To give a very simple definition, a function is basically just a way of relating two variables... although their notation makes it look otherwise. But we've already seen something like this before! If we take a regular X-Y graph and draw a straight line on it, the equation of the line is the way of relating the x variable with the y variable. However, the standard way of writing a function is to write f(x) instead of y. We say it like f of x. So for example, taking a line, we can do the following:
y = 3x + 5
f(x) = 3x + 5
The function notation says that "the whole expression with x on the right" evaluates to some number (the equivalent of y). The math is still the same, no tricks with what you can do with the expression. It's just a different way of describing things. But we also now have a way of saying "tell me what that thing evaluates to when x=10" and we can write that out like this:
f(10) = 3(10) + 5 = 30 + 5 = 35
f(10) = 35
Again, it's essentially the same thing as saying 'solve for y' from our graph equations, but you can't say to solve y = 3x + 5 at a certain point for x, without actually writing that instruction out in words. With function notation, you can say to solve the expression when x=10, 50, or 25,000, just by writing f(10), f(50), or f(25,000).
There are a few other terms you will likely see when dealing with functions. Domain refers to all the values of x that are valid for the expression. Range refers to all the values of y in the expression. Domains and ranges could be infinite, as in the case of a straight line that goes forever in either direction, or they could have defined numbers as in line segments. The notation for domain and range sets is like [x1, x2] or [y1, y2], where those numbers represent the two extremes of the domain (furthest left and right) or range (highest and lowest), and the square brackets indicate that those numbers are included in the range. (If you had an 'open' point on a line, this indicates that that exact point is excluded from the line, and if this occurred as an endpoint, you would write (x1, x2) to denote that the number is not included in the set. Also, you could have on the line a closed and an open point, in which case you'd have something like (x1, x2] or vice versa.)
The domain (the x-values) for line segment A is [-8, 1] and its range (y-values) is [5, 8]. In this case the domain and range extremes are the actual end points of the line, but pay attention to the particular question as this is not always the case. Remember, this notation is defining the domain and range (all the values that x or y could take), not the end points of the line.
Similarly for line segment B, the domain is [2, 7] and the range is [-3, 6].
Line C demonstrates a very important concept about functions. Line C is not a function. We should expand our definition of a function to say that it is a way of relating two variables, where each number in the domain corresponds to ONLY ONE number in the range. That means, that for every x, there can only be one y. To test this on a graph, you can use the vertical line test to prove a line is a function or not. If you draw a vertical line through your function at any value for x, the vertical line will pass through the function line ONLY ONCE. If it passes through it more than once, then you are not looking at a graph of a function. Therefore, looking back to line c, you can tell that a vertical line would pass through the line twice at some positions, and so this proves it is not a function of x. Similarly, the circle in D does not pass the vertical line test, and so is not a function either.
These concepts may seem different, but you will become accustomed to them. Just remember our definition of what a function actually is, and what the notation is saying, and you will be fine. When you begin to grasp these concepts and advance to higher levels, you will get to see some really cool stuff with functions. (sneak peek.... f(x) = x6 + x5 + x4 + x3 + x2 + x + 1.... it's still a function!)
If any of that isn't clear and you'd like something more explained or clarified, please don't hesitate to leave a comment for me! I'm always glad to help!
