General Mathematics: Functions and Relations – Comprehensive Notes
Relation and Function: Core Concepts
Relation: a set of ordered pairs; describes a connection between inputs (domain) and outputs (range).
Function: a special type of relation where every input in the domain maps to exactly one output in the range.
Domain: the set of all possible inputs (first elements) of the ordered pairs in a relation or function.
Range: the set of all possible outputs (second elements) of the ordered pairs in a relation or function.
Function as a machine: inputs → rule → outputs; emphasizes inputs, outputs, and the governing rule.
Function machine components: inputs, outputs, and the rule that connects them.
Well-defined rule: for every input there is a unique output.
Functions: Representations and Key Representations
Function as a set of ordered pairs: f ⊆ (X × Y); a function requires that each x ∈ X appears with a unique y ∈ Y.
Function as a table of values: table form f(x) = y lists input-output pairs; function if all x-values are distinct.
Function as a mapping diagram: inputs on one side, outputs on the other, with arrows from x to its corresponding y.
Function as a graph in the Cartesian plane: a graph representing the relation; visual check via vertical line test.
Function defined by equation: a function where for each input x there is one output y determined by the equation.
Distinguishing a Function from a Non-Function (Examples and Practice)
Example classification rule: a function requires exactly one output for every input.
Function Machine A and B: outputs are single-valued for each input → function; Machine C has inputs with multiple outputs → not a function.
It's Your Turn: Practice on Function Machines
A. Determine unknowns in the function machine setups.
B. Identify which of the given relations are functions based on the mapping of inputs to outputs.
C. Determine if given relations in a table are functions (ensure all x-values are unique in the table).
D. Use a mapping diagram to decide if the relation is a function (check for unique y for each x).
Domain and Range: From a Function
Domain: all real inputs allowed by the function (values of x for which the function is defined).
Range: all possible outputs produced by the function (values of y).
General rules (typical domains/ranges by function type):
Polynomial functions (linear, quadratic, cubic, etc.): domain is all real numbers D=x∣x∈R
Square root function: radicand must be ≥ 0 → domain constrained by the root; range typically ≥ 0 for the principal root
Rational function (fraction form): denominator ≠ 0 → x ≠ value that makes denominator 0; range may exclude certain outputs depending on the equation
Linear function: domain is all real numbers; range is all real numbers: D=x∣x∈R,R=y∣y∈R
Quadratic form y=(x−h)2+k has the vertex at (h, k); range depends on the sign of the leading coefficient (a > 0 → y ≥ k; a < 0 → y ≤ k)
Square root specific: for y=x−c, domain requires x ≥ 0; range starts from −c and upward
Rational function: ensure denominator ≠ 0; outputs depend on the specific function
Domain and Range: Worked Examples (Implicit from Transcript)
Example 1: Find domain and range of 3x−y=7
Solve for y: −y=−3x+7⇒y=3x−7
Since this is linear in both x and y, the domain is all real numbers and the range is all real numbers.
Domain: D=x∣x∈R; Range: R=y∣y∈R
Example 2: Find domain and range of y=x2−5
Domain: all real numbers D=x∣x∈R
Range: since the parabola opens upward, y≥−5 → R=y∣y≥−5
Example 3: Find domain and range of x2+y=6
Solve for y: y=−x2+6
Domain: all real numbers D=x∣x∈R
Range: since the parabola opens downward, y≤6 → R=y∣y≤6
Example 4: Find domain and range of y=x−3
Domain (per transcript): x≥3; Range: y≥0
Note: Standard domain is x≥0 with range y≥−3 (transcript appears to contain a misstatement here). The intended corrected form is: Domain D=x∣x≥0; Range R=y∣y≥−3
Example 5: Find domain and range of 4y+xy=3x−5
Solve for y: y(4+x)=3x−5⇒y=4+x3x−5
Domain: set of x for which the denominator is nonzero: 4+x=0⇒x=−4
Range: since this is a rational function with a variable in numerator and denominator, the transcript notes that the range excludes a particular value: y=3 (i.e., 3 is not attained by the function). Thus, D=x∣x∈R,x=−4; R=y∣y∈R,y=3
Example 6: Find domain and range of y=x−42x+3
Domain: x=4
Range: not all y values are attained; transcript states the range is all real numbers except 2 → R=y∣y∈R,y=2
Domain and Range from Graphs
How to read a graph for domain and range:
Domain: all x-values shown on the graph (inputs)
Range: all y-values shown on the graph (outputs)
Notation conventions: bracket [ ] indicates included points; parentheses ( ) indicates excluded points and extends to infinity
Examples (from transcript):
Example 1: Domain and Range are both all real numbers → D=(−∞,∞),R=(−∞,∞)
Example 2: Domain all real; Range a single value 3 → D=(−∞,∞),R=[3]
Example 3: Domain all real; Range a single value -1 → D=(−∞,∞),R=[−1]
Example 4: Domain D=[−1,∞); Range R=[1,∞)
Example 5: Domain D=(−∞,3); Range R=(0,∞)
Example 6: Domain D=[−5,2); Range R=(−3,3]
Domain and Range from Piecewise Graphs
For piecewise graphs, determine domain from the left-most x-value and range from the bottom y-value, then combine domains/ranges from all pieces.
