Chapter 7

Graphs, Functions,
and Applications
7. FUNCTIONS and GRAPHS
1 a. Determine
function.
whether a correspondence is a

b. Given a function described by an

equation, find function values (outputs) for
specified values (inputs).
c. Draw the graph of a function.
d. Determine whether a graph is that of a
function using the vertical-line test.
e. Solve applied problems involving functions
and their graphs.
 Function
A function is a special kind of correspondence
between two sets. The first set is called the
domain. The second set is called the range.
For any member of the domain, there is
exactly one member of the range to which it
corresponds. This kind of correspondence is
called a function.

Correspondence
Domain Range
 Example

Determine whether the correspondence is

a function.
Domain Range
8 2
0
–5 17
Solution
The correspondence is a function because
each member of the domain corresponds to
exactly one member of the range.
 Example
Determine if the correspondence is a
function.
Jackson Football
Max Wrestling
Cade Soccer
Solution
The correspondence is not a function because a
member of the domain (Jackson) corresponds to
more than one member of the range.
Function; Domain; Range
A function is a correspondence between a first
set, called the domain, and a second set, called
the range, such that each member of the domain
corresponds to exactly one member of the
range.
Relation
A relation is a correspondence between a first
set, called the domain, and a second set, called
the range, such that each member of the domain
corresponds to at least one member of the range.
The function pictured has been named f. Here x
represents an arbitrary input, and f (x) – read “f of
x,” “f at x,” or “the value of f at x” represents the
corresponding output.
 Example
Find each indicated function value.
a) f (–2), for f (x) = 3x 2 + 2x
b) g(4), for g(t) = 6t + 9
c) h(m +2), for h(x) = 8x + 1
Solution
a) f (–2) = 3(–2)2 + 2(–2) = 12 – 4 = 8
b) g(4) = 6(4) + 9 = 24 + 9 = 33
c) h(m +2) = 8(m+ 2) + 1 = 8m + 16 + 1
= 8m + 17
 Example

Graph: f ( x) x  1.
2

Solution
x y (x, y)
0 –1 (0, –1) (-2,3) (2,3)
1 0 (1, 0)
–1 0 (–1, 0) (1,0)
2 3 (2, 3) (-1,0 )
(0,-1)
–2 3 (–2, 3)
 Example

Graph: f ( x)  x  3.

Solution
x y (x, y)
(2, 5) (2, 5)
0 3 (0, 3) (1, 4) (1, 4)
1 4 (1, 4) (0, 3)
–1 4 (–1, 4)
2 5 (2, 5)
–2 5 (–2, 5)
The Vertical-Line Test
If it is possible for a vertical line to cross a
graph more than once, then the graph is not the
graph of a function.
 Example
Determine whether each of the following is the graph
of a function.

Not a function. Three A function Not a function. Two

y-values correspond y-values correspond to
to one x-value one x-value

Graphs that do not represent functions still do

represent relations.
7. FINDING DOMAIN and RANGE
2 a. Find the domain and the range of a
function.
The solutions of an equation in two variables
consist of a set of ordered pairs. A set of
ordered pairs is called a relation. When a set of
ordered pairs is such that no two different pairs
share a common first coordinate, we have a
function. The domain is the set of all first
coordinates and the range is the set of all
second coordinates.
 Example
Find the domain and range of the function f whose
graph is shown below. 6
5
Solution f 4

The function contains four 3

2
ordered pairs and it can be 1
written as -5 -4 -3 -2 -1-1 1 2 3 4 5
{(–5, 1), (1, 0), (3, –5), (4, 3)}. -2
-3
Domain is the set of all -4

first coordinates {–5, 1, 3, 4}. -5

Range is the set of all second coordinates,

{1, 0, –5, 3}.
 Example

For the function f represented below, determine each

of the following. y

a) What member of the 7

6
range is paired with 2 5
4
b) The domain of f 3
f
2

c) What member of the 1

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
domain is paired with 6 -1
-2
x

-3
d) The range of f -4
 Example
2
Find the domain of f ( x)  .
x 8
Solution
We ask, “Is there any number x for which
2 2
x  8 cannot be computed?” Since x  8 cannot
be computed when x – 8 = 0 the answer is yes.
To determine what x-value would cause x – 8 to be
0, we solve an equation: x – 8 = 0,
x=8
Thus 8 is not in the domain of f, whereas all other real
numbers are. The domain of f is{x | x is a real number and x 8}.
 LINEAR FUNCTIONS: GRAPHS and
7. SLOPES

3 a. Find the y-intercept of a line from the

equations y = mx + b or f(x) = mx + b.
b. Given two points on a line, find the slope
Given a linear equation, derive the
equivalent slope-intercept equation and
determine the slope and the y-intercept.
c. Solve applied problems involving slope.
Linear Function
A linear function f is any function that can be
described by f(x) = mx + b.
 Graph f (x) = 3x and g(x) = 3x + 2
Example
using the same set of axes.

