GENERAL MATHEMATICS | WEEK1

LESSON 1 – BASIC CONCEPT OF FUNCTIONS

I. INTRODUCTION

What is function?
• A function is a rule of correspondence such that every element in the first set (domain) is
paired to a unique element in the second set (range).
• A function associates each element in the domain with only one (1) element in the range. This
association is called mapping.
• An input (domain) MUST ONLY HAVE ONE output (range). However, two inputs (domain) can
have the same output (range)

Is this a function or not?

1. {(M,1), (A,2), (T,3), (H,5)} – This is a FUNCTION.

The example is a function because the set of ordered pairs showed that each element in set X
is paired with exactly one element in set Y.

2. - This is a FUNCTION
X Y
The example is a function because the set of ordered pairs showed that
M 1
each element in set X is paired with exactly an element in set Y.
A 2
T 3
H 4
5

3. X Y - This is NOT A FUNCTION.

M 1
The example is a function because the set of ordered pairs showed that
A 2 each element in set X is paired with exactly an element in set Y.
T 3
H 4
5

VERTICAL LINE TEST

• A test which determines whether a graph is a function or not. A vertical line is drawn
passing through the graph and it must intersect the graph at one and only one point for
it to be considered a function; otherwise, it is a graph of a relation.

1. This example is not a function.

2. This is a function.

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EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONS
Example#1: Example#2:
f(x) = x2 + 4x + 4 find if:
find if: 3x2 + 2x
1) f(-2) = x2 + 4x + 4 1) f(√2) = 3(√2)2 + 2(√2)
= (-2)2 + 4(-2) + 4 = 3(2) + 2√2
=4–8+4 f(√𝟐) = 6 + 2√𝟐
f(-2) = 0
2) f(5) = x2 + 4x + 4
2) f(√9) = 3(√9)2 + 2(√9)
= (5)2 + 4(5) + 4
= 25 + 20 + 4 = 3(3)2 + 2(3)
f(5) = 49
1 = 3(9) + 2(3)
3) f(2) = x2 + 4x + 4
1 1 = 27 + 6
= (2)2 + 4(2) + 4
1
=4+2+4 f(√𝟗) = 𝟑𝟑
𝟏 𝟐𝟓
f(𝟐) = 𝟒

PIECEWISE FUNCTIONS

EXAMPLE #1: A coffee shop uses the function below to determine their income for each day. Let x
be the number of people went each day.

4𝑥 + 5, 𝑥 < 2
𝑓(𝑥 ) = {
3𝑥 − 8 , 𝑥 ≥ 2

1) f(-2) 2) f(2) 3) f(5)

f(5) = 3x – 8
f(-2) = 4x+5 f(2) = 3x – 8
f(-2) = 4(-2) + 5 f(2) = 3(2) – 8 f(5) = 3(5) – 8
f(-2) = -8 + 5 f(2) = 6 – 8
f(-2) = -3 f(2) = -2 f(5) = 15 – 8
f(5) = 7

EXAMPLE #2

𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 7, 𝑥 < −1
5𝑥 + 6 , −1 ≤ 𝑥 > 2
𝑓(𝑥 ) = {
𝑥 3 + 4, 𝑥 > 2
12, 𝑥 = 2

1) f(-4) 2) f(0) 3) f(3)

f(-4) = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 7 f(0) = 5x + 6 f(3) = 𝑥 3 + 4
f(-4) = −42 + 3(−4) − 7 f(0) = 5(0) + 6 f(3) = 33 + 4
f(-4) = 16 – 12 – 7 f(0) = 0 + 6 f(3) = 9 + 4
f(-4) = -3 f(0) = 6 f(3) = 13

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OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS FORMULAS

ADDITION
(f+g)(x) = f(x) + g(x) DIVISION
𝑓(𝑥)
(f/g)(x) = 𝑔(𝑥)
SUBTRACTION
(f-g)(x) = f(x) – g(x)
COMPOSITE
(fog)(x) = f[g(x)]
MULTIPLICATION
(f • g) (x) = f(x) • g(x)

Example #1
f(x) = 4x + 3
g(x) = x – 3

Addition Multiplication
(f+g)(x) = f(x) + g(x) (f • g) (x) = f(x) • g(x)
(f + g) (x) = (4x+3) + (x-3) (f • g)(x) = (4x + 3) (x-3)
(f + g) (x) = 4x + 3 + x – 3 (f • g)(x) = 4x2 + 12x + 3x – 9
(f + g) (x) = 5x (f • g)(x) = 4x2 – 9x – 9

Subtraction Composite
(f-g)(x) = f(x) – g(x) (f o g)(x) = 4x + 3 [x – 3]
(f – g)(x) = (4x + 3) – (x-3) (f o g)(x) = 4(x-3) + 3
(f – g) (x) = 4x + 3 – x – 3 (f o g)(x) = 4x – 12 + 3
(f – g) (x) = 3x (f o g)(x) = 4x – 9

