Dr. V.

JAILAXMI

Professor and Head

Department of Mathematics

PSG Institute of Technology and

Applied Research
Functions and their representations

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• Think of a function as a machine. If x is in the domain of a
function f, then when x enters the machine , it is accepted as an
input and the machine produces an output f(x) according to the
rule of the function.

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• Juicer is a kind of a function.

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Which of the following graphs represent(s) a function ?

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• A function f is a rule that assigns to each element x in a set D
exactly one element, called f(x), in a set E.
• The Vertical Line Test : A curve in the xy - plane is the graph
of a function of x if and only if no vertical line intersects the
curve more than once.

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• The domain and codomain of a function could be sets of any
type of objects. For example, the domain could be the
set A={◯,△,★,□} and the codomain could be the
set B={◊,★,□,◯,∘}. We could define a function f of the form
f:{◯,△,★,□}→{◊,★,□,◯,∘}
that maps each of the four symbols in A to one of the
five symbols in B. We could define the function
by f(◯)=◊, f(△)=□, f(★)=□ and f(□)=★.
(Equivalently, using the ordered pair definition we
could define f by the set of ordered pairs.)
{(◯,◊),(△,□),(★,□),(□,★)}. Since f never maps onto the
elements ◯ or ∘ of the codomain, the range of the
function is the set {◊,★,□}.

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 Representations of Functions

• A function can be represented in different ways:

by an equation, in a table, by a graph or in words.

• Functions arise whenever one quantity depends on

another.

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 There are four possible ways to represent a function
 Verbally (by a description in words)
 Visually (by a graph)
 Numerically (by a table of values)
 Algebraically (by an explicit formula)
Examples:
Verbally:
1. s(t) is the speed of a car at time „t‟
2. The cost C of mailing a letter depends on its weight w
3. A verbal representation of f ( x)  x is “square the input x to
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obtain the output”

Words describe precisely what is to be computed.

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Visually: The vertical acceleration a of the ground as measured
by a seismograph during an earthquake is a function of the
elapsed time. For a given value of t, the graph provides a
corresponding value of a. This is graphical representation.

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Numerically : (Table of values)

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Algebraically:

• The area A of a circle depends on the radius r of the circle.

The rule connecting A and r is the algebraic formula
A (r )   r 2

f(x) = 2x2 + 4x - 12

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 Types of Functions

• Explicit function
• Implicit function
• Single valued function
• Multiple valued function
• Even function
• Odd function
• Increasing function
• Decreasing function
• Piecewise defined function

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 Explicit function: A function in which the dependent variable can be
written explicitly in terms of the independent variable.
Examples:

 Implicit function: A function or relation in which the dependent variable is

not isolated on one side of the equation.
Examples:

 Single valued function: A single valued function is a function that, for each
point in the domain, has a unique value in the range.
Example:
 Multiple valued function: A multiple valued function is a function that
assumes two or more distinct values in its range for at least one point in the
range.
Example : Square root function is a multivalued function.
assigns to each x a single
value , the positive square root. This is a function.
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 Even Function: A function f is even if the graph of f is
symmetric with respect to y-axis. Algebraically, f is even if
and only if f (-x) = f (x) for all x in the domain of f.
Examples:
 Odd Function: A function f is odd if the graph of f is
symmetric with respect to the origin. Algebraically, f is odd if
and only if f (-x) = -f (x) for all x in the domain of f.
Examples:
 Increasing Function: A function f is called increasing on an
interval I if
 Decreasing Function: A function f is called decreasing on an
interval I if
 Piecewise defined Function: Piecewise defined Function is a
function defined by multiple sub functions.

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Examples:
Increasing and decreasing functions

The function is decreasing on the interval

and decreasing on the interval
The graph of a piecewise defined algebraic function

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 Examples: Here verbal description of a function in a physical
situation is given, we obtain an explicit algebraic formula.
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• A rectangular storage container with an open top has a volume of 10 m
The length of its base is twice its width. Material for the base costs $ 10 per
square meter; material for the sides costs $6 per square meter. Express the
cost of materials as a function of the width of the base.
Solution: Let w,2w, h be width, length and height respectively.
The area of the base is 2 w ; area of the sides is 2(wh)  2(2wh)
2

So, the total cost is

C  10(2w 2 )  6  2( wh)  2(2wh)   20w2  36h
To express C as a function of w alone, we eliminate h by using that the volume
is 10 m ; w (2w)h  10 ; so, h  52
3
w
 5  180
 C ( w)  20 w 2  36 w  2   20 w 2 
w  w

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 Thank you!

Any Questions ?
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