Some Types of Functions and their Graphs
Mathematics 100
Institute of Mathematics
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Outline
1 Functions and their Graphs
Graphs of Relations and Functions
Polynomial Functions
Rational Functions
Split Functions
Absolute Value Function
2 The Greatest Integer Function
3 More examples on Functions
4 Lecture Exercises
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Graph of an equation
Definition
R
The graph of an equation in 2 is the set of all points in R2 whose
coordinates are numbers satisfying the equation.
Remarks:
1 The domain and range of a relation may be determined from its graph.
domain - horizontal extent of the graph
range - vertical extent of the graph
2 Determining if an equation y = f (x) is a function or not may be
determined from its graph.
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Vertical Line Test (VLT)
Theorem
If every vertical line intersects the graph of an equation at most once, then the
equation defines y as a function of x.
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Vertical Line Test (VLT)
Example
Consider the graph of y = x + 1.
3 Each vertical line intersects the
graph exactly once. Thus,
2
y = x + 1 defines a function.
1
domain = R
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
R
−1
range =
−2
−3
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Vertical Line Test (VLT)
Example
Consider the graph of x2 + y 2 = 4, which is a circle with center at the origin
and radius 2.
3 By VLT, the given equation does
not define a function.
2
1
domain = [−2, 2]
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
−1 range = [−2, 2]
−2
−3
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Polynomial Functions
Recall that:
A polynomial function is a function of the form
f (x) = an xn + an−1 xn−1 + . . . + a1 x + a0 ,
where the ai ’s are real numbers, with an 6= 0 and n is a nonnegative integer.
The integer n is called the degree of the polynomial f . The domain of a
polynomial function is . R
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Constant Functions
A constant function has the form
R
f (x) = c, where c ∈ .
Its graph is a horizontal line which
intersects the point (0, c).
dom f = R
ran f = {c}
Graph of f (x) = c
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Linear Functions
A linear function has the form
f (x) = mx + b, where m, b ∈ , R
with m 6= 0.
(0, b)
Here, m is called the slope of the
line and b is called the y-intercept.
dom f = R
Graph of f (x) = mx + b ran f = R
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Linear Functions
To sketch the graph of a linear function, consider the x-intercept and the
y-intercept.
x-intercept : value of x when y = 0
y-intercept: value of y when x = 0
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Linear Functions
Example
Sketch the graph of the linear function defined by f (x) = 2x + 4.
Solution:
Solve for the y-intercept:
x = 0 =⇒ y = 2 · 0 + 4 =⇒ y = 4
4 is the y-intercept and (0, 4) is a point on the line.
Solve for the x-intercept:
y = 0 =⇒ 0 = 2x + 4 =⇒ x = −2
−2 is the x-intercept and (−2, 0) is another point on the line.
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Linear Functions
Solution cont’d.:
5 We simply plot the x- and
y-intercepts and draw the line
4 (0, 4)
connecting the two.
3
2 dom f = R
R
1
(−2, 0)
ran f =
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
−1
Graph of f (x) = 2x + 4
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Linear Functions
Example
Sketch the graph of the linear function defined by g(x) = −3x + 1. (Try this at
home.)
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Quadratic Functions
A quadratic function has the form f (x) = ax2 + bx + c, where a, b, c ∈ R,
with a 6= 0.
Its graph is called a parabola.
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Characteristics of a Parabola
It either opens upward or downward. It opens upward when a > 0, and
downward when a < 0.
The parabola has a maximum or a minimum point, called the vertex. The
vertex is given by
b 4ac − b2
− , .
2a 4a
b
The parabola is symmetric with respect to the line x = − 2a .
The root(s)/zero(s)/x-intercept(s) of a quadratic function can be obtained
by factoring (if possible) or by using the quadratic formula:
√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x= .
2a
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Quadratic Functions
Example
Sketch the graph of the quadratic function defined by f (x) = x2 − 5x + 4.
Solution:
Its graph is a parabola that opens upward since a > 0.
The vertex is the point
b 4ac − b2 4 · 1 · 4 − (−5)2
−5 5 9
− , = − , = ,− .
2a 4a 2·1 4·1 2 4
The parabola has a minimum point at ( 25 , − 94 ).
