1.

Functions, Domain,
and Range
When mathematicians and scientists recognize a relationship between items in the world around
them, they try to model the relationship with an equation. The concept of developing an equation
is used in other fields too. Economists predict the growth of sectors of the economy using
equations. Pollsters try to predict the outcome of an election using equations. Does the value of one
measured quantity guarantee a unique value for the second related quantity? This question defines
the difference between a relation and a function.

relation Investigate A
• an identified pattern
between two How can you tell if a relation is a function?
variables that may be
represented as ordered Data on summer jobs are collected from some students in a grade 11
pairs, a table of values, class. Some analysis is done to look for patterns in the data.
a graph, or an equation
A: Neil’s Time Worked and Amount Earned, by Week
function
Time Worked (h) Amount Earned ($)
• a relation in which
each value of the 20 190
independent variable
18 171
(the first coordinate)
corresponds to exactly 26 247
one value of the
22 209
dependent variable
(the second coordinate) 30 285
24 228
10 95
14 126

B: Number of Weeks Worked and Amount Earned by 10 Different Students

Number of Weeks Worked Total Amount Earned ($)

10 1850
8 675
6 520
9 480
8 1100
10 1400
8 975
6 1200
8 1580
9 1740

 MHR • Functions 11 • Chapter 1

 1. Graph the given sets of data. Tools
• grid paper
2. Describe any trends in the two graphs.
or
3. From the graph of the data in table A, can you predict how much • graphing calculator

Neil would earn if he worked 28 h one week?

4. From the graph of the data in table B, can you predict the amount
that a student who worked for 8 weeks would earn?

5. Reflect Which set of data is a function? Explain using the terms

independent variable and dependent variable.

Investigate B Tools
• grid paper
How can you make connections between equations, graphs, and
functions?
Method 1: Use Pencil and Paper
The first Investigate illustrated that one value for the independent
variable can be associated with more than one different value for the
dependent variable. Any relation that has this property is not a function.
In this Investigate, you will look at how this concept can be related to the
equation for a relation.
1. Copy and complete the tables of values for the relations y 5 x2 and
x 5 y 2.

x y = x 2 Coordinates x = y 2 y Coordinates

—3 9 (−3, 9) 9 —3 (9, —3)
—2 —2
—1 —1
0 0
1 1
2 2
3 3

2. Graph both relations on the same set of axes.

3. On the same set of axes, draw vertical lines with equations x 5 3,
x 5 2, x 5 1, x 5 1, x 5 2, and x 5 3.

4. Reflect Compare how the lines drawn in step 3 intersect each of the
relations. Which relation is a function? Explain why.

1.1 Functions, Domain, and Range • MHR 

Tools Method 2: Use a Graphing Calculator
• graphing calculator 1. Graph Y1 5 x2.
Use the standard window settings.

Te c h n o l o g y Tip 2. • Press 2nd DRAW to access the Draw menu.

Refer to the • Choose 4:Vertical.
Technology Appendix, • Use the left and right cursor arrows to move the vertical line.
pages xxx to xxx, if
you need help with
graphing equations.

If you press ENTER , the line will be secured at that spot. Press
2nd DRAW and select 1:ClrDraw to remove the vertical line.
3. Is y 5 x2 a function? Explain why or why not.
__
4. Graph x 5 y 2 by first solving the equation for y to obtain y 5 ​ x ​ .
• Enter Y1 5 (x)^0.5 and Y2 5 (x)^0.5.