Example #2 (Division only) Example #3 (Division only)

f(x) = x2 + 6x + 9 f(x) = x2 - 3x + 2
g(x) = x + 3 g(x) = x – 1

Division Division
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥)
(f/g)(x) = 𝑔(𝑥) (f/g)(x) = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥 2+6𝑥+9 𝑥 2 −3𝑥+2
(f/g)(x) = (f/g)(x) =
𝑥+3 𝑥−1
(𝑥+3)(𝑥+3) (𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)
(f/g)(x) = (f/g)(x) =
𝑥+3 𝑥−1
(f/g)(x) = x+3 (f/g)(x) = x-2

Example 4
f(x) = 3x2 + 4x + 3
g(x) = x – 3

Addition Multiplication
(f+g)(x) = f(x) + g(x) (f • g) (x) = f(x) • g(x)
(f + g) (x) = (3x2 + 4x + 3) + (x-3) (f • g)(x) = (3x2 + 4x + 3)(x-3)
(f + g) (x) = 3x2 + 4x + 3 + x – 3 (f • g)(x) = 3x3 + 4x2 + 3x – 9x2 – 12x – 9
(f + g) (x) = 3x2 + 5x (f • g)(x) = 3x3 – 5x2 – 9x – 9

Subtraction Composite
(f-g)(x) = f(x) – g(x) (f o g)(x) = 3x2 + 4x + 3 [x – 3]
(f – g)(x) = (3x2 + 4x + 3) - (x-3) (f o g)(x) = 3(x-3)2 + 4(x-3) + 3
(f – g) (x) = 3x2 + 4x + 3 – x – 3 (f o g)(x) = 3(x2 – 6x + 9) + 4(x-3) + 3
(f – g) (x) = 3x2 + 3x (f o g)(x) = 3x2 – 18x + 27 + 4x – 12 + 3
(f o g)(x) = 3x2 – 14x + 18

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 GENERAL MATHEMATICS | WEEK 2
LESSON 2: RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
I. POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS: OVERVIEW
A polynomial function of degree n, for some nonnegative integer n, is a function of the form:

f(x) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + … + 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0

where 𝑎𝑛 , 𝑎𝑛−1 , …, 𝑎1 , 𝑎0 are real numbers (called coefficients of the polynomial), 𝑎𝑛 is called the
leading coefficient.
Examples:

1. f(x) = 𝑥 2 + 2 → It has a degree of 2 with a2 = 1, a1 = 0, and a0 = 2

2. q(x) = 3x3 – x2 – 2x + 2 → It has a degree of 3 with a3 = 3, a2 = -1, and a0 = 2
3. p(x) = 10 → It has a degree of 0 with a0 = 10. Any constant function is a polynomial
function.
Identify if the examples are a polynomial function or not.
1. x3 – 2x2 + 5x + 10 → YES, because it follows the form of a polynomial function.
Parts of a polynomial function.

2. x-3 + 2 → NO, because a polynomial can not have a negative exponent.

2
3. → NO, because you can not divide a variable.
𝑥+1
√𝑥
4. → NO, because there is a radical sign.
2

II. DEFINITION OF RATIONAL FUNCTION

Rational function, r(x) is a function of the form
𝑝(𝑥)
r(x) =
𝑞(𝑥)

where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions and q(x) ≠ 0.

The domain of r(x) is a set of real numbers such that q(x) is not zero.
The following are an example of rational function and not a rational function.
𝑥 2 −1
1. f(x) = - This is a rational function
𝑥+1
√𝑥+5
2. h(x) = 𝑥+1 – This is not a rational function.
𝑥−1
3. q(x) = (𝑥+1)(𝑥−2) – This is a rational function
1
4. b(x) = 𝑥+5 - This is a rational function.
 III. RATIONAL FUNCTION, RATIONAL EQUATION, and RATIONAL INEQUALITY

• Rational Function
𝑝(𝑥)
o A function of the form f(x) = where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions and q(x) is not
𝑞(𝑥)
equal to zero.
Example:
𝑥 2+3𝑥+7
f(x) = 𝑥+4
• Rational Equation
o An equation involving rational expression.
Example:
𝑥+4 1
=
𝑥−1 5
• Rational Inequality
o An inequality involving rational expressions.
Example:
𝑥−2
>3
5

Identify if the example is a rational equation, rational inequality, and rational function.
1+𝑥
1. = 4 → Rational equation, because of the equal sign
𝑥−2
2
2. 5x ≥ 2𝑥−1 → Rational inequality, because of the “greater than or equal” or inequality sign
𝑥 2−7
3. f(x) = − 3 → Rational function, because of the f(x)
𝑥+2

𝑥+2
4. = 𝑦 + 3 → Rational function, since y is also known as f(x) and 3 can be transposed to the
𝑥−2
other side
5. √𝑥 + 5 = 2 → None of these, since there is a radical sign.
IV. SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS

STEPS ON HOW TO SOLVE A RATIONAL EQUATION

a. Multiply each term of the equation by LCD (Least Common Denominator)
b. Solve the resulting equation.
𝟓𝒙 𝟏 𝟏
1) 𝟔 − 𝟐 = 𝟑

STEP 1: Get the LCD

6 – 12 – 18 Let us put first all the denominators factors. Identify which of these
2–4–6–8 factors has the least common between the denominators. Since 6
3 – 6 – 9 – 12 is the least common factor, we will use 6 to multiply the equation.