The line of symmetry is x = 25 , i.e., the vertical line passing through the
vertex.
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Quadratic Functions
Solution cont’d.:
To find the x-intercepts, let y = 0 and solve for x:
0 = x2 − 5x + 4 = (x − 4)(x − 1).
x = 4 and x = 1
The x-intercepts are x = 4 and x = 1.
Thus, (1, 0) and (4, 0) are points on the parabola.
For the y-intercept, let x = 0 and solve for y:
y = 02 − 5 · 0 + 4 = 4.
The y-intercept is 4 and the parabola passes through the point (0, 4).
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Quadratic Functions
Solution cont’d.:
4 dom f = R
3
ran f = − 49 , +∞
2
1
(1, 0) (4, 0)
−2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1
−2
( 25 , − 94 )
−3
Graph of f (x) = x2 − 5x + 4
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Quadratic Functions
Example
Sketch the graph of the quadratic function defined by g(x) = −2x2 + 3x + 2.
(Try this at home.)
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Rational Functions
A rational function is a function of the form
P (x)
f (x) = ,
Q(x)
where P and Q are polynomial functions and Q is not the constant zero
R
function. The domain of the rational function above is {x ∈ : Q(x) 6= 0}.
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Rational Functions
Example
x2 − 4
Sketch the graph of the rational function defined by f (x) = .
x−2
Solution:
To sketch its graph, we note that if x 6= 2, then we can write the given
function as
x2 − 4 (x − 2)(x + 2)
f (x) = = = x + 2.
x−2 x−2
Hence, the graph of the given function is the same as the graph of
f (x) = x + 2 but with the point (2, 4) excluded.
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Rational Functions
Solution cont’d.:
5 dom f = R \ {2}
4 (2, 4)
3
ran f = R \ {4}
2
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1
x2 − 4
g(x)
Graph of f (x) = x + 2
x−2
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Rational Functions
Example
x2 − 2x + 1
Sketch the graph of the rational function defined by g(x) = . (Try
1−x
this at home.)
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Rational Functions
Example
Sketch the graph of the rational function defined by
(x − 1)(x2 − x − 6)
h(x) = .
x−3
Solution:
If x 6= 3, we have
(x − 1)(x2 − x − 6) (x − 1)(x + 2)(x − 3)
h(x) = = = (x − 1)(x + 2).
x−3 x−3
Thus, the graph of h is the graph of h(x) = (x − 1)(x + 2) = x2 + x − 2
excluding the point with x-coordinate 3, i.e., the point (3, 10).
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Rational Functions
Solution cont’d.:
10
dom h = R \ {3}
9
8
ran h = − 94 , +∞
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
−4 −3 −2 −1−1 1 2 3 4
−2 (− 12 , − 94 )
(x − 1)(x2 − x − 6)
Graph of f (x) = x2 + x − 2
h(x)
x−3
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Split Functions (Piecewise-defined Functions)
A piecewise-defined function is a function that is defined by different
expressions in different parts of its domain.
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Split Functions
Example
Sketch the graph of the split function defined by
3 , if x > 0
f (x) =
−2 , if x ≤ 0.
Solution:
This means that we graph f (x) = 3 when x > 0 and graph f (x) = −2 when
x ≤ 0.
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Split Functions
Solution cont’d.:
4 dom f = R
3
2 ran f = {−2, 3}
1
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1
−2
−3
−4
Graph of f
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Split Functions
Example
Sketch the graph of the split function defined by
x − 12 , if x < 1
g(x) =
1 2
4 x + 1 , if x ≥ 1.
Solution:
1
We sketch g(x) = x − 2 when x < 1 and sketch the graph of g(x) = 41 x2 + 1
when x ≥ 1.
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Split Functions
Solution cont’d.:
2
dom g = R
ran g = −∞, 12 ∪ 54 , +∞
1
−1 1 2
−1
Graph of g
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Absolute Value Function
We introduce the absolute value function, defined by the split function
x , if x ≥ 0
f (x) = |x| =
−x , if x < 0.
