GENERAL MATHEMATICS

LESSON 1: FUNCTIONS

Ms. MAE M. SANTOS

FUNCTIONS
• Learning Outcome(s): At the end of the lesson, the
learner is able to represent real- life situations using
functions, including piecewise functions.
• Lesson Outline:
1. Functions and Relations
2. Vertical Line Test
3. Representing real-life situations using functions,
including piecewise functions.
Functions and Relations
• Definition: A relation is a rule that relates
values from a set of values (called the
• domain) to a second set of values
(called the range).
• A relation is a set of ordered pairs (x,y).
• Definition: A function is a
relation where each element in the
domain is related to only one
value in the range by some rule.
Functions and Relations
• A function is a set of ordered pairs (x,y) such that no
two ordered pairs have the same x-value but
different y-values. Using functional notation, we can
write f(x) = y, read as “f of x is equal to y.” In
particular, if (1, 2) is an ordered pair associated with
the function f, then we say that f(2) = 1.
• Example 1. Which of the following relations are
functions?
• ƒ = ➨(1,2), (2,3), (3,5), (4,7)➧
• g = ➨(1,3), (1,4), (2,5), (2,6), (3,7)➧
• h = ➨(1,3), (2,6), (3,9), … , (n, 3n), … ➧
Functions and Relations
• Solution.
• The relations f and h are functions because no two ordered
pairs have the same x-value but different y-values. Meanwhile,
g is not a function because (1,3) and (1,4) are ordered pairs
with the same x-value but different y-values.
•  
• Relations and functions can be represented by mapping
diagrams where the elements of the domain are mapped to
the elements of the range using arrows. In this case, the
relation or function is represented by the set of all the
connections represented by the arrows.
•  
Functions and Relations
Example 2. Which of the following mapping diagrams represent functions?

•  
X Y
Functions and Relations
• Solution.
• The relations f and g are functions
because each value y in Y is unique for a
specific value of x. The relation h is not a
function because there is at least one
element in X for which there is more than
one corresponding y-value. For example,
x=7 corresponds to y = 11 or 13. Similarly,
x=2 corresponds to both y=17 or 19.
VERTICAL LINE TEST
A relation between two sets of
numbers can be illustrated by a graph
in the Cartesian plane, and that a
function passes the vertical line test.
• The Vertical Line Test
A graph represents a function if and only
if each vertical line intersects the graph
at most once.
VERTICAL LINE TEST
Example 3. Which of the following can be graphs of functions?
a.)

b.)
e.)

c.)
VERTICAL LINE TEST
Solution.
Graphs a.), b.), c.) are
graphs of functions while d.)
and e.) are not because they
do not pass the vertical line
test.
VERTICAL LINE TEST
• Important Concepts.
• Relations are rules that relate two values,
one from a set of inputs and the second
from the set of outputs.
• Functions are rules that relate only one
value from the set of outputs to a value
from the set of inputs.
.
DOMAIN AND RANGE OF FUNCTIONS
Definition:

The domain of a relation is the set of all

possible values that the variable x can take.

The range of a relation is the set of all

possible values that the variable y can have.
DOMAIN AND RANGE OF FUNCTIONS
Example 4. Identify the domain for each relation using set builder notation.

(a) y = 2x + 1
(b ) y = x2 − 2x + 2
(c ) x2 + y2 = 1
(d) y = √ x + 1
(e) y = 2 s + 1
s–1
(f) y = x] + 1 where x] is the greatest integer function.

Solution. The domains for the relations are as follows:

(a) ➨x : x ∈ R (d) ➨x : x ∈ , x ≤ −1
(b) ➨x : x ∈ R (e) ➨x : x ∈ , x G 1
(c) ➨x : x ∈ , −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 (f) ➨x : x ∈ R
Representing real-life situations using functions, including piecewise
functions.

• Functions can often be used to model

real situations. Identifying an appropriate
functional model will lead to a better
understanding of various phenomena.
• Example 5. Give a function C that can
represent the cost of buying x meals,
if one meal costs P40.
• Solution. Since each meal costs P40, then
the cost function is C(x) = 40x.
Representing real-life situations using functions, including piecewise
functions.

Example 6. One hundred meters of fencing is available to enclose a

rectangular area next to a river (see figure). Give a function A that can
• represent the area that can be enclosed, in terms of x.

x
Solution. The area of the rectangular enclosure is A = xy. We will write
this as a function of x. Since only 100 m of fencing is available, then x
+ 2y = 100 or y = (100 – x)/2 = 50 – 0.5x. Thus, A(x) = x(50 –
0.5x) = 50x – 0.5x2.
Representing real-life situations using functions, including piecewise
functions.
Piecewise functions.
Some situations can only be described by more than one formula, depending on
• the value of the independent variable.

