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| 11 Theory slides |
| 11 Exercises - Grade E - A |
| Each lesson is meant to take 1-2 classroom sessions |
Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.
Consider the following pair of graphs. Apart from the shape of the graphs, what difference can be established between them? If needed, press the button to show a vertical line. Then, move the line horizontally and watch for the number of times it intersects each graph along the way.
In the previous exploration, each graph represented a certain relationship between the variables x and y. In fact, the value of y depends on the value of x. Next, the definition of relation is developed along with one way of visualizing it.
A relation, or relationship, is a rule that relates the elements of one set to the elements of another set. The first set is called the set of inputs and the second set is called the set of outputs. In a relation, an input can have zero outputs, one output, or more than one output.
A mapping diagram is a graphic tool that helps to visualize a relation. In a mapping diagram, the inputs are listed in one set and the outputs in another. Then, arrows are drawn from each input to its corresponding outputs.
Ignacio, the younger brother of Kriz, loves watching Kriz's college volleyball games. He recorded Kriz and their teammates' names, ages, and heights. Ignacio is such a curious kid that he wants to describe some relations based on these values. Then he will share them with his big sibling.
Table of Values:
Ages | 18 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heights (m) | 1.70 | 1.96 | 1.85 | 1.75 | 1.91 | 1.87 |
Mapping Diagram:
Ordered Pairs: {(18,1.70), (20,1.96), (23,1.85), (20,1.75), (21,1.91), (19,1.87)}
Coordinate Plane:
To make a mapping diagram, place all the ages in one set and all the heights in another set. Then, connect each age with its corresponding height using an arrow. To write the relation as a set of ordered pairs, place the ages in the first component and the corresponding heights in the second component.
Using the information that Ignacio gathered, a relation between the ages and heights can be made and represented using different visualizations.
First, organize the relation using a table of values. Place the ages in the first row and the heights in the second row.
Ages | 18 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heights (m) | 1.70 | 1.96 | 1.85 | 1.75 | 1.91 | 1.87 |
Among all the possible relations, those assigning only one output to every input are of particular interest.
A function is a relation in which each input is assigned to exactly one output. The set of all possible inputs is called the domain of the function and the set of all possible outputs is called the range. If x represents the inputs and y the outputs of a function, it is often said that y is a function of x
or that y depends on x.
y=f(x)
Determining Whether a Relation Is a Function | |
---|---|
If represented as | Use |
a set of coordinates or a table of values | a mapping diagram |
a graph in the coordinate plane | the vertical line test |
Function | Analysis | Domain |
---|---|---|
f(x)=3x | Multiplication by 3 is defined for all real numbers. | All real numbers |
g(x)=x | Square roots are not defined for negative numbers. | All non-negative numbers — that is, x≥0 |
h(x)=x1 | Division by zero is undefined. | All real numbers except 0 — that is, x=0 |
The range of a function is the set of all y-values, or outputs, of the function. The range of a function depends on both the domain and the function itself. For example, consider the following functions and their defined domains.
Function | Domain |
---|---|
f(x)=2x | All integers |
g(x)=x2 | All real numbers |
h(x)=4 | All real numbers |
By analyzing the definition of each function along with the given domains, the ranges can be determined.
Function | Domain | Analysis | Range |
---|---|---|---|
f(x)=2x | All integers | The function takes any integer input and produces an output that is an even number, as each input is multiplied by 2. | All even numbers |
g(x)=x2 | All real numbers | The function takes any real number input and produces an output that is a non-negative number, as each input is squared. | All non-negative numbers — that is, y≥0 |
h(x)=4 | All real numbers | The function takes any real number input and sends it to 4. | Only the number 4 — that is, the range is {4} |
A comparison for a function is to think of it as a machine. The inputs are the materials placed in the machine, and the outputs are the objects created. In the following applet, there are four preset inputs. This particular machine only accepts numbers between -100 and 100 to be plugged in as materials. See what happens!