5. Repeat step 2. Is x 5 y 2 a function? Explain why or why not.

Example 1
Use the Vertical Line Test
vertical line test Use the vertical line test to determine whether each relation is a
• a method of function. Justify your answer.
determining whether a
relation is a function a) b)
y y
• If every vertical line 6
intersects the relation 6
at only one point, 4 x = (y — 2)2 + 2
y = —4x + 5
then the relation is a 4
function. 2
2

x x
0 2 4
0 2 4 6
—2

c) d)
y = —(x + 4)2 + 3 y y
4
2
2
—6 —4 —2 0 x
—2 0 2 4 x
—2
—2
—4
—4
(x — 1)2 + (y + 1) = 16
—6

 MHR • Functions 11 • Chapter 1

Solution
a) This relation is a function. y
No vertical line can be drawn
that will pass through more 4
x=1
than one point on the line.
2

0 2 4 x
y = —4x + 5
—2

b) This relation is a not function. An y

infinite number of vertical lines can be x=6
6
drawn that will pass through more than x = (y — 2)2 + 2
4
one point on the curve. For example, the
vertical line x 5 6 passes through the 2
points (6, 4) and (6, 0).
0 2 4 6 x

c) This relation is a function. No vertical y = —(x + 4)2 + 3 y

line can be drawn that will pass through 2
more than one point on the curve.
—6 —4 —2 0 x
—2
x = —3
—4

d) This relation is not a function. An y

4
infinite number of vertical lines can be x=3
drawn that will pass through more than 2
one point on the circle.
—2 0 2 4 x
—2

—4
(x — 1)2 + (y + 1) = 16
—6

1.1 Functions, Domain, and Range • MHR 

domain For any relation, the set of values of the independent variable (often
• the set of first the x-values) is called the domain of the relation. The set of the
coordinates of the corresponding values of the dependent variable (often the y-values) is
ordered pairs in a
called the range of the relation. For a function, for each given element of
relation
the domain there must be exactly one element in the range.
range
• the set of second
coordinates of the
ordered pairs in a
relation
Example 2
Determine the Domain and Range From Data
Determine the domain and range of each relation. Use the domain and
range to determine if the relation is a function.

Con n e c t i o n s a) {(3, 4), (5, 6), (2, 7), (5, 3), (6, 8)}

Brace brackets { } are b) The table shows the number Age Number
used to denote a set of of children of each age at a sports camp.
related data points or 4 8
values.
5 12
6 5
7 22
8 14
9 9
10 11

Solution
a) domain 5 {3, 2, 5, 6}, range 5 {8, 6, 3, 4, 7}
This relation is not a function. The x-value x 5 5 has two
corresponding y-values, y 5 6 and y 5 3. The domain has four
elements but the range has five elements. So, one value in the
domain must be associated with two values in the range.

b) domain 5 {4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}, range 5 {5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 22}

This is a function because for each value in the domain there is
exactly one value in the range.

When the equation of a relation is given, the domain and range can
real number
be determined by analysing the allowable values from the set of real
• a number in the
set of all integers, numbers.
terminating decimals,
repeating decimals,
non-terminating
decimals, and
non-repeating
decimals, represented
by the symbol R

 MHR • Functions 11 • Chapter 1

Example 3
Determine the Domain and Range From Equations
Determine the domain and the range for each relation. Sketch a graph of
each.
c) y 5 ​ __
a) y 5 2x  5 b) y 5 (x  1)2  3
1   ​ 
______ x  3
d) y 5 
​ x  1 ​ 
3      e) x2  y 2 5 36

Solution y

a) y 5 2x  5 is a linear relation. There are no 2 Connections

y = 2x — 5
restrictions on the values that can be chosen
The notation {x  R}
for x or y. 0 2 4 6 x
is set notation. It
domain 5 {x ∈ R} Read as “the domain is all real —2 is a concise way of
numbers.” expressing that x is any
range 5 {y ∈ R} —4 real number. The symbol
 means “is an element
of.”

b) y 5 (x  1)2  3 is a quadratic relation. y

There are no restrictions on the values that 10
can be chosen for x, so the domain is all
8
real numbers.
domain 5 {x ∈ R} 6

