In mathematics, the graph of a function f is, formally, the

set of all ordered pairs (x, f(x)), such that x is in

the domain of the function f. In the common case
where x and f(x) are real numbers, these pairs
are Cartesian coordinates of points in the Euclidean
plane and form thus a subset of this plane, which is
a curve in the case of a continuous function. This
graphical representation of the function is also called
the graph of the function. In the case of functions of two
variables, that is functions whose domain consists of pairs
(x, y), the graph can be identified to the set of all ordered
triples ((x, y, f(x, y)). For a continuous real-valued function
of two real variables, the graph is a surface. The concept
of the graph of a function is generalized to the graph of a
relation. To test whether a graph of a relation represents a
function of the first variable x, one uses the vertical line
test. To test whether a graph represents a function of the
second variable y, one uses the horizontal line test. If the
function has an inverse, the graph of the inverse can be
found by reflecting the graph of the original function over
the line y = x.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF GRAPHS

1. Linear functions.
y=mx+b
Where m and b are constants. A typical
use for linear functions is converting
from one quantity or set of units to
another. Graphs of these functions are
straight lines. m is the slope and b is
the y intercept. If m is positive then the
line rises to the right and if m is
negative then the line falls to the right.
2. Quadratic functions
y=ax 2 + b x + c,
where a, b and c are constants. Their
graphs are called parabolas. This is
the next simplest type of function after
the linear function. Falling objects
move along parabolic paths. If a is a
positive number then the parabola
opens upward and if a is a negative
number then the parabola opens
downward.
3. Power functions.
y = a xb
where a and b are constants. They get their name from the fact that the
variable x is raised to some power. Many physical laws (e.g. the
gravitational force as a function of distance between two objects, or the
bending of a beam as a function of the load on it) are in the form of
power functions. We will assume that a = 1 and look at several cases for
b:
The power b is a positive integer. See the graph to the right. When x = 0
these functions are all zero. When x is big and positive they are all big and
positive. When x is big and negative then the ones with even powers are big
and positive while the ones with odd powers are big and negative.
 The power b is a negative integer. See the graph to the right. When x
= 0 these functions suffer a division by zero and therefore are all
infinite. When x is big and positive they are small and positive. When
x is big and negative then the ones with even powers are small and
positive while the ones with odd powers are small and negative.
The power b is a fraction between 0 and 1. See the graph to the right.
When x = 0 these functions are all zero. The curves are vertical at the
origin and as x increases they increase but curve toward the x axis.

4.Polynomial functions.
y = an · x n + an −1 · x n −1 +
… + a2 · x 2 + a1 · x + a0,
Where an, a −1, a2, a1, a0 are
constants. Only whole
number powers of x are allowed.
The highest power of x that
occurs is called the degree of
the polynomial. The graph
shows examples of degree 4 and
degree 5 polynomials. The
degree gives the maximum
number of “ups and downs” that
the polynomial can have and also the maximum number of
crossings of the x axis that it can have.
5.Rational functions. These
functions are the ratio of two
polynomials. One field of study
where they are important is in
stability analysis of mechanical
and electrical systems (which
uses Laplace transforms).
--When the polynomial in the
denominator is zero then the
rational function becomes
infinite as indicated by a vertical dotted line (called an
asymptote) in its graph. For the example to the right this
happens when x = −2 and when x = 7.
--When x becomes very large the curve may level off. The curve
to the right levels off at y = 5.
--The graph to the right shows another
example of a rational function. This one
has a division by zero at x = 0. It doesn't
level off but does approach the straight
line y = x when x is large, as indicated by
the dotted line (another asymptote).
6.Exponential functions.
y = a b x,
--where x is in an exponent (not in the base as
was the case for power functions)
and a and b are constants. (Note that only b is
raised to the power x; not a.) If the base b is
greater than 1 then the result is exponential
growth. Many physical quantities grow
exponentially (e.g. animal populations and cash in an interest-bearing
account).
--If the base b is smaller than 1 then the result is
exponential decay. Many quantities decay
exponentially (e.g. the sunlight reaching a given
depth of the ocean and the speed of an object
slowing down due to friction).

