The Differences between a relation and a function

Relation: A relation is simply a set of

ordered pairs.
The first elements in the ordered pairs (the x-values), form the domain. The
second elements in the ordered pairs (the y-values), form the range. Only the
elements "used" by the relation constitute the range.
This mapping shows a relation from set A
into set B.
This relation consists of the ordered pairs
(1,2), (3,2), (5,7), and (9,8).
The domain is the set {1, 3, 5,
9}.
The range is the set {2, 7, 8}.
(Notice that 3, 5 and 6 are not part of
the range.)
The range is the dependent
variable.

The following are examples of relations. Notice that a vertical line may intersect a
relation in more than one location.

This set of 5 points is a

relation.
{(1,2), (2, 4), (3, 5), (2, 6),
(1, -3)}
Notice that vertical lines
may intersect
more than one point at a
time.

This parabola is also a relation.

Notice that a vertical line can
intersect this graph twice.

If we impose the following rule on a relation, it becomes a function.

Function: A function is a set of ordered pairs in

which each x-element has only ONE y-element
associated with it.

The relations shown above are NOT functions

because certain x-elements are paired with more than
one unique y-element.
The first relation shown above can be altered to
become a function by removing the ordered pairs
where the x-coordinate is repeated. It will not matter
which "repeat" is removed.

function: {(1,2), (2,4), (3,5)}

The graph at the right shows that a vertical line now

intersects only ONE point in our new function.

Vertical line
test:

each vertical line drawn through the

graph will intersect a function in only
one location.

Five Representations

Relation: any set of ordered pairs

Examples A = {(2,5), (-7,4.8), (4,12), (2,7)} B =
{(9,0), (4,5), (8.1,0.23), (4,5)} C = {(1, red), (2, red)}

Function: a set of ordered pairs that maps each x-value to exactly one y-value
In the examples above, B is a function while A is not.
Can you explain why this is true?

Typically, we use five representations to describe functions: 1) a set/listing of

ordered pairs, 2) a graph, 3) a table of values, 4) an arrow diagram, and 5) a
rule/formula.

F = {(3,4.5), (-9,7), (0.8,-12)} domain D = {3, -9, 0.8} and range R = {4.5,
-12, 7}

The graph would be the set of three points mapped onto the Cartesian plane in
the usual way. A graph is a picture of the function. Recall that the vertical line
test (VLT) can be used to test a graph to determine if it is a function. The criteria
that must be met is that the vertical line pass through only one point on the
graph at a time.

The table of values would be as follows:

4.5

-9

0.8

-12

The table tells us that F(-9) = 7 or the value of the function F at -9 is 7.

The arrow diagram is another representation of the function that shows how the
domain (x) maps into the range (y).

4.5

-9

0.8

-12

Notice that in an arrow diagram for a function, each x-value has exactly one
arrow coming out of it to the same y-value.

The last representation is the rule or formula. Suppose function g(x) = 2x + 5.

The rule/formula for g is 2xz + 5 because this determines what happens to x to
give the related y.

Kinds of Functions

1. linear functions:

f(x) = mx + b (highest power on x is 1)

2. quadratic functions: f(x) = ax2 + bx + c (highest power on x is 2)

3. exponential functions: f(x) = a(b)x (x is the power in the function)
4. logarithmic functions: f(x) = a(ln x) + b (x is part of a log/ln function)