Notation of a Function

🏆Practice representations of functions

The notation of a function actually refers to determining the "name" of the function.

It is customary to symbolize a function using letters from the Latin alphabet when the two most common notations are:

  • yy
  • f(x)f(x)

(Of course, similar notations can also be used).

The - inside parentheses expresses that it is an independent variable of the function and the function's dependency ( or ) on it. xx,yy,ff

Notation of a Function

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einstein

Is the given graph a function?

–4–4–4–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444–2–2–2–1–1–1111222000

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Examples and exercises with solutions of function notation

Exercise #1

Is the given graph a function?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

It is important to remember that a function is an equation that assigns to each element in domain X one and only one element in range Y

We should note that for every X value found on the graph, there is one and only one corresponding Y value.

Therefore, the graph is indeed a function.

Answer

Yes

Exercise #2

Is the given graph a function?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

It is important to remember that a function is an equation that assigns to each element in domain X one and only one element in range Y

Let's note that in the graph:

f(0)=2,f(0)=2 f(0)=2,f(0)=-2

In other words, there are two values for the same number.

Therefore, the graph is not a function.

Answer

No

Exercise #3

Is the given graph a function?

–7–7–7–6–6–6–5–5–5–4–4–4–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444555666777–4–4–4–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333000

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

It is important to remember that a function is an equation that assigns to each element in domain X one and only one element in range Y

We should note that for every X value found in the graph, there is one and only one corresponding Y value.

Therefore, the graph is indeed a function.

Answer

Yes

Exercise #4

Determine whether the following table represents a function

XY02468-3-3-3-3-3

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

It is important to remember that a constant function describes a situation where as the X value increases, the function value (Y) remains constant.

In the table, we can see that there is a constant change in the X values, specifically an increase of 2, and the Y value remains constant.

Therefore, according to the rule, the table describes a constant function.

Answer

Yes

Exercise #5

Which of the following equations corresponds to the function represented in the graph?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's use the below formula in order to find the slope:

m=y2y1x2x1 m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}

We insert the known data from the graph into the formula:

(0,2),(2,0) (0,-2),(-2,0)

m=200(2)= m=\frac{-2-0}{0-(-2)}=

20+2= \frac{-2}{0+2}=

22=1 \frac{-2}{2}=-1

We then substitute the point and slope into the line equation:

y=mx+b y=mx+b

0=1×(2)+b 0=-1\times(-2)+b

0=2+b 0=2+b

Lastly we combine the like terms:

0+(2)=b 0+(-2)=b

2=b -2=b

Therefore, the equation will be:

y=x2 y=-x-2

Answer

y=x2 y=-x-2

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