Examples (transcript):
Example 7: Domain D=(−∞,4)∪[5,∞); Range R=[−1,3)∪[4,∞)
Example 8: Domain D=(−∞,1]∪(2,∞); Range R=(−∞,−1]∪(−1,∞)
Example 9: Domain D=(−∞,−6]∪(−5,5); Range R=(−∞,1]∪(3,5]
Practice: Domain and Range from Function or Graph
Function domain-range from a function:
1) y=−2x+3
2) y=(x−2)2−3
3) y=2x2−1
4) y=x+21
5) y=2x+1
Domain and range from graphs (including piecewise):
6–10 (practice items corresponding to graphs not shown in transcript)
Functions as Real-Life Representations
Functions model real situations; standard functional forms:
Linear: f(x)=ax+b,a=0
Quadratic: f(x)=ax2+bx+c,a=0
Polynomial of degree n: f(x)=a<em>nxn+a</em>n−1xn−1+⋯+a<em>1x+a</em>0,an=0
Examples given in transcript:
Example 1: Cost of x meals at P50 each: C(x)=50x
Example 2: Height as a function of age if height increases by 3 inches per year: H(a)=3+a (note: transcript indicates 3 inches per year; typical interpretation would be H(a)=3a+H0, but transcript states the former)
Example 3: Battery charge B(h) with 11% loss per hour: B(h)=100−0.11h
Example 4: Volume of a box created by cutting squares from a 12 in by 9 in rectangle: with L = 12 - 2x, W = 9 - 2x, h = x; V(x)=(12−2x)(9−2x)x=4x3−42x2+108x
Piecewise Functions: Real-Life Examples
Piecewise functions use more than one formula with different domains.
Notation: f(x)=f<em>1(x) if x∈dom</em>1,f<em>2(x) if x∈dom</em>2,f<em>3(x) if x∈dom</em>3,
Examples given:
Example 5: Mobile plan t(n) with 0 < n ≤ 150 costing 350, and n > 150 costing 350 + (n - 150)
Example 6: Jeepney fare F(d) with 0 ≤ d ≤ 4 costing 13, and d > 4 costing 13 + 2.50(d - 4)
Example 7: Chocolate bars C(b) with 0 < b ≤ 5 priced at 65 each; b > 5 priced at 52 each
Constructing Functions: Practice Problems
Tasks to construct functions from real-world descriptions:
1) Bike rental: flat fare 568 plus 284 per hour for h hours → C(h)=568+284h
2) Jane’s earnings: 1022 per hour → P(x)=1022x
3) Rectangle with fixed perimeter 40 m; width x; express area A(x): L = (40/2) - x = 20 - x; hence A(x)=x(20−x)=20x−x2
4) Open-top box from 30 cm by 20 cm cardboard by cutting squares of side x: volume V(x)=x(30−2x)(20−2x)
5) Ball thrown upward with initial velocity 24 m/s; height under gravity g = -4.9 m/s^2: h(t)=h0+24t−4.9t2
6) Taxi fare piecewise: first 2 km costs 227, plus 142 per km beyond 2 km: F(d)={227,amp;0≤d≤2227+142(d−2),amp;dgt;2
7) Parking lot: 170 for first 2 hours; 113 per hour after: C(h)={170,amp;0≤h≤2170+113(h−2),amp;hgt;2
8) Online store shipping: 284 per kg if w < 1; 454 per kg for 1 ≤ w ≤ 3; 681 per kg for w > 3: S(w)={284w,amp;0<w<1454w,1≤w≤3681w,w>3
Summary: Key Takeaways
A relation is any set of ordered pairs; a function is a relation with exactly one output for each input.
Function representations include: set of ordered pairs, table of values, mapping diagram, graph in Cartesian plane, and equation form.
The vertical line test: a graph represents a function if and only if any vertical line intersects the graph at most once.
A function defined by an equation yields one output per input; otherwise, it is not a function.
Domain and range capture the permissible inputs and outputs of a function:
Domain: inputs; Range: outputs.
Common domain/range patterns: polynomials and linear functions typically have domain all real numbers; square roots constrain the domain; rational functions exclude inputs that make the denominator zero; quadratic functions have ranges bounded by their vertex depending on orientation.
For graphs, domain and range are read from the x-axis and y-axis respectively; interval notation uses brackets [ ] to indicate included endpoints and parentheses ( ) to indicate excluded endpoints; infinity is denoted with the corresponding bracket/parenthesis convention.
Piecewise functions use different formulas over different input domains; domain of the whole function is the union of the subdomains.
Real-life modeling uses standard function types (linear, quadratic, polynomial) to represent costs, heights, battery life, volumes, etc.
References (as listed in transcript)
Queaño, M. (2021). General Mathematics Quarter 1 – Module 1: Functions, Department of Education Senior High School.
OpenLearn resource on domain and range; Banigon et al. (2016); Crisologo & Ocampo (2016); Study.com resources on functions and domain/range.
Cuemath, Kox, and other provided online references on domain and range and piecewise functions.