Definition of the Term Function
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So, a function tells you how to match up one group of numbers with another group of numbers. For example, suppose 2 cans of soup cost $3.00. Then, 3 cans would cost $4.50, and 4 cans would cost $6.00. See how the numbers match up?
2 cans matches up with $3.00
3 cans matches up with $4.50
4 cans matches up with $6.00
Or, if you want to forget about what the numbers mean, then...
2 matches with 3.0
3 matches with 4.5
4 matches with 6.0
That rule for matching one certain number of cans with another certain number of dollars can be expressed in at least three ways.
(1) As a data table:
Number of | Cost of
Soup Cans | Soup
-----------+---------
1 | $1.50
2 | 3.00
3 | 4.50
4 | 6.00
5 | 7.50
(2) As a graph:
8.00 +
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6.00 + X
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Cost of | X
Soup 4.00 +
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($) + X
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2.00 +
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0.00 X--+--+--+--+--+--+
0 2 4 6
Number of Soup Cans
(3) Or, as an equation, here where the variable c stands for the cost of the soup, and the variable n stands for the number of soup cans:
c = 1.5n
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INPUT and OUTPUT
Consider this simple function:
y = 2x
The variable x is where a number comes into the function. Therefore, we could call x the input variable.
The function rule says to multiply the number in x by 2 and then put this result, or output, into the variable y.
The variable y, therefore, could be called the output variable.
DOMAIN and RANGE
Again, consider this simple function:
y = 2x
The group, or set, of numbers that "goes into" a function is called the DOMAIN of the function.
The set of numbers that "comes out of" a function is called the RANGE of the function.
All of the various numbers that could possibly go into x make up the group of numbers called the domain of the function. In this example, since x could accept any real number, we would say that the domain of this function is all real numbers.
All of the various resultant numbers that end up in y make up the group of numbers called the range of the function. In this example there is exactly one real number that ends up in y for every one real number that went intox. So, we would say that the range of this function is also all real numbers.
Since x could be set equal to 3, we would say that the number 3 is in the domain of the function. The number 3 in x would be multiplied by 2, making a 6. This 6 would go into y. Since the 6 is output by the function, we would say that 6 is in the range of the function.
RANGE = OUTPUT NUMBERS = y
We have been looking at this function:
y = 2x
Notice that it has an equal sign in it, so it is an equation, or it could be called a relation.
However, not everything with an equal sign in it is a function.
Technically speaking, not every equation is a function. We need to find out when an equation is a function and when it is not.
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The above type of function has a special name.
It is called a ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTION.
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The above type of function also has a special name.
It is called a MANY-TO-ONE FUNCTION.
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The above type of equation (not a function)
has a special name, too.
It is called a ONE-TO-MANY EQUATION.
Below is a demonstration that will show you how ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS, MANY-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS, and ONE-TO-MANY EQUATIONS (which are not functions) appear when they are seen as graphs.
Just press the 'Step' buttons to go through any explanation. The 'Explanation' buttons change the topic.
