A catalog of essential functions
Linear models
y is a linear function of x if the graph of the function is
a line.
The slope-intercept form of the equation of a linear
function is
y = f (x) = mx + b
where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept.
A characteristic feature of linear functions is that they
grow at a constant rate.
Linear models
The graph of the linear function f (x) = 3x – 2 and a table of
sample values:
whenever x increases by 0.1, the value of f (x) increases by 0.3.
So f (x) increases three times as fast as x.
Thus the slope of the graph can be interpreted as the rate of
change of y with respect to x.
Polynomials
A function P is called a polynomial if
P (x) = anxn + an –1xn –1 + . . . + a2x2 + a1x + a0
where n is a non-negative integer
a0, a1, a2, . . ., an are constants called the coefficients
The domain of any polynomial is
If the leading coefficient an 0, then the degree of the
polynomial is n.
Ex:
is a polynomial of degree 6.
Polynomials
A polynomial of degree 1 is of the form P (x) = mx + b
A polynomial of degree 2 is of the form
P (x) = ax2 + bx + c (quadratic function).
The parabola opens upward if a > 0 and downward if a < 0.
Polynomials
A polynomial of degree 3 is of the form
P (x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d (a 0)
(cubic function)
Figure 5 shows the graph of some polynomials:
Power Functions
A function of the form f (x) = x , where a is a constant, is
a
called a power function.
(i) a = n, where n is a positive integer
The graphs of f (x) = xn for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are shown
below.
Power functions
The general shape of the graph of f (x) = xn :
If n is even, then f (x) = xn is an even function and its graph is
similar to the parabola y = x2.
If n is odd, then f (x) = xn is an odd function and its graph is
similar to that of y = x3.
As n increases, the graph of y = xn becomes flatter near 0 and
steeper when | x | 1.
Power functions
(ii) a = 1/n, where n is a positive integer
The function is a root function.
The square root function
Domain: [0,)
The graph is the upper half
of the parabola x = y2.
For other even values of n,
the graph of is similar
to that of
Power functions
For n = 3 we have the cube root function
Domain:
The graph of for n odd (n > 3) is similar to
that of
Power functions
(iii) a = –1. The reciprocal function f (x) = x –1 = 1/x.
Its graph is a hyperbola with the coordinate axes as its
asymptotes.
Rational functions
A rational function f is a ratio of two polynomials:
where P and Q are polynomials.
Ex.
Domain: {x | x 2}
Trigonometric Functions
(a) f (x) = sin x
Domain: (,+ )
Range: [–1, 1].
(a) ƒ (x) = sin x
(b) f (x) = cos x
Domain: (,+ )
Range: [–1, 1].
The sine and cosine
(b) ƒ (x) = cos x
functions are periodic functions and have period 2.
Trigonometric Functions
(c) The tangent function:
Domain: x /2 + k
Range: (,).
The tangent function has
period y = tan x
Exponential Functions
The exponential functions are the functions of the
form f (x) = ax, where the base a is a positive constant.
Ex. y = 2x and y = (0.5)x
Domain: (,+ )
Range: (0,+).
(a) y = 2x (b) y = (0.5)x
Logarithmic Functions
The logarithmic functions f (x) = logax, where the
base a is a positive constant.
Domain: (0,),
Range: (,+ ),
The function increases
slowly when x > 1.
Transformations of Functions
By applying certain transformations to the graph of a
given function we can obtain the graphs of certain
related functions.
This will give us the ability to sketch the graphs of
many functions quickly by hand.
It will also enable us to write equations for given
graphs.
Transformations of Functions
Translations:
If c is a positive number, then the graph of y = f (x) + c
is just the graph of y = f (x) shifted upward a distance
of c units (because each y-coordinate is increased by
the same number c).
If g(x) = f (x – c), (c > 0) then the value of g at x is the
same as the value of f at x – c (c units to the left of x).
The graph of y = f (x – c), is just the graph of y = f (x)
shifted c units to the right.
Transformations of Functions
Translating the graph of ƒ
Transformations of Functions
The stretching and reflecting transformations:
If c > 1, then the graph of y = cf (x) is the graph of y =
f (x) stretched by a factor of c in the vertical direction
(because each y-coordinate is multiplied by the same
number c).
The graph of y = –f (x) is the graph of y = f (x) reflected
about the x-axis because the point (x, y) is replaced
by the point (x, –y).
Transformations of Functions
Stretching and reflecting the graph of f
Transformations of Functions
The figure illustrates these stretching transformations
when applied to the cosine function with c = 2.
Transformations of Functions
Ex 2. Given the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 , use transformations to graph 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2,
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2, 𝑦 = − 𝑥, 𝑦 = 2 𝑥, and 𝑦 = −𝑥.
Solution
we sketch:
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2 by shifting 2 units downward;
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2 by shifting 2 units to the right; 𝑦 = − 𝑥 by reflecting about the x-axis
𝑦 = 2 𝑥 by stretching vertically by a factor of 2; 𝑦 = −𝑥 by reflecting about the y-axis.
Combinations of Functions
Two functions f and g can be combined to form new
functions:
The sum and difference functions are defined by:
(f + g)(x) = f (x) + g (x); (f – g)(x) = f (x) – g (x)
The product and quotient functions are defined by:
If the domain of f is A and the domain of g is B, then:
• The domain of f + g, f – g, fg are the intersection A ∩ B.
• The domain of f/g is {x A ∩ B | g(x) 0}.
Combinations of Functions
Composition:
The domain of f g is the set
of all x in the domain of g such
that g (x) is in the domain of f.
(f g)(x) is defined whenever
both g (x) and f (g (x)) are defined.
Combinations of Functions
Ex 1:
(a) The domain of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 is A = [0,+)
The domain of g 𝑥 = 2 − 𝑥 is B = (, 2]
So the domain of 𝑓 + 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 2 − 𝑥 is A ∩ B = [0, 2].
(b) f (x) = x2 and g (x) = x – 1
The domain of the rational function (f/g)(x) = x2/(x – 1) is
{x | x 1}, or (,1) U (1,+).
(c) y = 𝑓 𝑢 = 𝑢 and u = g (x) = x2 + 1
The composition (or composite) of f and g is:
y = f (u) = f (g (x)) = f (x2 + 1) = 𝑥 2 + 1
The domain of the f g is .
Combinations of Functions
Ex 2: If f (x) = x2 and g (x) = x – 3, find the
composite functions f g and g f.
Solution:
We have
(f g)(x) = f (g (x)) = 𝑓 𝑥 − 3 = (𝑥 − 3)2
(g f)(x) = g (f (x)) = 𝑔 𝑥 2 = 𝑥 2 − 3.
Exercises of Section 1.2
6, 12, 14, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 27, 30, 32, 34, 39, 41, 54
