# 1.1 Functions and function notation  (Page 8/21)

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The most common graphs name the input value $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and the output value $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and we say $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ is a function of $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x,\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ or $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=f\left(x\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ when the function is named $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ The graph of the function is the set of all points $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(x,y\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ in the plane that satisfies the equation $y=f\left(x\right).\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ If the function is defined for only a few input values, then the graph of the function is only a few points, where the x -coordinate of each point is an input value and the y -coordinate of each point is the corresponding output value. For example, the black dots on the graph in [link] tell us that $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(0\right)=2\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}f\left(6\right)=1.\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ However, the set of all points $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(x,y\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ satisfying $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=f\left(x\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ is a curve. The curve shown includes $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(0,2\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left(6,1\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ because the curve passes through those points.

The vertical line test    can be used to determine whether a graph represents a function. If we can draw any vertical line that intersects a graph more than once, then the graph does not define a function because a function has only one output value for each input value. See [link] .

Given a graph, use the vertical line test to determine if the graph represents a function.

1. Inspect the graph to see if any vertical line drawn would intersect the curve more than once.
2. If there is any such line, determine that the graph does not represent a function.

## Applying the vertical line test

Which of the graphs in [link] represent(s) a function $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=f\left(x\right)?$

If any vertical line intersects a graph more than once, the relation represented by the graph is not a function. Notice that any vertical line would pass through only one point of the two graphs shown in parts (a) and (b) of [link] . From this we can conclude that these two graphs represent functions. The third graph does not represent a function because, at most x -values, a vertical line would intersect the graph at more than one point, as shown in [link] .

Does the graph in [link] represent a function?

yes

## Using the horizontal line test

Once we have determined that a graph defines a function, an easy way to determine if it is a one-to-one function is to use the horizontal line test    . Draw horizontal lines through the graph. If any horizontal line intersects the graph more than once, then the graph does not represent a one-to-one function.

Given a graph of a function, use the horizontal line test to determine if the graph represents a one-to-one function.

1. Inspect the graph to see if any horizontal line drawn would intersect the curve more than once.
2. If there is any such line, determine that the function is not one-to-one.

## Applying the horizontal line test

Consider the functions shown in [link] (a) and [link] (b) . Are either of the functions one-to-one?

The function in [link] (a) is not one-to-one. The horizontal line shown in [link] intersects the graph of the function at two points (and we can even find horizontal lines that intersect it at three points.)

The function in [link] (b) is one-to-one. Any horizontal line will intersect a diagonal line at most once.

Is the graph shown in [link] one-to-one?

No, because it does not pass the horizontal line test.

## Identifying basic toolkit functions

In this text, we will be exploring functions—the shapes of their graphs, their unique characteristics, their algebraic formulas, and how to solve problems with them. When learning to read, we start with the alphabet. When learning to do arithmetic, we start with numbers. When working with functions, it is similarly helpful to have a base set of building-block elements. We call these our “toolkit functions,” which form a set of basic named functions for which we know the graph, formula, and special properties. Some of these functions are programmed to individual buttons on many calculators. For these definitions we will use $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}x\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ as the input variable and $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}y=f\left(x\right)\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ as the output variable.

what is set?
a colony of bacteria is growing exponentially doubling in size every 100 minutes. how much minutes will it take for the colony of bacteria to triple in size
I got 300 minutes. is it right?
Patience
no. should be about 150 minutes.
Jason
It should be 158.5 minutes.
Mr
ok, thanks
Patience
100•3=300 300=50•2^x 6=2^x x=log_2(6) =2.5849625 so, 300=50•2^2.5849625 and, so, the # of bacteria will double every (100•2.5849625) = 258.49625 minutes
Thomas
what is the importance knowing the graph of circular functions?
can get some help basic precalculus
What do you need help with?
Andrew
how to convert general to standard form with not perfect trinomial
can get some help inverse function
ismail
Rectangle coordinate
how to find for x
it depends on the equation
Robert
yeah, it does. why do we attempt to gain all of them one side or the other?
Melissa
whats a domain
The domain of a function is the set of all input on which the function is defined. For example all real numbers are the Domain of any Polynomial function.
Spiro
Spiro; thanks for putting it out there like that, 😁
Melissa
foci (–7,–17) and (–7,17), the absolute value of the differenceof the distances of any point from the foci is 24.
difference between calculus and pre calculus?
give me an example of a problem so that I can practice answering
x³+y³+z³=42
Robert
dont forget the cube in each variable ;)
Robert
of she solves that, well ... then she has a lot of computational force under her command ....
Walter
what is a function?
I want to learn about the law of exponent
explain this
what is functions?
A mathematical relation such that every input has only one out.
Spiro
yes..it is a relationo of orders pairs of sets one or more input that leads to a exactly one output.
Mubita
Is a rule that assigns to each element X in a set A exactly one element, called F(x), in a set B.
RichieRich