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Language of Functions Simplified Revision Notes

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2.8.1 Language of Functions

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Notation

f:xx2+2meansf(x)=x2+2f: x \rightarrow x^2 + 2 \quad means \quad f(x) = x^2 + 2xR(x is a member of the real numbers)x \in \mathbb{R} \quad \text{(x is a member of the real numbers)}R={real numbers}Q={rational numbers}C={complex numbers}N={natural numbers}={1,2,3,}Z={integers}\begin{align*} \mathbb{R} & = \{ \text{real numbers} \} \\ \mathbb{Q} & = \{ \text{rational numbers} \} \\ \mathbb{C} & = \{ \text{complex numbers} \} \\ \mathbb{N} & = \{ \text{natural numbers} \} \\ & = \{ 1, 2, 3, \ldots \} \\ \mathbb{Z} & = \{ \text{integers} \} \end{align*}

Domain and Range of a Function

  • The domain of a function is the set of xx values we are allowed to "feed" a function. Provided the function is defined, we are allowed to choose the domain.
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Example:

f(x)=2x+3,x>3f(x) = 2x + 3, \quad x > 3
  • This is the domain we have chosen.

  • A sketch of this graph would look like this: (Note: This sketch shows the line starting from x=3x = 3 and increasing.)

  • However, we have only allowed the function f to be defined for x>3x > 3.

  • f(3)=2(3)+3=9f(3) = 2(3) + 3 = 9 (Note: Point at (3,9)(3, 9) is marked, illustrating that the function starts from this point.)

  • Notice, to illustrate the graph continues forever, the line has just vanished off the grid.


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Example of an Incorrect Domain for a Real Function:

g(x)=x+3,xRg(x) = \sqrt{x + 3}, \quad x \in \mathbb{R}
  • This cannot be correct as the function is undefined for x3x \leq -3.

Range of a Function

  • The range of a function is the set of y values y=f(x)y = f(x) can take, given a particular domain.
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Example 1:

  • Sketch: y=x2+2x+7y = x^2 + 2x + 7 for xRx \in \mathbb{R} and state its range.

  • The sketch shows a parabola opening upwards with its vertex at (1,6)(-1, 6). This helps in determining the range.

  • Calculator Steps:

  • Input the quadratic formula.
  • The discriminant shows no real roots, indicating the vertex is the minimum point.
  • Minimum point calculation gives: x=1x = -1 and y=6y = 6.
  • Thus, the range is y6\xcancel {y \geq 6} or f(x)6f(x) \geq 6.
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Example 2:

  • Find the range of g(x)=ex,x2g(x) = e^x, x \geq 2.

  • Sketch shows the exponential function y=exy = e^x starting from x=2x = 2.

  • The blue highlight indicates the part of the function of interest.

  • g(2)=e2g(2) = e^2, indicating that g(x)e2g(x) \geq e^2 for x2x \geq 2.

  • The range is the set of all yy values such that ye2y \geq e^2.


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The function ff is defined by f(x)=2xf(x) = 2 - \sqrt{x} for x0 x \geq 0. The graph of y=f(x)y = f(x) is shown above.

  1. State the range of ff.
  • At x=0x = 0:
f(0)=20=2f(0) = 2 - \sqrt{0} = 2

Thus, f(x)2f(x) \leq 2. The range of f is f(x)2f(x) \leq 2.

  1. Find the value of ff(4)ff(4).
  • First, calculate f(4)f(4):
f(4)=24=22=0f(4) = 2 - \sqrt{4} = 2 - 2 = 0
  • Then, calculate ff(4)=f(0)ff(4) = f(0):
f(0)=20=2f(0) = 2 - \sqrt{0} = 2

Mapping

A function maps one set of numbers to another. The input is called the domain, the output set is called the range.

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Example:

f(x)=x2+3,xRf(x) = x^2 + 3, \quad x \in \mathbb{R}
  • Domain: {x:xR}\{x : x \in \mathbb{R} \}
  • Range: {f(x):f(x)3}\{f(x) : f(x) \geq 3 \}

From the above, we can construct the statement:

f:R{x:x3}f : \mathbb{R} \to \{x : x \geq 3\}

(beyond the space)

ff maps real numbers to real numbers greater than or equal to 33.

Taking some specific values of mapping:

Domain: {1,0,1,2}\{-1, 0, 1, 2\}

Range: {3,4,5,7}\{3, 4, 5, 7\}

For ff:

  • f(1)=4f(-1) = 4
  • f(1)=4f(1) = 4
  • f(2)=7f(2) = 7 Notice that for each element of the range, there are two elements (i.e., many) that map to one element of the range.

For example, f(1)=f(1)=4f(-1) = f(1) = 4.

Thus, the function is MANY-TO-ONE or MANY-ONE.


You can classify a function as many-to-one by drawing the function and drawing a horizontal line through the function.

infoNote

Example:

f(x)=x2+3,xRf(x) = x^2 + 3, \quad x \in \mathbb{R}
  • Domain: {x:xR}\{x : x \in \mathbb{R}\}
  • Range: {f(x):f(x)3}\{f(x) : f(x) \geq 3\}

Since the line intersects the curve twice, we can see graphically that one y value is obtained from many xx values.

xmany-to-oneyx \quad \text{many-to-one} \quad y
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Example of one-to-many:

x2+(y3)2=9,x>0x^2 + (y-3)^2 = 9, \quad x > 0

One xx-value, e.g., x=0x = 0, gives many yy-values (i.e., 0,60, 6).

Draw a vertical line to test for this. If the line cuts in more than one place at any point, the function is ONE-TO-MANY.


What type of function is the following:

x2+(y2)2=4,2x2x^2 + (y-2)^2 = 4, \quad -2 \leq x \leq 2

Conclusion: This function is Many-to-Many.

image

Explanation:

The significance of this is that a function that is Many-to-Many has \square no inverse. We cannot deduce a unique input from a given output.

Something is only strictly a function if it does not end "many," i.e., does end "one."


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