The parabola has a minimum 4

at its vertex (1, 3). y = (x — 1)2 + 3
2
All values of y are greater than or equal to 3.
range 5 {y ∈ R, y  3} —2 0 2 4 x

c) Division by zero is undefined. The expression in the denominator of

__
1   ​ 
​  cannot be zero. So, x  3  0, which means that x  3. All
x3
other values can be used for x. The vertical line x 5 3 is called an
asymptote
asymptote.
• a line that a curve
Read as “the domain is all real numbers that are not
domain 5 {x ∈ R, x  3} approaches more and
equal to −3.” more closely but never
For the range, there can never be a touches
y
6 • For example, for the
situation where the result of the division _1
is zero, as 1 divided by a non-zero value graph of y = ​ x ​  , the
4
x-axis and the y-axis
can never result in an answer of 0. x = —3
2 are asymptotes.
This function has another asymptote, the 1
y=
x+3 y
x-axis. Any real number except 3 can 1
—6 —4 —2 0 2 x y=
be used for x and will result in all real 2 x
numbers except 0 for the range. Use a —2

table of values or a graphing calculator to —2 0 2 x

—4
check this on the graph. —2
—6
range 5 {y ∈ R, y  0}

1.1 Functions, Domain, and Range • MHR 

 d) The expression under a radical sign y
must be greater
______ than or equal to zero. 6
So, in 
​ x  1 ​ 
 3, x  1  0,
4 y= x—1+3
or x  1.
domain 5 {x ∈ R, x  1} 2

The value of the radical is always 0

—2 0 2 4 6 x
or greater and is added to 3 to give the
value of y. So, the y-values are always —2

greater than or equal to 3. This gives

the range.
range 5 {y ∈ R, y  3}

Con n e c t i o n s e) In x2  y 2 5 36, x2 must be less y

In grade 10, you learned than or equal to 36, as must y 2, 6
x2 + y 2 = 36
that x2 + y 2 = r  2 is the since both x2 and y 2 are always
equation of a circle with positive. So, the values for x 4
centre the origin and
radius r.
and y are from 6 to 6. 2
domain 5 {x ∈ R, 6  x  6}
Read as “the domain is all real —6 —4 —2 0 2 4 6 x
numbers that are greater than —2
or equal to −6 and less than or
equal to 6.” —4

range 5 {y ∈ R, 6  y  6} —6

Example 4
Determine the Domain and Range of an Area Function
Amy volunteers to help
enclose a rectangular area
for a dog run behind the
humane society. The run
is bordered on one side
by the building wall.
The society has 100 m of
fencing available.

a) Express the area function in terms of the width.

b) Determine the domain and range for the area function.

10 MHR • Functions 11 • Chapter 1

Solution
Let x represent the width of the rectangular 100 — 2x
pen and 100  2x represent the length,
x dog x
both in metres. Let A represent the area, in run
square metres.
a) A(x) 5 x(100  2x) Area = length × width
building
5 2x2  100x

b) For the domain, x  0, since there must be a

width to enclose an area. For the length to
be greater than zero, x  50.
domain 5 {x ∈ R, 0  x  50}

The area function is a quadratic opening Connections

downward. Graph the area function to find You could find the
its maximum. The vertex is at (25, 1250). vertex algebraically by
expressing the area
function in vertex form,
y = a(x − h)2 + k.

The maximum value of the area function

is 1250.
range 5 {A ∈ R, 0  A  1250}.
An area must be greater than zero.

Key Concepts

A relation is a function if for each value in the

x −2 −1 0 1 2
domain there is exactly one value in the range.
This table of values models a function. y 5 3 1 −1 −3

The vertical line test can be used on the graph of a relation to determine
y
if it is a function. If every vertical line passes through at most one point
on the graph, then the relation is a function.
The domain and the range of a function can be found by determining
0 x
if there are restrictions based on the defining equation. Restrictions on
the domain occur because division by zero is undefined and because
expressions under a radical sign must be greater than or equal to zero.
The range can have restrictions too. For example, a quadratic that opens
upward will have a minimum value.
Set notation is used to write the domain and range for a function. For example, for the
function y 5 x2  2:
domain 5 {x ∈ R} and range 5 {y ∈ R, y  2}

1.1 Functions, Domain, and Range • MHR 11

Communicate Your Understanding
C1 Suzanne is unclear as to why the graphs of y 5 x2 and x 5 y 2 are different, and why one is a
function and the other is not. How would you help Suzanne?

