Algebra 1

Section 3.2

Function Tables and Graphs

Trends with functions

Frequently, we wish to consider how the value of a function changes as the value of the indepen-
dent variable changes. As the domain of a function increases, the range can increase, decrease, stay
constant, or have some combination of these changes during different intervals. Furthermore, the rate
of change of the range can increase or decrease over different intervals of the domain. These changes
can be described tabularly or visually. In fact, it is possible to determine the form of a function by
looking at a table or graph of the function. This section will describe how to use and create tables and
graphs for functions.

Creating Function Tables

Creating tables from known functions is useful because it can be interpreted to understand how a
function changes as the independent variable of that function changes. Given a function, f (x), if f (x)
increases as x increases, we say f (x) varies directly with x. However, if f (x) decreases as x increases,
we say f (x) varies inversely with x.

A table for a function with one independent variable should have two columns, one for the in-
dependent variable and one for the dependent variable, or the function value. The table can have as
many rows as necessary to accurately show the trends of the function. Generally, the more rows the
better. To fill in a table, pick values for the independent variable and place them in rows in the left
column. Then, plug these values into the function and place the resulting values of the function in
rows in the right column. For example, consider the function f (x) = 3x + 1. If we pick 5 values for
x: 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, (it is generally good practice to pick negative numbers, positive numbers and zero
to show how the function behaves over a range of values), and then plug these values into f (x) we get
f (2) = 5, f (1) = 2, f (0) = 1, f (1) = 4, f (2) = 7. Then, we place these corresponding values
into a table, such as the one given below.

x f (x)
2 5
1 2
0 1
1 4
2 7

As the table illustrates, as x increases, f (x) increases. Thus, f (x) varies directly with x.

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Interpreting Function Tables

It is possible to determine a function from the table that it produces, if one knows the type of
the function. In 3.3, we explore more families of functions, but for know, consider linear functions.
Linear functions change by a constant value for every increase in x. This is what one could think of
as the "slope" of a function. Recall that every linear function of x is of the form f (x) = mx + b,
where m is the slope of the function. Thus, by finding the change in f (x) for every change in x, one
can determine the slope of f (x). To do this using a table, pick two values for x, say x1 and x2 , and
their corresponding values for f (x), f (x1 ) and f (x2 ). Then, m = f (xx11)f
x2
(x2 )
. You may have seen this
formula in class where the positions of x1 and x2 are swapped and the positions of f (x1 ) and f (x2 )
are swapped. Either order will give the same result as long as the order is consistent for x and f (x).
That is, if x2 comes first then so should f (x2 ).

To find the value of b, determine the value of f (x) when x = 0. This may be given explicitly in
the table or it may not be. If there is no row for x = 0, then find m and use a value for x given in the
table to determine what the value of f (x) is when x = 0 using the value of m you found. For example,
if a table states that when x = 2, f (2) = 5 and you found m = 2, then you know f (1) = 5 2 = 3 and
f (0) = 3 2 = 1. Thus, b = 1. Then, knowing the value of m and b, one can completely determine
the form of the function as f (x) = 2x + 1.

For example, consider the table below with only 3 rows. We will assume the function that this
table describes is linear.

x f (x)
2 2
1 1
4 -4

Choose x1 = 2 and x2 = 1 (any choice of x1 or x2 equal to 2, 1, or 4 will work as long as

x1 6= x2 ). Then, f (x1 ) = 2 and f (x2 ) = 0 = 1. Using this, we have m = 2(1) 3
21 = 3 = 1. Thus, we
know f (x) = (1)x+b. To find b, note that f (1) = 1, and m = 1 so f (0) = 1(1) = 1+1 = 0.
Thus, b = 0 so f (x) = (1)x + 0 or, put more simply. f (x) = x.

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Creating Function Graphs

When creating the graph of a linear function, simply make a line with y = f (x). Thats it! Place
the values of f (x) on the y-axis. However, not every function is as simple as the linear functions weve
been studying.

