Functions
• A technical definition of a function is: a relation from a set of inputs to
a set of possible outputs where each input is related to exactly one
output.
• This means that if the object x is in the set of inputs (called the
domain) then a function f will map the object x to exactly one object
f(x) in the set of possible outputs (called the codomain or range)
• A function is more formally defined given a set of inputs X (domain)
and a set of possible outputs Y (codomain) as a set of ordered pairs (x,
y)
• We can write the statement that f is a function from X to Y using the
function notation f: X→Y.
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Functions from Verbal Statements
• Example 1
• When operating a factory, there are fixed costs like electricity, labor
and storage space. One such factory has fixed costs of $50,000 per
day.
• There are also variable costs, for example, if they make more widgets it
will cost more in materials, extra labor costs and extra power costs.
The factory calculates there is a variable cost of $10 to manufacture
each extra widget.
• Write the daily cost C as a function of the number of units produced.
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• Let's say the factory produces x widgets per day. (We could choose any
meaningful variable - n would also be a good choice.)
• The daily total cost C equals the fixed cost$50,000 plus the variable cost of
producing x units.
• The cost of producing 1 unit is $10, so the cost of producing x units is $10x.
• So the total cost C, where C is a function of x is
• C(x) = 50000 + 10x
• For example, the daily cost of making 2000 widgets is:
• C(2000)= {50000}+{10} times {2000} = 50000+10*2000 =$70,000
• Note that in this example, x can only take integer values of 0 or more (we
can't make negative widgets).
• The lowest cost is $50,000 per day, when we 0 widgets.
• An algebraic function is an equation that allows one to input a
domain, or x-value and perform mathematical calculations to get an
output, which is the range, or y-value, that is specific for that particular
x-value. There is a one in/one out relationship between the domain
and range.
• Example: Let X & Y be any two non-empty sets, mapping from X to Y
will be a function only when every element in set X has one end only
one image in set Y.
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• A letter such as f, g or h is often used to stand for a function.
• The function which squares a number and adds on a 5, can be written as
f(x) = x2+ 5.
• The same notion may also be used to show how a function affects particular
values.
• Example
• f(4) = 42 + 5 =21, f(-10) = (-10)2 +5 = 105 or alternatively f: x → x2 + 5.
• The phrase "y is a function of x" means that the value of y depends upon the
value of x, so:
o y can be written in terms of x (e.g. y = 3x ).
o If f(x) = 3x, and y is a function of x (i.e. y = f(x) ), then the value of y when x is 4 is f(4),
which is found by replacing x by 4 .
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Example
• If f(x) = 3x + 4, find f(5) and f(x + 1).
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Example
• If f(x) = 3x + 4, find f(5) and f(x + 1).
f(5) = 3(5) + 4 = 19
f(x + 1) = 3(x + 1) + 4 = 3x + 7
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Domain and Range
• The domain of a function is the set of values which you are allowed to
put into the function (so all of the values that x can take).
• The range of the function is the set of all values that the function can
take, in other words all of the possible values of y when y = f(x).
• So if y = x2, we can choose the domain to be all of the real numbers.
• The range is all of the real numbers greater than (or equal to) zero,
since if y = x2, y cannot be negative.
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One-to-One
• We say that a function is one-to-one if, for every point y in the range
of the function, there is only one value of x such that y = f(x).
• f(x) = x2 is not one to one because, for example, there are two values
of x such that f(x) = 4 (namely –2 and 2).
• On a graph, a function is one to one if any horizontal line cuts the
graph only once.
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Composing Functions
• fg means carry out function g, then function f.
• example
• If f(x) = x2 and g(x) = x – 1 then
gf(x) = g(x2) = x2 – 1
fg(x) = f(x – 1) = (x – 1)2
• As you can see, fg does not necessarily equal gf
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The Inverse of a Function
• The inverse of a function is the function which reverses the effect of the original function.
For example the inverse of y = 2x is y = ½ x .
• To find the inverse of a function, swap the x and y and make y the subject of the formula.
• Example
• Find the inverse of f(x) = 2x + 1
Let y = f(x), therefore y = 2x + 1
swap the x and y: x = 2y + 1
Make y the subject of the formula:
2y = x - 1, so y = ½(x - 1)
Therefore f -1(x) = ½(x - 1)
• f-1(x) is the standard notation for the inverse of f(x).
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Using Linear and Quadratic Functions to
Problem Solve
• There are a variety of functions that can be used to solve a host of
real-world problems.
• Function examples range in type and complexity, depending on the
type of phenomena they are modeling.
• For example, a linear correlation may exist between a good or service
and its respective price.
• In this case, a linear function may be used to represent this correlation
and to predict cost per number of goods.
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• There also exist problems in science, which requires a more in-depth
analysis, in that the function needed to model them are non-linear.
• For example, we may need a parabolic function (quadratic function)
to model and solve problems relating to an object's position or
displacement with respect to time.
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Linear Modeling
• Using linear functions to describe or approximate relationships in the
real world is called linear modeling.
• Here, we study several kinds of linear model:
• Linear cost functions
• Linear revenue and profit functions; break-even
• Linear demand functions
• Linear supply functions; equilibrium price Velocity and other time-
change models
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