C2 Is it possible to determine if a relation is a function if you are only given the domain and
range in set notation? Explain your reasoning.

C3 Sagar missed the class on restrictions and has asked you for help. Lead him through the steps

needed to find the domain and range of the function y 5 ​ __4  ​ 

.
2x  1

A Practise
For help with questions 1 and 2, refer to 2. Is each relation a function? Explain. Sketch
Example 1. a graph of each.
1. Which graphs represent functions? Justify a) y 5 x  5
your answer. b) x 5 y 2  3
a) y c) y 5 2(x  1)2  2
d) x2  y 2 5 4
—4 —2 0 2 x
For help with questions 3 and 4, refer to
—2
y = —3x — 7 Example 2.
—4
3. State the domain and the range of each
—6 relation. Is each relation a function? Justify
your answer.
a) {(5, 5), (6, 6), (7, 7), (8, 8), (9, 9)}
b) b) {(3, 1), (4, 1), (5, 1), (6, 1)}
y
y = |x| c) {(1, 6), (1, 14), (1, 11), (1, 8), (1, 0)}
4
d) {(1, 5), (4, 11), (3, 9), (5, 1), (11, 4)}
2
e) {(3, 2), (2, 1), (1, 0), (2, 1), (3, 2)}

—4 —2 0 2 4 x 4. The domain and range of some relations

are given. Each relation consists of five
c) points. Is each a function? Explain.
a) domain 5 {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, range 5 {4}
b) domain 5 {3, 1, 1, 3, 5},
range 5 {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
c) domain 5 {2, 3, 6},
range 5 {4, 6, 7, 11, 15}
d)
d) domain 5 {2}, range 5 {9, 10, 11, 12, 13}

12 MHR • Functions 11 • Chapter 1

 6. Determine the domain and the range of
B Connect and Apply each relation. Use a graph to help you if
For help with questions 5 and 6, refer to necessary.
Example 3. a) y 5 x  3 b) y 5 (x  1)2  4
5. State the domain and the range of each
c) y 5 3x2  1 d) x2  y 2_______
59
relation.
__
e) y 5 ​ 
1   ​   f) y 5 
​ 2x  1 ​ 
a) x3
y
4
7. For each given domain and range, draw one
relation that is a function and one that is
2 not. Use the same set of axes for each part.
y=x+4
a) domain 5 {x ∈ R}, range 5 {y ∈ R}
—6 —4 —2 0 2 x
b) domain 5 {x ∈ R, x  4}, range 5 {y ∈ R}
c) domain 5 {x ∈ R},
b)
y range 5 {y ∈ R, y  1}
y = |x|
4 d) domain 5 {x ∈ R, x  2},
range 5 {x ∈ R, y  2}
2
For help with questions 8 and 9, refer to
—4 —2 0 2 4 x Example 4.
8. Soula has 90 m of fencing to enclose an
c)
y x = |y| area in a petting zoo with two dividers to
4
separate three types of young animals. The
2 three pens are to have the same area.

0 2 4 6 x
—2
piglets lambs rabbits x
—4

d)
y
a) Express the area function for the three
—6 —4 —2 0 2 x pens in terms of x.
—2 b) Determine the domain and the range for
the area function.
—4
9. Is each relation a function? Justify your
—6
y = —2(x + 4)2 —1 answer. If the relation is a function,
state the independent variable and the
e) dependent variable.
y
4 a) The amount of money taken in for the
2 fundraiser is related to the number of
raffle tickets a hockey team sells.
—2 0 2 4 6 x b) The age of students is related to their
—2 2 grade level.
y=
x—3
c) The time it takes Jung Yoo to walk to
—4
school is related to the speed at which
he walks.

