RELATIONS, FUNCTIONS AND

GRAPHS

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

Two-Dimensional Coordinate System

Cartesian Coordinate Systems
Each point on a coordinate axis is associated with a number
called its coordinate.
Each point on a flat, two-dimensional surface, called a
coordinate plane or xy-plane, is associated with an ordered
pair of numbers called coordinates of the point.
Ordered pairs are denoted by (, ) , where the real
numbers is the x-coordinate or abscissa and the real
number is the y-coordinate or ordinate
WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions
and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

 The coordinates of a point are determined by the points

position relative to a horizontal coordinate axis called the
x-axis and a vertical axis called the y-axis.
The axes intersect at the point (0,0), called the origin.
The four regions formed by the axes are called quadrants and
are numbered counterclockwise.
The two-dimensional coordinate system is referred to as a
Cartesian Coordinate System.

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

Graph of an Equation by Point-Plotting

Definition of the Graph of an Equation
The graph of an equation in the two variables and is the
set of all points (x, y) whose coordinates satisfy the equation.
Example 1:
Consider the equation = 2 + 1, graph by pointplotting.

= +

(, )

2 2 + 1

(2, 3)

2 1 + 1

(1, 1)

2 0 +1

(0, 1)

2 1 +1

(1, 3)

2 2 +1

(2, 5)

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

y
5
4
3
2
1
x
-5

-4

-3

-2

-1
-1

-2
-3
-4
-5
WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions
and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

Example 2. Graph: = + 3
Example 3. Graph: = 2
Example 4. Graph: 2 + = 5

Example 5. Graph: 2 = 4

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

Relations and Functions

Relation
is referred to as any set of ordered pair.
conventionally, It is represented by the ordered pair ( x , y ).

x is called the first element or x-coordinate while y is the

second element or y-coordinate of the ordered pair.

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

Function
a set of ordered pairs in which no two ordered pairs have the
same first coordinate and different second coordinates
every function is a relation, not every relation is a function
it may have ordered pairs with the same second coordinate

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

One-to-one and many-to-one functions

Consider the following graphs

y sin x

y x 1
3

and

Each value of

x maps to only one

value of y . . .
and each y is mapped from only
one x.

Each value of

x maps to only one

value of y . . .
BUT many other x values map to
that y.

Consider the following graphs

y sin x

y x 1
3

and

y x

1is an example of a one-to-

one function

yone
sin
x
function

is an example of a many-to-

One-to-many is NOT a function. It is just a relation. Thus a

function is a relation but a relation could never be a function.

State whether the relation defines y as a function of x.

1. = 1, 0 , 0, 1 , 0, 1 , 3, 2 , 3, 2
2. = 2, 4 , 1, 1 , 0, 0 , 1, 1 , 2, 4
3. 2 = 1
4. 2 + 2 = 4
5. =
6. =

7. = 9
8. = 16 2
9. 4 2 9 2 =36

10. =

+1

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

11

Domain and Range

Domain
is the set of all the first coordinates of the ordered pair

Independent Variable
is the variable that represents elements of the domain

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

12

Range
Is the set of all the second coordinates

Dependent Variable

Is the variable that represents elements of the range

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

13

Determine the domain and range of the following functions.

1. A= 2, 4 , 1, 1 , 0, 0 , 1, 1 , 2, 4
2. 2 = 1
3. =

4. = 9
5. = 16 2
6. =

+1

7. =

3
3
2

8. =

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

14

Function Notation

Functions can be named by using a letter or combination of

letters, such as, , , , , , .
If is an element of the domain of , then (), which is read
" of or the value of at , is the element in the range of
that corresponds to the domain of .
The notation means the name of the function while the
notation () means the value of the function at .

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

15

Evaluation of Functions
To evaluate a function, replace the independent variable
with a number in the domain of the function and then simplify
the resulting numerical expression.

Example 1:
Let = 2 3 and evaluate:
a. (3)
b. (4)
c. 2()
d. ( 3)
e. + (2)
WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions
and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

16

Example 2:
Let = 2 4, find
a. (2)
b. (4)
c. ( + 1)
Example 3:
Let =

a.
b.
c.
d.

, find

(1)
(2)
, > 0
, < 0

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

17

Piecewise defined Functions

These are functions represented by more than one

expression.
Example:

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

1,
< 3
= 2 1, 3 4
5 ,
>4

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

18

Evaluate the following piecewise-defined functions.

+ 2, 2
1. Given: = 4 2 , 2 < 2,
2 ,
>2
Find each of the following
a. (3)
b. (0)
c. (1)

d. (3)

2 1, < 1
,
1 2, 1
Find each of the following
a. (2)
b. (0)
c. (3)

2. Given: =

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

19

Algebra of Functions
Definitions of Operations on Functions
If and are functions with domains and , then
we define
a. The Sum
+ = + ()
Domain:
b. The Difference
= ()
Domain:

c. The Product
= ()
Domain:
d. The Quotient
/ = /()
Domain: , () 0
WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions
and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

20

Example 1:
Let = 5 + 1 and = 2 2 . Find the following and
the domain of the resulting functions:
a. +
b.
c.
d. /
e. /
Example 2:
Let = 1 and =

1
. Evaluate

the following:

a. + (2)

b.

(5)

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

c. (3)

21

Difference Quotient

The expression
+ ()
,

is called the difference quotient of f. The expression shows the

manner in which a function changes in value as the independent
variable changes.

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

22

Example 1:
Determine the difference quotient of = 2 + 3.
Example 2:
The distance traveled by a ball rolling down a ramp is given by
= 9 2 , where is the time in seconds after the ball is
released and () is measured in feet. Evaluate the average
velocity of the ball for each time interval.
a. 2, 4
b. 2, 6
c. 2, 8

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

23

Composition of Functions
Composition of functions is another way in which functions
can be combined.
This method of combining functions uses the output of one
function as the input for a second function.
Definition of the Composition of Two Functions
Let and be two functions such that () is in the
domain of for all in the domain of . Then the composition
of the two functions, denoted by , is the function whose
value at is given by = .

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

24

Example 1:
Consider the functions = 3 + 2 and = 2 2 1. Find
a. (1)
b. (1)
Example 2:
Evaluate each composite function where = + 2,
= 2 3, and = 5 2 .
a. 4
b. 3
c. 0
d. 8
e. 1
f. Show that = ( )()
g. Show that = ( )()
WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions
and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

25

Example 3:
A water tank has the shape of a right circular cone with height 10
feet and radius 5 feet. Water is running into the tank so that the
radius (in feet) of the surface of the water is given by = 1.5,
where is the time (in minutes) that the water has been running.
a. The area of the surface of the water is = 2 . Find ()
and use it to determine the area of the surface of the water
when = 2 minutes.
1

b. The volume of the water is given by = 2 . Find ()

3
and use it to determine the volume of water when = 3
minutes.

WEEK 1 - Relations, Functions

and Graphs

(COLLEGE ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY,

Aufmann, Barker and Nation 7th ed., page
175-178, 184-189, 252-259)

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