Domain 1: Algebra
Linear Equations
SOLVING
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
Linear Functions: Graphs
SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM
PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR LINES
STANDARD FORM
FUNCTION NOTATION
TRANSFORMATIONS
Linear Functions: Creating and Interpreting
INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM
STANDARD FORM
Systems of Linear Equations
SOLVING
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
Linear Inequalities and Systems
LINEAR INEQUALITIES IN ONE VARIABLE
LINEAR INEQUALITIES IN TWO VARIABLES
SYSTEMS OF LINEAR INEQUALITIES
Domain 1: Algebra
Linear Functions: Graphs
Function Notation
Introduction to function notation
Any linear equation in two variables is a function. The function notation f(x) represents the value of the
function f when the input is x.
Therefore, a linear equation in terms of input x and output y represents a linear function f where y = f(x).
Note: Some other common names of functions are g(x) and h(x).
Example
g(x) = −10x + 2
What is the value of g(4)? For what value of x does g(x) = 12?
Domain 1: Algebra
Points on a graph
The function notation f(c) = d means the graph of function f passes through the point (c, d) in the xy-plane.
Example
In the xy-plane, the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the graph of the function h is k. Which of the
following must be equal to k?
A)h(−1)
B)h(0)
C)h(1)
Explanation:
The y-intercept is the point where the graph intersects the y-axis. This point has x-value 0. When
the input of function h is 0, the output is h(0).
This means the y-intercept is (0, h(0)). It is given that the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of
function h is k, so the y-intercept is (0, k).
Therefore, k is equal to h(0).
Tactic: A y-intercept has input 0, so f(0) represents the y-intercept for any function f in the xy-plane.
Domain 1: Algebra
Example
In the linear function f, f(0) = 6 and f(1) = 11. Which equation defines f?
A) f(x) = 11x + 6
B) f(x) = 5x
C) f(x) = 5x + 11
D) f(x) = 5x + 6
Explanation:
The function notation f(c) = d means that the function f has an output of d when x = c, and the
graph of y = f(x) contains the point (c, d).
It is given that f(0) = 6 and f(1) = 11, so the line contains the points (0, 6) and (1, 11).
Each equation from the choices is in slope-intercept form f(x) = mx + b, where m is the slope and
b is the y-intercept. Use the two known points to find m and b.
slope m
Plug the points (x1, y1) = (0, 6) and (x2, y2) = (1, 11) into the slope formula and simplify.
y 2− y 1
m= Slope formula
x 2−x 1
11−6 Plug in (x1, y1) = (0, 6)
m=
1−0 and (x2, y2) = (1, 11)
5
m= Subtract
1
The slope m is 5.
y-intercept b
The point (0, 6) has x-coordinate 0, so it is the point where the graph intersects the y-axis and the
y-intercept b is 6.
Plug m = 5 and b = 6 into f(x) = mx + b.
f(x) = mx + b Slope-intercept form
f(x) = 5x + 6 Plug in m = 5 and b = 6
Therefore, the equation that defines linear function f is f(x) = 5x + 6.
Domain 1: Algebra
Example
For the linear function g, the table shows three values of x and their corresponding values of g(x).
Which equation defines g(x)?
A) g(x) = 5x + 22
B) g(x) = 22x + 27
C) g(x) = 27x + 31
Explanation:
Each equation from the choices is in slope-intercept form g(x) = mx + b, where m is the slope
and b is the y-intercept. Use the values in the given table to calculate the slope m and y-intercept b
for g(x).
slope m
The slope m of a line that represents a function f is equal to the change in f(x) divided by the
corresponding change in x.
Each row in the table represents a pair of corresponding values of x and g(x). Find the change
in g(x) and the corresponding change in x for any two rows and divide to calculate the slope m.
The slope m is 5.
Domain 1: Algebra
y-intercept b
The y-intercept is the function value at the point where a graph intersects the y-axis and has
x-value 0. Identify from the table that when x = 0, the value of f(x) is 22. Therefore, the
y-intercept b is 22.
Plug m = 5 and b = 22 into g(x) = mx + b.
g(x) = mx + b Slope-intercept form
g(x) = 5x + 22 Plug in m = 5 and b = 22
Therefore, an equation that defines the linear function g is g(x) = 5x + 22.
Domain 1: Algebra
Linear Functions: Graphs
Transformations
Check for Understanding
1. The function d is defined by d(s) = 11s − 67. What is the value of d(5)?
−1
2. The function h is defined by h ( x )= x−34 . For what value of x does h ( x )=−49?
2
3. In the linear function g, g(0) = −6 and g(5) = −3. Which equation defines g?
A) g ( x )=−3 x−6
3
B) g ( x )= x−6
5
3
C) g ( x )= x
5
5
D) g ( x )= x−6
3