7. Logarithmic functions
y = a ln (x) + b,
where x is in the natural logarithm and a
and b are constants. They are only
defined for positive x. For small x they
are negative and for large x they are
positive but stay small. Logarithmic
functions accurately describe the
response of the human ear to sounds of
varying loudness and the response of the
human eye to light of varying brightness.
8. Sinusoidal functions. These are
functions of the form:
y = a sin (b x + c),
where a, b and c are constants.
Sinusoidal functions are useful for
describing anything that has a
wave shape with respect to
position or time. Examples are
waves on the water, the height of
the tide during the course of the
day and alternating current in
electricity. Parameter a (called the amplitude) affects the height of the
wave, b (the angular velocity) affects the width of the wave and c (the
phase angle) shifts the wave left or right.
Polynomial Function:
A function of the
form P(x)=amxn+an−1xn−1+⋯+a1x+a0P(x)=amx
n+an−1xn−1+⋯+a1x+a0
where ‘n’ is a positive integer
and an,an−1,⋯,a1,a0an,an−1,⋯,a1,a0 are real numbers
is called a polynomial function of degree ‘n’.
Linear Function:
A polynomial function with degree ‘tt’ is called a
linear function. The most general form of a linear
function is
f(x)=ax+bf(x)=ax+b
Quadratic Function:
A polynomial function with degree ‘2’ is called a
quadratic function. The most general form of a
quadratic equation
is f(x)=ax2+bx+cf(x)=ax2+bx+c
Cubic Function:
A polynomial function with degree ‘3’ is called a
cubic function. The most general form of a cubic
function
is f(x)=ax3+bx2+cx+df(x)=ax3+bx2+cx+d
Identity Function:
Let f:A→Bf:A→B be a function then ‘ff’ is
called an identity function
if f(x)=x,∀x∈Af(x)=x,∀x∈A.
Rational Function:
A function R(x)R(x) defined
by R(x)=P(x)Q(x)R(x)=P(x)Q(x), where
both P(x)P(x)andQ(x)Q(x) are polynomial
functions is called a rational function.
Trigonometric Function:
A
function f(x)=sinxf(x)=sin⁡x, f(x)=cosxf(x)=co
s⁡x etc., then f(x)f(x) is called a trigonometric
function.
Exponential Function:
A function in which the variable appears as an
exponent (power) is called an exponential function
e.g. (i) f(x)=axf(x)=ax (ii) f(x)=3xf(x)=3x.
Constant Function:
Let ‘A’ and ‘B’ be any two non–empty sets,
then a function ‘ff’ from ‘A’ to ‘B’ is called a
constant function if and only if the range of ‘ff’
is a singleton.
Algebraic Function:
A function defined by an algebraic expression
is called an algebraic function.
e.g. f(x)=x2+3x+6
Logarithmic Function:
A function in which the variable appears as an
argument of a logarithm is called a logarithmic
function.
e.g. f(x)=loga(x)f(x)=loga(x).
NATURE OF FUNCTION
1.One – One Function:
Let ‘A’ and ‘B’ be any
two non–empty sets, then
a function ‘ff’ from A to
B is called a one–one
function, if and only if
distinct elements of set A
have distinct elements of
set B.
e.g. A{1,2,3}A{1,2,3}, B{a,b,c}B{a,b,c}
2. Onto Function:
Let ‘A’ and ‘B’ be any two
non–empty sets, then a
function ‘ff’ from A to B is
called an onto function if
and only if the range
of f=Bf=B
e.g. A{1,2,3}A{1,2,3}, B{a,b}B{a,b}
Rangeoff={a,b}=BRangeoff={a,b}=B
Bijective Function:
A function which is one–
one as well as an onto
function is called a
bijective function.
e.g.A={1,2,3}A={1,2,3
}, B={a,b,c}B={a,b,c}