4 dom f = R
3
2 ran f = [0, +∞)
1
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3
−1
Graph of f (x) = |x|
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Absolute Value Function
Example
Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = |x + 2|.
Solution:
By definition, f is a split function given by
x+2 , if x + 2 ≥ 0
f (x) = |x + 2| =
− (x + 2) , if x + 2 < 0.
x+2 , if x ≥ −2
=
−(x + 2) , if x < −2.
Thus, the graph of f is the graph of f (x) = x + 2 if x ≥ −2 and its graph is the
graph of f (x) = −(x + 2) if x < −2.
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Absolute Value Function
Solution cont’d.:
4 dom f = R
3
2 ran f = [0, +∞)
1
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1
−1
Graph of f (x) = |x + 2|
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Absolute Value Function
Example
Sketch the graph of g(x) = |x − 5| + 3. (Try this at home.)
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Greatest Integer Function (Step Function)
The greatest integer function is the function whose value at any real
number x is the greatest integer less than or equal to x, denoted by [[x]].
Formally, we have
[[x]] = n, if n ≤ x < n + 1, where n is an integer.
Example
1 [[2.4]] = 2
2 [[1.9]] = 1
3 [[0]] = 0
4 [[−3.2]] = − 4
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Greatest Integer Function
Note that the domain of this function is R. Observe that
if −2 ≤ x < −1, then [[x]] = −2
if −1 ≤ x < 0, then [[x]] = −1
if 0 ≤ x < 1, then [[x]] = 0
if 1 ≤ x < 2, then [[x]] = 1
if 2 ≤ x < 3, then [[x]] = 2
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Greatest Integer Function
3 dom f = R
2
1
ran f = Z
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1
−2
−3
Graph of f (x) = [[x]]
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Greatest Integer Function
Example
Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = [[x + 2]].
Solution:
Let us first compute some function values of f .
If − 1 ≤ x + 2 < 0, then [[x + 2]] = −1,
i.e., if − 3 ≤ x < −2, then f (x) = −1.
If 0 ≤ x + 2 < 1, then [[x + 2]] = 0,
i.e., if − 2 ≤ x < −1, then f (x) = 0.
If 1 ≤ x + 2 < 2, then [[x + 2]] = 1,
i.e., if − 1 ≤ x < 0, then f (x) = 1.
and so on.
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Greatest Integer Function
Solution cont’d.:
4 dom f = R
3
2
ran f = Z
1
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3
−1
−2
Graph of f (x) = [[x + 2]]
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More examples on functions
Example
Let
x−1 , if x < −1
f (x) = −3x2 + 1 , if − 1 ≤ x < 1
[[x − 4]] , if 1 ≤ x ≤ 6.
The function f can be written as follows:
x−1 , if x < −1
2
− 3x + 1 , if −1≤x<1
−3 , if 1≤x<2
−2 , if 2≤x<3
f (x) =
−1 , if 3≤x<4
0 , if 4≤x<5
1 , if 5≤x<6
2 , if x = 6.
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More examples on functions
2 dom f = (−∞, 6]
1
ran f = (−∞, 1] ∪ {2}
−2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6
−1
−2
−3
Graph of f
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More examples on functions
Example
Let 2
x −4
x + 2 , if − 3 ≤ x ≤ −1, x 6= −2
h(x) =
[[x]] + 1 , if − 1 < x < 1
|x − 5| , if 1 ≤ x ≤ 7.
We can write h as:
x−2 , if − 3 ≤ x ≤ −1, x 6= −2
0 , if −1<x<0
h(x) = 1 , if 0≤x<1
−x+5 , if 1≤x<5
x−5 , if 5 ≤ x ≤ 7.
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More examples on functions
4 dom h = [−3, 7] \ {−2}
3
2 ran h = [−5, −4) ∪ (−4, −3] ∪ [0, 4]
1
−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
−1
−2
−3
−4
−5
Graph of h
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Lecture Exercises
1. Sketch the graph of f (x) = 2 · [[x]] and determine its range.
2. Sketch the graph of the function g and determine its domain and range.
2x + 4
, if x < −1, x 6= −2
x+2
g(x) = |1 − x| , if − 1 ≤ x < 0
2
x − x − 2 , if x ≥ 0.
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