Example 7. A user is charged P300 monthly for a particular mobile plan, which
includes 100 free text messages. Messages in excess of 100 are charged P1 each.
Represent the monthly cost for text messaging using the function t(m), where m is
the number of messages sent in a month.

Solution. The cost of text messaging can be expressed by the piecewise function:
300 , iƒ 0 ✈ m ≤ 1 0 0
t( m ) = ➨
300 + m , i ƒ m > 100
Representing real-life situations using functions, including piecewise
functions.

Example 8. A jeepney ride costs P8.00 for the first 4 kilometers, and
each additional integer kilometer adds P1.50 to the fare. Use a
piecewise function to represent the jeepney fare in terms of the
distance (d) in kilometers.

Solution. The input value is distance and the output is the cost of
the jeepney fare. If F(d) represents the fare as a function of
distance, the function can be represented as follows:

8 .0 0
Fd=➨ i ƒ 0 ✈ d ≤ 4( 8
+ 1 .5 d ] )
iƒ d > 4

Note that d]is the floor function applied to d. The floor function gives
the largest integer less than or equal to d, e.g. 4.1] = 4.9] = 4.
Representing real-life situations using functions, including piecewise
functions.

Example 9.
Water can exist in three states: solid ice, liquid water, and
gaseous water vapor. As ice is heated, its temperature rises
until it hits the melting point of 0°C and stays constant
until the ice melts. The temperature then rises until it hits
the boiling point of 100°C and stays constant until the
water evaporates. When the water is in a gaseous state, its
temperature can rise above 100°C (This is why steam can
cause third degree burns!).
•
Representing real-life situations using functions, including piecewise
functions.
A solid block of ice is at -25°C and heat is added until it completely turns
into water vapor. Sketch the graph of the function representing the
temperature of water as a function of the amount of heat added in Joules
given the following information:
• The ice reaches 0°C after applying 940 J.
• The ice completely melts into liquid water after applying a
• total of 6,950 J.
•  
The water starts to boil (100°C) after a total of 14,470 J.
• The water completely evaporates into steam after a total of 55,260 J.

Assume that rising temperature is linear. Explain why this is a piecewise

function.
Representing real-life situations using functions, including piecewise
functions.
Solution. Let T(x) represent the temperature of the water in degrees
Celsius as a function of cumulative heat added in Joules. The
function T(x) can be graphed as follows:

This is a piecewise function because the temperature rise can be

expressed as a linear function with positive slope until the temperature
hits 0°C, then it becomes a constant function until the total heat
reaches 6,950K J. It then becomes linear again until the temperature
reaches 100°C, and becomes a constant function again until the total
heat reaches 55,260 J.
ITS YOUR TURN!

1. Is the relation {(0,0), (1,1), (2,4),

(3,9), … (n, n2), …} a function?
ITS YOUR TURN!

Which of the following diagram represents a

relation that is NOT a function ?
ITS YOUR TURN!

Can the graph of a circle be

considered a function?
ITS YOUR TURN!

Give the domain of y = √2 − x

using set builder notation.
ITS YOUR TURN!

Contaminated water is subjected to a cleaning process.

The concentration of pollutants is initially 10 mg per
liter of water. If the cleaning process can reduce the
pollutant by 5% each hour, define a function that can
represent the concentration of pollutants in the water
in terms of the number of hours that the cleaning
process has taken place.
ITS YOUR TURN!
2. Squares of side x are cut from each corner of an 8 in x 5 in rectangle
(see figure), so that its sides can be folded to make a box with no
top. Define a function in terms of x that can represent the volume of
this box.

5 inches
ITS YOUR TURN!

•  
A certain chocolate bar costs P35.00 per piece.
However, if you buy more than 10 pieces, they
will be marked down to a price of P32.00 per
piece. Use a piecewise function to represent the
cost in terms of the number of chocolate bars
bought.
ITS YOUR TURN!

•  
A school’s fair committee wants to sell t-shirts for
their school fair. They found a supplier that sells t-
shirts at a price of P175.00 a piece but can charge
P15,000 for a bulk order of 100 shirts and P125.00 for
each excess t-shirt after that. Use a piecewise function
to represent the cost in terms of the number of t-
shirts purchased.
ITS YOUR TURN!

•  
– Which of the following letters will pass the
vertical line test? V W X Y Z
For submission of your answers , please access
your genyo account .