Solution
y
y = 3x + 2
y y
x y = 3x y = 3x + 2 6 2 units up
5
4
0 0 2 3
y = 3x
1 3 5 2
–1 –3 –1 1

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x
Notice that the graph of -1
-2
y = 3x + 2 is the graph of -3
y = 3x shifted, or translated,
2 units up.
y-Intercept of f(x) = mx + b
The y-intercept of the graph of
f(x) = mx + b is the point (0, b)
or, simply, b.

f(x) = mx + b

(0, b)
 Example

For each equation, find the y-intercept.

4
a) y  3.1x  7 b) f ( x)  x  9
3
Solution
a) y = 3.1x + 7 (0, 7) is the y-
intercept.
4
b) f ( x)  x  9 (0, –9) is the y-intercept.
3
Slope
The slope of the line containing points
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is given by
rise vertical change
m 
run horizontal change
(x2, y2) change in y

(x1, y1)
x2 – x 1
y2 – y 1
change in x
y2  y1 y1  y2
  .
x2  x1 x1  x2
 Example

Graph the line containing the points (3, –2)

and (7, 5) and find the slope.

Solution
rise

rise difference in y
m 
run difference in x run

y2  y1 5  ( 2) 7
  
x2  x1 7 3 4
Slope of y = mx + b
The slope of the line y = mx + b is m.

Slope-Intercept Equation
The equation y = mx + b is called the slope-
intercept equation. The slope is m and the
y-intercept is (0, b).
 Example

Determine the slope and y-intercept of the

3
line given by y  x  4.
5
Solution
The equation is written in the form y = mx + b,
simply read the slope and y-intercept from the
equation. 3
y x 4
5
The slope is 3/5. The y-intercept is (0, 4).
 Example
Determine the slope and y-intercept of the
line given by 4 x  7 y 2.
Solution
First solve for y so we can easily read the
slope and y-intercept. 4 x  7 y 2
 7 y  4 x  2
4 2
y x
7 7
The slope is 4/7 and the y-intercept is (0, –2/7).
 Example

Find the slope (or grade) of the treadmill.

Solution
0.42
m
5.5
42

550 0.42 ft
21 5.5 ft
 7.6%
275
The grade of the treadmill is 7.6%.
** Reminder: Grade is slope expressed as a percent.
 MORE on GRAPHING LINEAR
7. EQUATIONS

4 a. Graph linear equations using intercepts

b. Given a linear equation in slope-intercept
form, use the slope and the y-intercept to
graph the line.
c. Graph linear equations of the form x = a or
y = b.
d. Given the equations of two lines,
determine whether their graphs are
parallel or whether they are perpendicular.
x- and y-Intercepts
A y-intercept is a point (0, b). To find b, let x = 0
and solve for y.
An x-intercept is (a, 0). To find a, let y = 0 and
solve for x.
 Example
Find the intercepts of 5x + 2y = 10 and then graph the line.
Solution
y-intercept: Let x = 0 and solve for y:
5 • 0 + 2y = 10 Substituting 0 for x
2y = 10
y=5
The y-intercept is (0, 5).
x-intercept: Let y = 0 and solve for x.
5x + 2• 0 = 10 Substituting 0 for y
5x = 10
x=2
The x-intercept is (2, 0).
 continued
We plot these points and draw
the line, or graph. A third point
should be used as a check. We y-intercept (0, 5)
substitute any convenient
value for x and solve for y. x-intercept (2, 0)
If we let x = 4, then
5 • 4 + 2y = 10
20 + 2y = 10 5x + 2y = 10
2y = 10
y = 5
x y
0 5
2 0
4 5
 3
Example Graph: y  x  4
4

Solution
We plot (0, 4).
Down 3
Move down 3 units (since the
numerator is negative.) Right 4

Move to the right 4 units

(since the denominator is
positive).
This locates the point (4, 1).
We plot (4, 1) and draw a line passing through both
points.
 Example Graph y = 2.

Solution
Since x is missing, any number for x will do.
Thus all ordered pairs (x, 2) are solutions.
The graph is a horizontal line parallel to the x-axis.

Choose any number for x. x y (x, y)

0 2 (0, 2)
4 2 (4, 2)
4 2 (4 , 2)
y must be 2.
continued y=2

The slope of the line is 0.

y=2
(0, 2)
(4, 2) (4, 2)
 Example Graph x = 2.

