Chapter 2
functions of a
real variable
Section I
Function of real variable
Function of real variable
Inverse of a function
Example
Properties of function :
monotonicity
Monotonicity
Bounded function
Examples
Symmetric and antisymmetric
function
Examples
Examples
Composing Functions
In general, to indicate function f composed with
function g, we can write f∘g, read as "f composed with g".
This composition is defined by the following rule:
(f∘g)(x)=f(g(x))
Example
Elementary types of functions
an is called the leading coefficient
n is the degree of the polynomial
a0 is called the constant term
Linear function illustration case n=1
Quadratic Functions (case n=2)
If a, b, c are real numbers with a not equal
to zero, then the function
f ( x) ax bx c
2
is a quadratic function and its graph is a
parabola.
Quadratic Functions (case n=2)
For f ( x) a( x h)2 k
• If a 0, then the graph of f is a parabola.
– If a > 0, the graph opens upward.
– If a < 0, the graph opens downward. Vertex is (h , k)
• Axis of symmetry: x = h
• f (h) = k is the minimum if a > 0, otherwise the
maximum
• Domain = set of all real numbers
• Range: y y k if a < 0. If a > 0, the range is y y k
The general form The vertex form
f ( x) ax bx c
2
f ( x) a( x h) k
2
The vertex The vertex
x=h
Converting Quadratic form
to the Vertex Form
f ( x ) ax 2 bx c f ( x ) a ( x h) 2 k
Completing the Square
Factor the ‘a’ value out of the first two terms.
Using the new coefficient of the x term, add and subtract
half of it squared.
The first 3 terms form a perfect square, factor them.
Distribute the ‘a’ value.
Collect like terms.
21
Example
Consider
f ( x) 3x2 6 x 1
Complete the square to find the vertex.
• Solution:
Factor the coefficient of x2 out of the first two terms:
• f (x) = –3(x2 – 2x) –1
Add 1 to complete the square inside the parentheses. Because of
the –3 outside the parentheses, we have actually added –3, so we
must add +3 to the outside.
f (x) = –3(x2 – 2x +1) –1+3
f (x) = –3(x – 1)2 + 2
• The vertex is (1, 2)
The quadratic function opens down since the
coefficient of the x2 term is –3.
Properties of a polynomial
Root of a polynomial P n
P(x) is a polynomial with degree n and 𝑥0 is a zero of P(x) then
P(x) can be written in the following form :
𝑃 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 𝑥0 × 𝑄(𝑥)
Q(x) is a polynomial of degree n-1
Example
Horner’s scheme
Example 1
Theorem
Rational function
Example
Polynomial division
Example
Power function and it’s inverse
Example
Exponential function
Basic Properties of the Graph of
• Domain is all real numbers
• Range is positive real numbers
• All graphs will pass through (0,1) (y intercept)
• All graphs are continuous curves
• The x axis is a horizontal asymptote.
• If a > 1, then ax increases as x increases.
• If 0 < a < 1, then ax decreases as x increases.
Inverse of exponential function
Example: Determine the range, domain and the inverse of f(x)
𝑓 𝑥 = 5𝑒 𝑥+9 − 7
Find the inverse of f(x)
𝑓(𝑥) = ln(3𝑥 + 4)
Exponential Graph Logarithmic Graph
Graphs of
inverse
functions are
reflected about
the line y = x
The logarithmic function to the base a, where a > 0 and a 1 is
defined:
log a x y if and only if xa y
Logarithmic Exponential
form form
When you convert an exponential to log form, notice that the exponent
in the exponential becomes what the log is equal to.
Convert to log form: 16 4 2 log 416 2
Convert to exponential form:
31
1
log 2 3 2
8 8
Logarithmic-Exponential Conversions
Study the examples below. You should be able to
convert a logarithmic into an exponential
expression and vice versa.
1. log 4 (16) x 4 x 16 x 2
1 1
2. x log 3 ( ) log 3 ( 3 ) log 3 (33 ) 3x 33
27 3
x 3
3. 125 5 log 5 125 3
3
1
1
4. 81 9 81 9 log 81 9
2
2
Properties of Logarithms
If b, M, and N are positive real numbers, b 1,
and p and x are real numbers, then
1. log b (1) 0 5. log b MN log b M log b N
2. log b (b) 1 M
6. log b log b M log b N
3. log b bx x N
7. log b M p p log b M
x
log b x
4. b
8. log b M log b N iff M N
Solving Logarithmic Equations
Solve for x:
log 4 x 6 log 4 x 6 3
Solving Logarithmic Equations
First check the domain of f(x) : x>6 ; 𝐷𝑓 = 6, ∞
Product rule log 4 ( x 6) log 4 ( x 6) 3
Special product log 4 ( x 6)( x 6) 3
Definition of log log 4 x 2 36 3
43 x 2 36
64 x 2 36
100 x 2
10 x ; with x 10 D f
hence, x 10
Solving Logarithmic Equations
Solve: log log 10, 000 x
Example: solution
Solve:
log10 log10 10, 000 x
Quotient rule
log10 x
10, 000
Simplify
1
(divide out common log10 x
factor π) 10, 000
Rewrite log10 104 x
Property of logarithms 10 x 104
x 4
Domain and range for some
elementry function
