COLLEGE ALGEBRA

Functions and its graph

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

FUNCTIONS
-in simple terms, is a rule that assigns for
every input a unique and specific output.

-the collection of all permissible inputs is

called domain while the collection of all
obtainable outputs from all possible inputs
shall be referred as the range.

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

ILLUSTRATION:
A function assigning the biological father for
every student in a certain class.
The domain is the collection of all students
part of the class while the range is the
collection of all fathers corresponding to a
particular student.
It is a FUNCTION since for every student,
there is a unique corresponding father.
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
Mathematically, however, the domain is
usually represented a set of permissible values
of independent variable x while the range is
the set of all obtainable values of y determine
by an equation relating y in terms of x.

ILLUSTRATION: Let y = x2 – 1 , x > 0

X 0 1 2 3
Y -1 0 3 8

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

The collection of all such pair of numbers (x,y)
when plotted in the XY plane will constitute
the graph of the function.

ILLUSTRATION: Let y = x2 – 1 , x > 0

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
1. Linear Function: y = ax + b
 Graph is obtained by plotting two points (x,y) in
the Cartesian plane and connecting them to
form a line. For uniformity sake, the points
plotted are usually the points corresponding to
the x and y intercepts.

Constant function: y = c.
 Graph is a horizontal line passing through the
number c in the y-axis.

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
2. Quadratic Function: y = ax2 + bx + c
 Graph is called a parabola which either
opens upward or downward depending on
the value of a. Highest point or lowest
point (h,k) is called the vertex.
when a > 0
Range: [k,+)

when a < 0
Range: (-,k]

MATH 21: DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
3. Absolute Value Function: y = (+/-)|ax + b|+c
 Graph is V-shaped and so therefore have a
highest/lowest point like the parabola.
Depending on the sign outside the
absolute value, the graph will either goes
upward or downward.

h = -b/a
k=c
sign: (+) sign: (-)
Range: [k,+) Range: (-,k]
MATH 21: DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
4. Square root function: y =  P(x)
 Special cases can be categorized into three
types whose graphs could either be semi-
parabola, semi-circle or semi-hyperbola.

Note: The graph is above the x-axis when

there is positive sign outside of the
square root. Otherwise, the graph is
positioned below the x-axis.
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
4a. Semi-parabola: y =  ax+b
 This semiparabola opens to the right when
a > 0 and otherwise, when a < 0.
4b. Semi-circle: y =  a2-x2
 This semicircle either has a highest or lowest
point a units from the x-axis.

4c. Semi-hyperbola: y =  x2-a2

 This semi-hyperbola has vertices at (a,0) and
(-a,0) and opens sideward.
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
ILLUSTRATIONS: Sketch the graph for each.
1. y = 3x – 6
2. y = x2 - 4x + 3
3. y = -|2x -1| +3
4. y = 4|2-3x| - 2
5. y = 3-2x
6. y = 4-x2
7. y = -  x2-1

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
EXERCISES: Sketch the graph for each.
1. y = -5x + 10
2. y = - x2 + 4x
3. y = |3x -2| - 2
4. Y = -2|3 - 4x|+1
5. y = 2 + 4x
6. y = - 9 - x2
7. y =  x2 - 4

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS
5. CONDITIONAL/ FUNCTIONS
 is simply a combination of all the previous
functions determine by a set of subdomains.

ILLUSTRATION: Give the graph of the following.

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS and its GRAPHS

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

EXERCISES:

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

OPERATIONS on FUNCTIONS
Addition: (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)
Subtraction: (f - g)(x) = f(x) - g(x)
Multiplication: (f . g)(x) = f(x) . g(x)
Division: (f / g)(x) = f(x)/g(x)
Composition: (f o g)(x) = f(g(x))

ILLUSTRATION: Given f(x) = x2 -1 and g(x) = x2 + 1,

evaluate the following: (f+g)(2), (f-g)(2), (fg)(2),
(f/g)(2), (g/f)(2), (f o g)(2), (g o f)(2).

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA