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Understanding Functions in Mathematics

A function assigns each element of one set (called the domain) to an element of another set (called the range). It relates these elements according to a rule or equation such as f(x) = y. Functions can model mathematical relationships between quantities. Piecewise functions use two or more equations, each valid for a specific interval of the independent variable. To evaluate a function, you substitute the given value for the independent variable into the function. The domain of a function is the set of all possible values that can be used as arguments of the function.

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44 views2 pages

Understanding Functions in Mathematics

A function assigns each element of one set (called the domain) to an element of another set (called the range). It relates these elements according to a rule or equation such as f(x) = y. Functions can model mathematical relationships between quantities. Piecewise functions use two or more equations, each valid for a specific interval of the independent variable. To evaluate a function, you substitute the given value for the independent variable into the function. The domain of a function is the set of all possible values that can be used as arguments of the function.

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marco.lumbay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What is function. .

A function is a relation that assigns each element of a set X to exactly one element of another set Y
,function can be expressed as an equation, such that f(x) = y; where f represents the function name;
(x) represents the input or independent variable; and y is the output or the dependent variable.

Functions as Mathematical Model

A function relates each element in the domain to only one value in the range. It indicates a
relationship between two quantities by some rule. Functions as mathematical models can be
written in the form y = f(x). For whatever acceptable value(s) of the independent variable x, a
corresponding value of y is derived

Example 2:
Give a function C that can represent the cost of buying x meals, if one meal costs PhP40.
Solution: Since each meal costs PhP40, then the cost function is C(x) = 40x
.

Piecewise Functions

A piecewise function is one which is defined not by a single equation, but by two or more. Each
equation is valid for some interval

Example 5. At an ecological park, you can rent a bike for PhP 100 per hour or a fraction thereof, for
no more than 4 hours total. The total cost F is a function of the number of hours x that a park-goer
rents the bike. Determine the piecewise-defined function F.
Answer:
In this example, we see that the rate per hour is a constant PhP 100; however, we see that this is
charged by the hour or a fraction thereof. This means that rental times not exceeding 1 hour shall
be charged the same rate of PhP 100.
EVALUATING A FUNCTION

The value that we plug in a function is called an argument of the function. For example, if we are
given x = 2 and we are asked to plug in this value in f(x) = 2x, we then substitute the value 2 for all x
in the function.
We have:
f(x) = 2x
f(2) = 2(2)
f(2) = 4
This means that the function value at x = 2 is 4.
Example 1:
Evaluate the following functions at x = 9
a. g(x) = 4x - 3
b. f(x) = x2 + 2
5
c. h(x) =
2 x +2
d. p(x) = √ x+ 3
e. f(x) = I x – 10 I where I x – 10 I means the absolute value x-10

Solution:
a. x = 9 b. x=9 c. x = 9 d. x = 9 e. x = 9
5
g(x) = 4x – 3 f(x) = x2 + 2 h(x) = p(x) = √ x+ 3 f(x) = I x – 10 I
2 x +2
5
g(9)= 4(9) – 3 f(9) = (9)2 + 2 h(9) = p(9) = √ 9+3 f(9) = I 9 – 10 I
2(9)+2
5
g(9)= 36 – 3 f(9) = 81 + 2 h(9) = p(9) = √ 12= √ 4.3 f(9) = I -1 I
20
1
g(9) = 33 f(9) = 83 h(9)= p(9) = 2√ 3 f(9) = 1
4

DOMAIN OF THE FUNCTION


It is the set containing all possible values that may be used as arguments of a function.
Knowing the domain of a function is vital because this gives us a picture of what not to
include as possible arguments in the function. It is important to know the domain because
in case we need to graph a function there should be no part of the graph where an argument
(x-value) is excluded from the domain.

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