝑥
o) 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥 + 1|
4𝑥−1
d) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3
p) 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − |𝑥 − 3|
1
k) 𝑓(𝑥) = √1+𝑥2
e) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 2 − 4 q) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 2 + 2
𝑥−1 𝑥
f) 𝑓(𝑥) = √4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 l) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥+2 r) 𝑓(𝑥) = 1+𝑥2

g) 𝑓(𝑥) = √1 − 9𝑥 2 s) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3

CBQs
23. Let 𝑓: 𝑅 → [0, ∞) be a function defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥 + 1) + 𝑓(𝑥 − 1), ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅. Based on the
information, answer the following questions:
i) Express 𝑔(𝑥) as a piecewise defined function
ii) Write the domain and range of 𝑔(𝑥)
iii) Draw the graph of 𝑓(𝑥)

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 iv) Draw the graph of 𝑔(𝑥)
24. Given two non-empty sets 𝐴 = {𝑥: 𝑥 < 5, 𝑥, 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁} and 𝐵 = {𝑥: 𝑥 ≤ 2, 𝑥 ∈ 𝑊}. Based on this information,
answer the following questions:
i) Express 𝐴 × 𝐵 as a set of ordered pairs
ii) Express (𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) × (𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) as a set of ordered pairs
iii) If 𝑅 is a relation from 𝐴 to 𝐵 defined by 𝑅 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 4, 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴, 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵}, write 𝑅 as a set of ordered
pairs.
iv) Write the domain of 𝑅.
v) Write the range of 𝑅.
25. Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be two real functions defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3 − 2𝑥. Based on the information,
answer the following questions:
i) Find the domain and range of 𝑓
1
ii) Find the domain and range of
𝑔

iii) Find the domain and range of 𝑓 + 𝑔

𝑔
iv) Find the domain and range of
𝑓
𝑓
v) Find the domain and range of
𝑔

Answers to Q22

Q Domain Range Q Domain Range

a 𝑅 − {4} 𝑅 − {1} j (−1, ∞) (0, ∞)

b 𝑅 − {−6} 𝑅 − {1} k R (0, 1]

3 1 l (−∞, −2] ∪ [1, ∞) [0,1) ∪ (1, ∞)

c 𝑅 − {− } 𝑅 − {− }
2 3
m (−∞, −1) ∪ [1,2) [0, ∞)
d 𝑅 − {3} 𝑅 − {4}
n 𝑅 − {−1} {−1, 1}
e (−∞, −2] ∪ [2, ∞) [0, ∞)
o 𝑅 𝑅+
f [0, 4] [0, 2]
p 𝑅 (−∞, 1]
1 1
g [− , ] [0, 1]
3 3 q 𝑅 [2, ∞)

1 1 1
h 𝑅 − {−2, 2} 𝑅 − [0, ) r R [− , ]
4 2 2

i 𝑅 − {2, 3} 𝑅 − [0, −4) s R R

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