It is essential to determine whether a relation describes a function or not. For example, imagine that a programmer wrote the following relation for a printer's software.
If a user selects color=0, then they cannot be sure if the document will be printed in black or red. In this case, the programmer needs to write a relation that is a function. Determining if a relation is a function can be done by using either a mapping diagram or the Vertical Line Test. The appropriate method to be used depends on how the relation is represented.
If the relation is given as a vertical table, the inputs are the values in the first column.
If the relation is given as a vertical table, the outputs are the values in the second column.
Draw an arrow from each input to its corresponding output.
Check if there are multiple arrows with the same starting input. In other words, identify inputs that have multiple outputs.
Here, the input 4 has two different outputs, 3 and -5. By definition, for a relation to be a function, every input must be assigned to exactly one output. As such, the given relation is not a function.
The vertical line test is a graphical method to determine whether a given relation is a function. For example, consider the following relations.
Relation I | Relation II | Relation III |
---|---|---|
(y−2)(y+1)=x | y=x(x+1)(x−2) | xy-2.25-2-1.750-12-1-1011-0.7520.5
|
Draw the relation on the coordinate plane. The first two relations can be drawn using a graphing calculator or other mathematical software.
Draw vertical lines at different places through the coordinate plane. If one of the lines intersects the graph more than once, the relation is not a function. Conversely, if no vertical line cuts the graph more than once, the relation is a function.
Notice that ℓ3 cuts the first graph at two different points. The line m2 also passes through two different points. This means that neither Relation I nor Relation III is a function. However, all of the vertical lines drawn over Relation II only intersect the graph one time at most. Because of this, Relation II is a function.
Keep in mind that before stating whether a relation is a function, the vertical lines drawn have to cover the entire domain to ensure that no vertical line cuts the graph more than once.
If a relation is not a function, it is because there are multiple y-values corresponding to the same x-value. Therefore, the graph of such relation would show at least two points directly above the other.
Points with the same x-value belong to the same vertical line.
Ignacio enjoyed displaying the relations between the ages and heights of Kriz's teammates so much that he wanted to go a step further and continue analyzing relations. He then asked Ramsha and Diego the ages and heights of their family members and wrote that data, including each player's values, in the following sets.
Note that (18,1.75) means that some member of Ramsha's family is 18 years old and 1.75 meters tall.
Only set R represents a function.
By analyzing the two data sets, some other conclusions can be drawn.
Of course, based on the given information, it does not have to be the exact situation. The conclusions were done simply to show one way of interpreting the data recorded.
Only the first graph represents a function.
At first, Ignacio was glad that his mistake only caused the graph to change domains and ranges. He only realized that it was no longer a function when he applied the vertical line test. He better change it back before someone needs to use the database!
The following applet displays a relation either as a set of ordered pairs, a group of coordinate points in the coordinate plane, or a curve in the coordinate plane. For any given relation, determine whether it is a function.
Consider the following relation given as a mapping diagram.
When a relation is represented as a mapping diagram, the domain is the set formed by all the elements inside the input set. Let's point out these elements in the given diagram.
Note that elements in a set are usually, though not necessarily, written in order from least to greatest. This means that the elements of the domain of the given relation is the set {-10,-1,0,9}.
When a relation is represented as a mapping diagram, the range is the set formed by all the elements inside the output set. Let's point out these elements in the given diagram.
Although -4 is the output of two different inputs, we do not need to write -4 twice when writing the range. This is because elements of a set are written only once. Then, the range of the given relation, written from least to greatest, is the set {-4,2,7}.
Consider the following relation given as a mapping diagram.
When a relation is represented as a mapping diagram, the domain is the set formed by all the elements inside the input set — the set from which the arrows start. Let's point out these elements in the given diagram.
As we can see, the domain of the given relation is the set {4,sqrt(2),-1,7}. Domain = {4,sqrt(2),-1,7} Usually, when writing the domain of a relation, it is convenient to order the elements from least to greatest so that we can easily identify the minimum and maximum values if needed. In our case, the domain of the relation, written from least to greatest, is the set {-1,sqrt(2),4.5,7}.