STEP 2: Multiply

5x – 3 = 2 + 3
5x = 2 + 3
5x = 5
5𝑥 5
= x =1
5 5
 𝒙 𝟏𝟐
2) + =𝒙−𝟐
𝟑 𝒙
x 12
[ + = x − 2] (3)(𝑥)
3 x
x2 + 36 = 3x2 – 6x (Move to left side)
x2 + 36 – 3x2 + 6x = 0
-2x2 + 6x + 36 = 0
To simplify, we will divide it to -2.
−2𝑥 2 6𝑥 36
+ + =0
−2 −2 −2

x 2 − 3x − 18 = 0 (Let’s factor out the quadratic equation)

(x – 6) (x + 3) = 0 (Let equate the equation into 0)

x–6=0 x+3=0
x=0+6 x=0–3
x=6 x = -3

𝟑 𝒙−𝟑
3) = 𝟐𝒙+𝟒
𝒙+𝟐
3 𝑥−3
= 2𝑥+4 (Cross multiply)
𝑥+2
(x+2) (x-3) = 3(2x+4)
x 2 − 3x + 2x − 6 = 𝟔𝐱 + 𝟏𝟐 (Move to the left side)
x 2 − 3x + 2x − 6 – 6x + 12 = 0 (Combine like terms)
x 2 − 7x − 18 = 0 (Let’s factor out the quadratic equation)

(x – 9) (x + 2) = 0
(Let equate the equation into 0)

x–9=0 x+2=0
x=0+9 x=0–2
x=9 x=–2

𝒙−𝟑 𝟏 𝟏
4) + 𝒙+𝟓 =
𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝟓 (𝒙−𝟓)

Step 1: Find the LCD

𝒙−𝟑 𝟏 𝟏
[ + 𝒙+𝟓 = ](x-5)(x+5)
𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝟓 (𝒙−𝟓)

Step 2: Multiply
𝒙−𝟑 𝟏 𝟏
[ + 𝒙+𝟓 = ](x-5)(x+5)
𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝟓 (𝒙−𝟓)
 𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
5) + 𝒙−𝟏 = (Seatwork)
𝒙𝟐 −𝟏 𝟐

STEP 1: Get the LCD

𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
[ 𝟐 + = ] (𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝟐)
𝒙 −𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐

STEP 2: Multiply

Figure 1: https://youtu.be/c1zlDvGXwBM?list=PLFG5lKeDCYPmwuVBPG7kFpjp5TYHRUMnM

One-to-one Functions – a function is one-to-one if it never takes the same value twice. The y-value
is never paired into different x-values.

Inverse of functions – a type of function with domain B and range A that the original function has
domain A and range B.
- Inverse function of function f is denoted by

To find the inverse of a one-to-one function, consider the following:

a. Express the function in the form y = f(x)
b. Interchange the x and y variables in the equations
c. Solve for y in terms of x.

Example:
f(x) = 3x – 8
a. Express the function in the form y = f(x)
y = 3x – 8

b. Interchange the x and y variables in the equations

x = 3y – 8

c. Solve for y in terms of x.

𝑥 + 8 = 3𝑦
3
𝑥+8
f-1(x) =
3

Example 2:
f(x) = 5x + 3
a. Express the function in the form y = f(x)
y = 5x + 3

b. Interchange the x and y variables in the equations

x = 5y + 3

c. Solve for y in terms of x.

𝑥 − 3 = 5𝑦
5
Change y into f-1(x).
𝑥−3
f-1(x) =
5
EXPONENTIALS: INTRODUCTION

An exponential function is a function of the form

f(x) = bx

where b is any number such that b > 0 and b ≠ 1. In this case, b is called as the base and x can be
any real number. This also shows relationship between the independent variable of x and dependent
variable of y or f(x).

Examples:
f(x) = 102x
y = 2x+3

Exponential equations are equations in which variables occurs as exponents.

Examples:
2𝑥+1 = 8
4𝑥+1 = 64
34𝑥 = 9𝑥+1

On the other hand, exponential inequalities are inequalities in which variables occur as exponents.
Examples:
2𝑥+1 = 8
42𝑥 ≥ 25−𝑥

Example #1:
4𝑥+1 = 64 Checking
4𝑥+1 = 43 42+1 = 43
x+1 = 3 43 = 43
x=3–1
x=2

Laws of Exponentials