Functions and Their

Functions
Stephen Tran
Definition of a function
A function is a rule which takes
certain values as inputs and assigns
to each input value exactly to one
output value. The set of allowable
inputs is called the domain of the
function. The set of all resulting
output values is called the range of
the function.
Representing Functions

Functions can be represented in (at least) four ways:

1. Description in Words
2. Table of Data
3. Graph in the xy-plane
4. Algebraic Formula y=f(x)
Given the following scenario...

To estimate the temperature using a snowy tree cricket’s chirps, count the
number of times the cricket chirps in 1 minute, divide by 4, and add 40.

The story of the cricket describes a function where the number of chirps is
an input and the output is the temperature. We will be able to represent
this function using our 4 methods.
Description in Words

To estimate the temperature using a snowy tree cricket’s chirps, count the
number of times the cricket chirps in 1 minute, divide by 4, and add 40.

The temperature will be given by the number of chirps per minute, divided
by 4, and adding 40.
Table of Data
C T
To estimate the temperature (chirps/minute) (temperature)
using a snowy tree cricket’s 20 45
chirps, count the number of
times the cricket chirps in 1 40 50
minute, divide by 4, and add 40. 60 55

80 60
Graph in the xy-plane

To estimate the temperature

using a snowy tree cricket’s
chirps, count the number of
times the cricket chirps in 1
minute, divide by 4, and add
40.
Algebraic Formula

To estimate the temperature using a snowy tree cricket’s chirps, count the
number of times the cricket chirps in 1 minute, divide by 4, and add 40.

Temperature = F(C) = C/4 + 40

Our input, C will be the number of chirps per minute.

Rate of Change
The average rate of change, or rate of change, of a quantity Q
with respect over t over an interval is

Average rate of change

over an interval = Change in Q ÷ Change in t = ⃤Q ÷ ⃤t

The average rate of change of Q = f(t) over an interval tells us how much Q
changes, on average, for each unit change in t within that interval
Linear Function

A linear function is a function with a constant rate of change. It has the

same average rate of change on every interval. The graph of a linear
function is a straight line.