1.1 Functions, Domain, and Range • MHR 13

 10. A rectangular part Reasoning and Proving 13. It is said that you cannot be in two places
of a parking lot Representing Selecting Tools at once. Explain what this statement means
is to be fenced in terms of relations and functions.
Problem Solving
off to allow some
repairs to be done.
Connecting Reflecting 14. Describe the graph of a relation that has
The workers have Communicating a) one entry in the domain and one entry
fourteen 3-m in the range
sections of pre-assembled fencing to use. b) one entry in the domain and many
They want to create the greatest possible entries in the range
area in which to work. c) many entries in the domain and one
a) How can the fencing be used to create entry in the range
as large an enclosed area as possible?
15. Sketch a relation with the following
b) Show why this produces the greatest
properties.
area using the given fencing sections,
but does not create the greatest area that a) It is a function with domain all the real
can be enclosed with 42 m of fencing. numbers and range all real numbers less
than or equal to 5.
11. Determine the range of each relation for
b) It is not a function and has domain and
the domain {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}. range from 3 to 3.
a) y 5 6x  6 b) y 5 x2  4
16. A car salesperson Reasoning and Proving
c) y 5 3 d) y 5 2(x  1)2  1
e) y 5 ​  __
1   ​   f) x2  y 2 5 25
is paid according Representing Selecting Tools
x2 to two different
Problem Solving
relations based on
12. Use Technology a) Copy x = y 2 — 3 y sales for the week.
Connecting Reflecting

and complete the table In both relations, Communicating

6 —3
of values. Create a scatter s represents sales
plot of the resulting —2
and P represents the amount paid, both in
data using a graphing —1
dollars.
calculator. 0
For sales of less than $100 000,
b) Enter the equations 1 P 5 0.002s  400.
______
y5 ​ x  3 ​ 
and 2 For sales of $100 000 and over,
______ 3 P 5 0.0025s  400.
y 5 ​x  3 ​ and
a) State the domain and range for each
display their graphs.
relation.
c) Explain the result of the display of the
b) Does each relation define a function?
data and the equations.
Justify your answer.
d) Explain how this illustrates that the
c) Graph the two relations on the same set
equation x 5 y 2  3 defines a relation
of axes.
that is not a function.
d) Connect what happens on the graph
Te c h n o l o g y Tip at s 5 100 000 to its meaning for the
Refer to the Technology Appendix, pages xxx to
salesperson.
xxx, if you need help with plotting data or graphing
equations.

14 MHR • Functions 11 • Chapter 1

C Extend 19. Math Contest What
______is the domain of the
17. Is it possible for two different functions to
__ 
​ x  3 ​ 
function y 5 ​  ______   ​?
have the same domain and range? Explain, ​ 5  x ​ 
giving examples.
20. Math Contest Frank bought supplies for
18. State the domain and the range for the two school. In the first store, he spent half his
relations shown. Is each a function? money plus $10. In the second store, he
a) spent half of what he had left plus $10.
y In the third store, he spent 80% of what
he had left. He came home with $5. How
4 much did he start out with?
2
21. Math Contest Find the number of factors
of 2520.
—360° —180° 0 180° 360° θ
22. Math Contest For what values of x is
_____
b)
y ​ x  2 ​
  x?
4

—4 —2 0 2 4 x
—2

—4

Career Connection
Khaldun completed a 4-year degree in mineral
engineering at the University of Toronto. He
works in northern Canada for an international
diamond-mining company. In his job as a
mining engineer, Khaldun uses his knowledge
of mathematics, physics, geology, and
environmental science to evaluate the feasibility
of a new mine location. Whether the mine is
excavated will be a function of the value of
the diamond deposit, accessibility, and safety
factors. Since mining a site costs millions of
dollars, the analysis stage is crucial. Khaldun
examines rock samples and the site itself
before carefully estimating the value of the
underground deposit. The diamonds will be
mined only if the profits outweigh the many
costs.

1.1 Functions, Domain, and Range • MHR 15