General Functions
1 - Determining if a Relation is a Function
A relation is NOT a function if:
a vertical line can be drawn anywhere
that intersects the graph more than once
2 – Types (Families) of Functions
Polynomial Functions
0-degree Polynomial Function 1st-degree Polynomial Function 2nd-degree Polynomial Function
Functions Resulting from Operations
Absolute-Value Function Square-Root Function
Inverse Variation Function Exponential Function
Special Functions
Periodic Function Step Function Piecewise Function
Piecewise Functions
−4 𝑥 < 8
𝑓(𝑥 ) = & −√−2𝑥 8 ≤ 𝑥 < 0
−3𝑥 𝑥 ≥ 0
3 Transforming Functions Using PARAMETERS
PARAMETERS are numbers that modify the shape of
the graph of a function.
The “multiplicative parameters” are:
“a” is the “vertical scale change”.
“b” is the “horizontal scale change”.
a) Representation of Transformations using
Function Rules
A TRANSFORMED rule looks like this:
g(x) = a • f (b • x )
Function Basic Rule Transformed
Rule
1st Degree f(x) = x f(x) = a(bx)
2nd Degree f(x) = x2
Exponential f(x) = cx
Step (G.I.F.) f(x) = [ x ]
Absolute-Value f(x) = I x I
Square-Root f(x) = Öx
Sinusoidal f(x) = sin (x)
Inverse Variation f(x) = 1
x
Function Basic Rule Transformed
Rule
1st Degree f(x) = x f(x) = a(bx)
2nd Degree f(x) = x2 f(x) = a(bx)2
Exponential f(x) = cx f(x) = acbx
Step (G.I.F.) f(x) = [ x ] f(x) = a[ bx ]
Absolute-Value f(x) = I x I f(x) = a I bx I
Square-Root f(x) = Öx f(x) = aÖbx
Sinusoidal f(x) = sin (x) f(x) = a sin (bx)
Inverse Variation f(x) = 1 f(x) = a
x bx
b) Coordinate Representation of Transformations
Rule for mapping points from a basic function to
corresponding image points of a transformed
function:
𝒙
( 𝒙, 𝒚 ) → ( , 𝒂𝒚+
𝒃
Example:
The ordered pair ( 8 , 8 ) associated with function f(x)
corresponds to ( 2 , 4 ) associated with function g(x).
Function g(x) is obtained by transforming f(x) using
only multiplicative parameters.
What are the values of these parameters?
𝒙
( 𝒙, 𝒚 ) → ( , 𝒂𝒚+
𝒃
𝟖
( 𝟖, 𝟖 ) → - , 𝒂 × 𝟖/ = (𝟐, 𝟒)
𝒃
𝟖
= 𝟐 & 𝒂 × 𝟖 = 𝟒
𝒃
𝒃 = 𝟒 & 𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟓
c) Graphical Representation of Transformations
Note: in the following examples:
the original graph is of f(x) (shown in blue)
the transformed graph is of g(x) (shown in red)
Vertical Scale Change (a)
1<a<∞
0<a<1
-1 < a < 0
a = -1
-∞ < a <-1
Inverse of Functions
The graphs of function f and its inverse f-1 are
symmetrical about the 1st diagonal
(of the Cartesian plane)
Inverse of Functions
The graphs of function f and its inverse f-1 are
symmetrical about the 1st diagonal
(of the Cartesian plane)
Transformation
f( x ) ® f-1 ( x )
=(x,y)® (y,x)
The inverse of a
parabola is NOT a
function.