We will study more complex kinds of functions in 3.3, but regardless of the kind of function, be
it familiar or unfamiliar, one can create a sketch of the functions graph given the functions equation
or a table for the function. A graph of any function is made up of the points (x, f (x)) on the xy-plane
for each value of x in the domain of f (x). Thus, given a table for a function, pick each value of x and
graph the points (x, f (x)) for the corresponding values of f (x), and connect these points as fluidly as
possible. Given an equation for a function, simply make a table using the steps listed in Creating
Function Tables and use this table to create a graph. For example, given the function f (x) = 3x2 ,
even though one may not know what graphs look like for functions that have squared terms, one
can create a table using the values 2, 1, 0, 1, 2 for x and find that f (2) = 3(2)2 = 3 4 = 12,
f (1) = 3(1)2 = 3 1 = 3, f (0) = 3(0)2 = 0, f (1) = 3(1)2 = 3 1 = 3, f (2) = 3(2)2 = 3 4 = 12.
This is summarized in the table below.

x f (x)
2 12
1 3
0 0
1 3
2 12

Then, one would graph the points (2, 12),(1, 3),(0, 0),(1, 3), and (2, 12). Connecting these
points smoothly, as shown below, creates as shape that shows as x increases, f (x) first increases and
then decreases.

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 y
(-2,12) (2,12)

Sketch of f(x)=3x2

(-1,3) (1,3)

(0,0)
x

Interpreting Function Graphs

Recall that every number in the domain of a function must be mapped to exactly one number
in the range of the function, by the definition of a function. A consequence of this is the vertical line
test. This test states that if any vertical line can be drawn on a graph that crosses two points on the
graph, the graph is NOT a function. However, if every vertical line drawn on a graph crosses one or
zero points, the graph IS a function.

In 3.3, we will look at the graphs of more families of functions, and what each kind of graph each
function produces. For know, however, know that every graph of a line is a graph of a linear function.
The equation for that function can be determined by finding the slope of the line using the equation
m = f (xX11)f
X2
(x2 )
for some points (x1 , f (x1 )) and (x2 , f (x2 )) on the line, and realizing that b = f (0).
Then, the equation of the function whose graph is that line is f (x) = mx + b. If f (0) is not explicitly
given, determine it from a point that is given using the slope of the line. For example, consider the
graph below.

4
 y

(3,4)

(1,1)
x

You may recognize this graph from a previous section, but we can figure out the equation for this
line using only the graph itself. There are only 2 points given, so let x1 = 1 and x2 = 3. Then, f (x1 ) = 1
and f (x2 ) = 4. Using the equation for slope, we find m = 1314
= 3 3
2 = 2 . So, as x increases by 1, f (x)
increases by 32 . Thus, as x decreases by 1, f (x) decreases by 23 , so f (0) = f (1) 32 = 1 32 = 12 . So
we have m = 32 and b = f (0) = 12 , and thus f (x) = 32 x 12 .

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Examples

Here are a few examples to test the concepts provided in this section. Answers can be found on
the following pages.

1. Make a table for the function f (x) = x2 2.

2. The table below describes a linear function. What is the function, f (x), that it describes?

x f (x)
2 5
1 1
5 9

3. Make a graph of the function f (x) = x3 .

4. The graph of f (x) is the line below. What is the equation for f (x)?

y
(6,8)

(3,6)

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Solutions

These are the solutions to the questions on the previous page

1. Pick some values for x, such as 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, and plug them into f (x). Remember that (x)2 =
x2 . The results are given in the table below.

x f (x)
2 2
1 1
0 2
1 1
2 2

2. Note that the values for x are not in increasing order. Nonetheless, we can pick x1 = 2 and
x2 = 1, so f (x1 ) = 5 and f (x2 ) = 1. Then, m = f (xx11)f (x2 )
x2
51
= 2(1) = 43 . So, for every
increase in x, f (x) increases by 43 . Thus, f (0) = f (1) + 43 = 1 + 34 = 73 . So b = f (0) = 73 , and
m = 43 . Then, the equation for f (x) is f (x) = 34 x + 73 .

3. Pick some values for x, such as 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, and plug them into f (x).

x f (x)
2 8
1 1
0 0
1 1
2 8

Plot the points (x, f (x)) from the table on the xy-plane and connect the dots smoothly. The
result is a sketch of f (x), as shown below.

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 (2,8)

Sketch of f(x)=x3

(1,1)

(0,0)
x

(-1,1)

(-2,-8)

4. There are only two points given, so decide x1 = 3 and x2 = 6. Then, f (x1 ) = 6 and f (x2 ) = 8.
2
Plugging this into the equation for slope yields m = 68 2
36 = 3 = 3 . Since f (x) increases or
2
decreases by 3 every time x increases or decreases respectively by 1, then b = f (0) = f (3)3 32 =
6 2 = 4. So, the equation for f (x) is f (x) = 32 x + 4.