When a relation is represented as a mapping diagram, the range is the set formed by all the elements inside the output set — the set of elements that the arrows point to. Let's point out these elements in the given diagram.
From this, the range of the given relation, written from least to greatest, is the set {-6.5,-4,1,2,7}.
Consider the following graph of a relation.
To find the domain of a graph, we look at all the x-values for which the graph is drawn. One way to do this is by going through the graph from left to right and noting the starting and ending x-values.
The starting x-value is -9 and the ending x-value is 8. Also, we can see that all the numbers in between are included in the graph. In other words, the graph is drawn for every value between -9 and 8. This implies that the domain of the given relation is -9 ≤ x ≤ 8.
To find the range of a graph, we look at all the y-values for which the graph is drawn. We will go through the graph in a similar way to what we did in the previous part, but this time we pay attention to the minimum and maximum y-values.
The minimum y-value is -3 and the maximum y-value is 7. In addition, all the numbers in between are included in the graph. That is, the graph is drawn for every y-value between -3 and 7. We can conclude that the range of the given relation is -3 ≤ y ≤ 7.
Consider the following graph of a relation.
To find the domain of a graph, we will look at all the x-values for which the graph is drawn. First, let's identify the minimum and maximum x-values for which the graph is drawn.
The minimum value is -5 and the maximum value is 9. Additionally, the graph is drawn for every number between these two values.
We can conclude that the domain of the given relation is -5 ≤ x ≤ 9.
To find the range of a graph, we look at all the y-values for which the graph is drawn. In a similar way to what we did in the previous part, we start by identifying the minimum and maximum y-values for which the graph is drawn.
We can see that the minimum value is -2 and the maximum value is 8. Also, the graph is drawn for every number between these two values.
Then, we can say that the range of the given relation is -2 ≤ y ≤ 8.
The following table represents the relation between two variables x and y, where y depends on x.
x | y |
---|---|
2 | 3 |
-1 | 14 |
6 | 3 |
0 | -2 |
-3 | 0 |
When a relation is given as a table of values, we first identify the independent and dependent variables. In our case, we are told that y depends on x, so we know that y is the dependent variable. Independent Variable &→ x Dependent Variable &→ y To find the domain from a table of values, we look at the row or column corresponding to the independent variable. In this case, we look at the column corresponding to the x-values.
x | y |
---|---|
2 | 3 |
-1 | 14 |
6 | 3 |
0 | -2 |
-3 | 0 |
The domain of the given relation, written from least to greatest, is the set {-3,-1,0,2,6}.
From the previous part, we already know that x is the independent variable and y is the dependent variable. To find the range, we look at the row or column corresponding to the dependent variable. Let's look at the column corresponding to the y-values.
x | y |
---|---|
2 | 3 |
-1 | 14 |
6 | 3 |
0 | -2 |
-3 | 0 |
Notice that 3 appears twice. However, when writing the range, it is enough to write the value only once. Therefore, we can say that the range of the given relation, written from least to greatest, is the set {-2,0,3,14}.
Consider a relation given as the following set of ordered pairs.
The domain of a relation represented by a set of ordered pairs is formed by the first coordinates of the ordered pairs. Therefore, let's start by identifying the corresponding coordinates in the given pairs.
Notice that 3 appears twice in the set. However, when writing a set, it is enough to write each element once. Therefore, the domain of the given relation, written from least to greatest, is the set {-5,0,2,3,9}.
When a relation is given a set of ordered pairs, the range is represented by the second coordinates of all of the ordered pairs. Thus, we will start by pointing out the second coordinates.
As in the previous part, we can see that there are some repeated elements — namely, 0 and -2. However, when writing the range, we will write them only once, without repetition. Therefore, the range of the given relation, written from least to greatest, is the set {-2,0,1,6}.