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INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTION NOTATION
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A function is a rule that takes an input, does something to it,
and gives a unique corresponding output.
There is a special notation, called "function notation," that is used to represent this situation:
if the function name is f , and the input name is x ,
then the unique corresponding output is called f(x) (which is read as " f of x ".)
What is f(x) ?
Answer: It is the output from the function f when the input is x .
What is g(t) ?
Answer: It is the output from the function g when the input is t .
Note that f and f(x) are different:
f is the name of the function (the "rule");
f(x) is the output from this rule when the input is x .
It is often helpful to think of a function as a "box".
You drop an input in the top, something happens to the input inside the box, and the output drops out the bottom.
The box is labeled with the name of the function.
The letter f is commonly used as the name of a function,
since it is the first letter in the word function.
If x is dropped in the top of the box labeled f , then f(x) comes out the bottom.
If t is dropped in the top of the box labeled g , then g(t) comes out the bottom.
If x + 2t is dropped in the top of the box labeled h , then h(x + 2t) (read as " h of x + 2t ") comes out the bottom.
The equation f(x) = x + 2 is function notation that describes the following situation:
a function named f acts on an input (here, indicated by x ), and gives the
output f(x) , which is equal to x + 2 .
Thus, f(x) = x + 2 describes the "add 2 " function.
This same function f could also be described by any of these:
f(t) = t + 2
f(w) = w + 2
f(u) = u + 2
The variable used locally to give a name to the input is called a dummy variable.
In the equation f(x) = x + 2 the dummy variable is x .
In the equation f(t) = t + 2 the dummy variable is t .
EXAMPLES:
Question: What does the function notation g(7) represent?
Answer: the output from the function g when the input is 7
Question: Suppose f(x) = x + 2 . What is f(3) ?
Answer: f(3) = 3 + 2 = 5
Question: Suppose f(x) = x + 2 . What is f(x+5) ?
Answer: f(x+5) = (x + 5) + 2 = x + 7
Question: Suppose g(x) = 3x + 2 . Describe, in words, what
the function g does.
Answer: the function g takes an input, multiplies by 3, and then adds 2
Question: Write function notation for the "multiply by 5" rule.
Use f as the name
of the function, and t as the name for the input.
Answer: f(t) = 5t
Question: Write the function rule f(x) = 5x - 2 using the dummy variable t .
Answer: f(t) = 5t - 2
You can explore a "function box" and practice function notation
using GeoGebra.
GeoGebra is a free, multi-platform, dynamic mathematics software program that joins geometry, algebra and calculus.
("GeoGebra" is pronounced like "Algebra" except with a "Geo" at the beginning.)
Click on the link below and have fun! (Please be patient. It may take a few minutes for GeoGebra to load.)
Function Boxes and Function Notation
On this exercise, you will not key in your answer.
However, you can check to see if your answer is correct.