Solution
Since y is missing, any number for y will do.
Thus all ordered pairs (2, y) are solutions.
The graph is a vertical line parallel to the y-axis.
x=2
x must be 2. x y (x, y)
2 4 (2, 4)
2 1 (2, 1)
2 4 (2, 4)

Any number can be used for y.

continued x=2

The slope of a vertical line

is undefined. x=2

(2, 4)

(2, 1)

(2, 4)
Horizontal Line; Vertical Line
The graph of y = b, or f(x) = b, is a horizontal
line with y-intercept (0, b). It is the graph of a
constant function with slope 0.
The graph of x = a is a vertical line through the
point (a, 0). The slope is not defined. It is not
the graph of a function.
Parallel Lines
Two nonvertical lines are parallel if
they have the same slope and different
y-intercepts.
 Example
Determine whether the graphs of the
lines y = –2x – 3 and 8x + 4y = –6
are parallel.
Solution
Solve each equation for y. 8 x  4 y  6
y = –2x – 3 and 4 y  8 x  6
1
y   8 x  6 
4 3
y  2 x 
The slope of each line is –2 and 2
the y-intercepts are different.
The lines are parallel.
continued

Perpendicular lines in a plane are lines that

intersect at a right angle. The measure of a right
angle is 90 degrees.
The slopes of the lines are 2 and –1/2. Note that
2(– 1/2) = –1. That is, the product of the slopes is
–1.
y = 2x – 3

1 1
y  x
2 2
Perpendicular Lines
Two lines are perpendicular if the product of their
slopes is –1. (If one line has slope m, the slope of
the line perpendicular to it is –1/m. That is, to find
the slope of a line perpendicular to a given line, we
take the reciprocal of the given slope and change the
sign.)
Lines are also perpendicular if one of then is vertical
(x = a) and one of them is horizontal (y = b).
 Example
Determine whether the graphs of the
lines y = 4x + 1 and x + 4y = 4
are perpendicular.
Solution
To determine whether the lines are perpendicular, we
determine whether the product of their slopes is 1.
Solve each equation for y. x  4 y 4
4 y  x  4
1
The slopes are 4 and –1/4. The y   x  4 
product of the slopes is –1. The lines 41
are perpendicular. y  x  1
4
 FINDING EQUATIONS of
7. LINES; APPLICATIONS
a. Find an equations of a line when the slope and the
5 y-intercept are given.
b. Find an equation of a line when the slope and a
point are given.
c. Find an equation of a line when two points are
given.
d. Given a line and a point not on the given line, find
an equation of the line parallel to the line and
containing the point, and find an equation of the
line perpendicular to the line and containing the
point.
e. Solve applied problems involving linear functions.
Example

A line has slope –3.2 and y-intercept (0, 5). Find an

equation of the line.
Solution
We use the slope-intercept equation.
Substitute –3.2 for m and 5 for b:
y = mx + b
y = –3.2x + 5. Substituting
Point-Slope Equation
The point-slope equation of a line
with slope m, passing through (x1, y1),
is
y – y1 = m(x – x1).
 Example
Find an equation of the line with slope 3 that
contains the point (2, 7).
Solution
Using the Point-Slope Equation
The point (2, 7) is considered to be (x1, y1), and 3 to be
the slope m.
y – y1 = m(x – x1) Point-slope equation
y – 7 = 3(x – 2) Substituting
y – 7 = 3x – 6 Simplifying
y = 3x + 1
The equation is y = 3x + 1.
continued
Using the Slope-Intercept Equation:
The point (2, 7) is on the line, so it is a solution.
We can substitute 2 for x and 7 for y and solve for b.
y = 3x + b Substituting 3 for m.
7 = 3(2) + b Substituting 2 for x and 7 for y
7=6+b
1=b Solving for b
The equation is y = 3x + 1.
 Example

Find an equation of the line containing the points (2, 2) and

(6, 4).

Solution First, we find the slope:

 4 2  6 3
m  , or
 6 2  8 4
 continued
Point-Slope Equation: Choose either point, we choose (2,
2) and substitute.
3 2
y  y1 m( x  x1 ) y  x
4 4
3 The equation of the line.
y  2  ( x  2)
4
3 1
3 6 y  x
y 2 x 4 2
4 4
3 6
y  x 2
4 4
3 6 8
y  x 
4 4 4
continued
Slope-Intercept Equation: Use either point to find b, we
choose (2, 2).
3
The slope is .
4
y mx  b
3
y  x b
4
3
2  2  b Substituting 2 for x and 2 for y
4
6
2  b
1 4 The equation of the line.
b Solving for b
2 3 1
y  x
4 2
 Example
Find an equation of a line containing the point (1, –5)
and parallel to the line y = –3x + 4.
Solution
In y = –3x + 4, the slope is –3, so the slope of the
line parallel will also be –3.
Use point-slope form.
y = 5, x = 1 and m = –3
1 1
y – y1 = m(x – x1)
Simplify. y – (5) = –3(x – 1)
y + 5 = –3x + 3
Subtract 5 from both sides to
isolate y. y = –3x – 2
 Example

Find the equation of the line containing the point (7, 1)

and perpendicular to 7x – 2y = –2.
Solution
Determine the slope of the line 7x – 2y = –2.

 2 y  7 x  2
7
y  x 1
2
2
Slope of perpendicular line:  7
continued
2
slope =  ; point (7, 1)
7

y – y1 = m(x – x1)
2
( y  1)  ( x  7)
7
2
y  1  x  2 Simplify.
7
2
y  x  3 Add 1 to both sides to isolate y.
7