Review of functions

A function is a particular relation. So, if f is a function from A into B then

  1. f ⊏ A x B

  2. for every a ∈ A, there is a unique b ∈ B such that (a,b) ∈ f.

In general, we denote f is a function from A to B as

           f: A →B

and we say that f maps A into B or f transforms A into B.

A function is also called a mapping or a correspondence.

If f: A →B is a mapping (function) and (a,b) ∈ f, then we write f(a)=b, f(a) is called the image of a.

A is called the domain of f and B is called the codomain of f.

The set f(A) of all images of A under the mapping f is called the

range of f.


Note that the range and the codomain are not always equal.

Consider the following examples.

  1. Let A represent the set of articles in a supermarket and B the set of their prices. There is a correspondence
    between the articles and their prices.

  2. Let X represent the set of schools in Texas and Y the set of their principals. There is a correspondence
    between each school and its principal.
    Let N={1,2,.........} be the set of natural numbers and S={1,8,27,....} be the set of the cubes of each natural
    number.


Example 1:

Suppose A = {1,2,3} B = {a,b,c,d}

A rule f is given by

f(1) = b

f(2) = c

f(3) = a

f(3) = d

Is f a function?


According to what we have learned about functions, for every

a ∈ A there exists a unique b ∈ B. But f(3) = a and

f(3) = d. Since 3 is assigned to two elements of B, f is not a function.


Example 2:

Let f: Z →Z where Z is the set of integers. We define f as

f(x) = 1 if x is even

f(x) = -1 if x is odd

f is a function.

The domain of f is Z

The codomain of f is Z

But the range of f = {-1, 1}


Example 3:

Which of the following are functions?

                         I                                                      II


                         III                                                  IV


                         V

The relations f, g and q send every member of A into a unique member of B. So f, g & q are functions.

h is not a function since 10 corresponds to c as well as d and p is not a function because c is not assigned to any member of D.

Definition:

Let A and B be two non-empty sets. A function f from A to B, denoted by f: A→B, is a rule that assigns each member of A to a unique member of B.

A is called the domain of f

B is called the codomain of f and

f(A) is called the range of f

Or,

a relation is called a function if and only if no two different ordered pairs in the relation have the same first coordinate.

If f maps A into B, where A,B are two non-empty sets such that x ∈A is associated with y ∈B then y is called the
f image of x or just the image of x, and is written as f(x)=y. Also, x is called the pre-image or inverse image of y.


Example 4:

Let A = {1,2,3} B = {4,5}

How many different functions can be had from A into B ?

List them all.

Solution:

                         I                                                      II


                         III                                                      IV


                         V                                                       VI


                         VII                                                       VIII


There are eight possible functions from A into B.


Notice that n(A) = 3

n(B) = 2


number of functions = 23 = 8.

In general, if n(A) = m and n(B) = n then the number of possible mappings from A to B is nm.

Try these questions

  1. Show that f(x) + f(1/x) = 0.

    Solution:





  2. Let f: R →R defined by

    f(x) = x + 2 if x ≥3

                  = x - |x| if -3≤x <3

                  = 1 - x if x≤-3

    Find f(2), f(5), f(-4), f(-1.6.....)

    Solution:

    Consider f (2) 2 < 3

                  ∴ f(x) = x - |x|

                  ∴ f(2) = 2 - |2|

                  = 2 - 2 = 0

    Consider f (5) 5 > 3

    use f(x) = x+2

                  f(5) = 5+2 = 7

    Consider f (-4) -4 < -3

    ∴ we use f(x) = 1-x

                  f(-4) = 1 - (-4)

                  = 1 + 4

                  = 5

    Consider f(+1.6 . . . ) -3 < +1.6 . . < 3

    We use f(x) = x - |x|

    f(+1.6 . . . ) = +1.6 . . . - |+1.6 . . . |

                  = +1.6 . . . - [+(+1.6. . .)]

                  = +1.6 . . . - 1.6 . . .

                  = 0