RELATION

Some occurring natural phenomena can be understood by examining variables

which may have relationships. An example of this is average life span of animals; a house
mouse can live in an average of 1 year, 5 years for a pigeon, 13 years for a dog, and 79 years
for a human (Ali, 2022). Table 1.1 shows a correspondence between the animal and its
average life span.
Table 1.1

Animal Average life span

(x) (y) ordered pair
house mouse 1 → (house mouse, 1)
pigeon 5 → (pigeon, 5)
dog 13 → (dog, 13)
human 79 → (human, 79)

In Table 1.1, each corresponding information on an animal’s average life span may
be represented as an ordered pair. In this instance, the first value represents the animal
and the second is their corresponding average life span. The set of ordered pairs defines a
relation {(house mouse, 1), (pigeon, 5), (dog, 13), (human, 79)} between animal and its
corresponding average life span.
Definition of a Relation in x and y
Any set of ordered pairs (x, y) is called a relation in x and y. Furthermore, (a) the set
of first components in the ordered pairs is called the domain of the relation, and (b) the set
of second components in the ordered pairs is called the range of the relation.

Example 1: Find the domain and range of the relation showing the corresponding average
life span of an animal {(house mouse, 1), (pigeon, 5), (dog, 13), (human, 79)}.
Solution:
Domain: {house mouse, pigeon, dog, human} → set of first coordinates
Range: {1, 5, 13, 79} → set of second coordinates
Example 2: Find the domain and range of the relation:
1
{(0, 0), (1.25, 5), (−3, −2), ( , −3) , (10, 1)}
2
Solution:
1
Domain: {0, 1.25, −3, , 10} → set of first coordinates
2
Range: {0, 5, −2, −3, 1} → set of second coordinates

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 A relation may consist of a finite number of ordered pairs or an infinite number of
ordered pairs. Moreover, a relation may be defined by several different methods: (a) list of
ordered pairs, (b) correspondence between the domain and range, (c) graph or (d)
equation.
(a) A relation may be defined as a set of ordered pairs.
{(0, 0), (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)}
(b) A relation may be defined a correspondence of first
elements and second elements for each ordered READ
pair. MORE
x y

0 0 There are different types

1 1 of relation. We let A and B be sets
2 2 such that:
3 3 a. each element of B is mapped to
only one element of A, then it is
one-to-one relation;
(c) A relation may be defined by a graph. The A B
corresponding ordered pairs are {(0, 0), (1, 1),
(2, 2), (3, 3)}. 0 0
y
1 1
2 2
3 3

b. if an element of B is mapped onto

more than one element of A, then it
x is many-to-one relation; and
A B
(d) A relation may be expressed by an equation. From
the correspondence {(0, 0), (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)}, it 0
can be represented as the equation: 1 1
𝑦 = 𝑥, where 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3, ꓯ𝑥 ∈ 𝑍 2
3 3
Example 3: Find the domain and range of the following:
x c. if an element of A is mapped onto
a. y Solution:
more than one element of B, then it
Domain: {a, b} is one-to-many relation.
2 A B
Range: {2, 4, 6, 8}
a 4
b 6 0 0
8 1
2 2
y 3
b. Solution:
Domain: {3}
Range: All real numbers

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 PRACTICE
MORE

PART I – DIRECTION: Do what is indicated. Show your complete solution, if needed. Make
sure to use correct symbols in expressing your answers.
1. Rewrite the following relation into a set of ordered pairs:
a. … b. A B c. y

-2 0
5
2 -2
5 2
x

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________

2. Find the domain and range of each relation:

a. {(0, −4), (0, 5), (0, 12)} 1 2
b. {(−1, 1), (−1, 2), (1, −1), (− 3 , 5)}
D: _____________ R: _____________
D: _____________ R: _____________
c. A B d. A B

-5 2 3 2
5 -5
-3 -1 -2
3 2 2

D: _____________ R: _____________ D: _____________ R: _____________

e. y f. y

x x

D: _____________ R: _____________ D: _____________ R: _____________

g. 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 3 h. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 1
D: _____________ R: _____________ D: _____________ R: _____________

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 FUNCTION

We will now introduce a special type of relation which is called a function.

Definition of a Function
Given a relation in x and y, we say “y is a function of x” if for every element x in the
domain, there corresponds exactly one element y in the range.

Let us consider the following relations:

a. A B b. A B c. A B

0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3

Solution:
a. This one-to-one relation is defined by the set of ordered pairs
{(0,0), (1,1), (2,2), (3,3)}. We can observe that for each x in the domain there is
only one corresponding y in the range. Thus, this relation is a function.
b. This many-to-one relation is defined by the set of ordered pairs:
{(0,1), (1,1), (2,3), (3,3)}. Since, each value of x in the domain has only one
corresponding y value, this relation is a function.
c. This one-to-many relation is defined by the set of ordered pairs:

{(0,0), (0,1), (2,2), (2,3)}

same x same x
When x = 1, there are two possible range elements: y = 0 and y = 1. Moreover,
when x = 2, the possible range elements are y = 2 and y = 3. Hence, this relation is
NOT a function.
A relation that is NOT a function has at least one domain element x paired with
more than one range y. For an instance, the ordered pairs (0, 0) and (0, 1) do NOT
constitute a function because two different y-values correspond to the same value of x.
These two points are aligned vertically in the same xy-plane or cartesian coordinate plane,
and a vertical line drawn through on point also intersects the other point. Hence, if a vertical
line drawn through a graph of a relation intersects the graph in more than one point, the
relation CANNOT be a function. This idea is stated formally as the vertical line test.

The Vertical Line Test

Consider a relation defined by a set of points (𝑥, 𝑦) in a rectangular coordinate
system. The graph defines y as a function of x if no vertical line intersects the graph in more
than one point.

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 Example 4: Use the vertical line test to determine whether the following relations define y
as a function of x.
y y
a. b.

x x

Solution:
y y
a. b.

x x

Since a vertical line intersects Since a vertical line intersects

the graph twice, thus it is NOT a the graph ONLY once at any part
function. of the graph, thus it is a function.

Relations can be in the form of equations. For us to determine if an equation, with

an independent variable x and dependent variable y, is a function, we have to take note of
the following:
1. It should be equality (does not use inequality symbols like >, <, ≥, ≤, ≠);
2. The dependent variable y is NOT enclosed with the absolute value symbol; and
3. The dependent variable y should have positive odd integer exponent.

Example 5: Determine if the following equations are functions or merely relation:

(a) 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1
This equation is equality since it uses “=” symbol. Also, “y” is not enclosed with
the absolute value symbol. And lastly, the exponent of “y” is 1. Therefore, it is a
function.
(b) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 1
This equation follows the three characteristics mentioned above. Hence, it is
a function.

(c) 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 + 1
This equation follows the first two characteristics listed above. But the
dependent variable “y” has an exponent of 2. It is NOT odd number. Thus, it is NOT
a function.

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 PRACTICE
MORE

PART I – DIRECTION: Do what is indicated. Show your complete solution, if needed. Make
sure to use correct symbols in expressing your answers.
1. Write F if the given relation is a function and R if it is merely a relation.
a. {(3, -3), (2, -2), (-2, 2), (-3, 3)} _____ b. x +2x2 +3x3 = y + 3y3 _____

c. _____ d. _____

e. f. x y _____

10 100
x -3 -1 0 -1 -3 0 15 150
y 0 -1 1 -3 2 4 20 200

_____

g. _____ h. _____

i. 𝑦 3 = 4𝑥 − 2 _____ j. 𝑦 − 3 = 2|𝑥 − 2| _____

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