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Study Guides > College Algebra CoRequisite Course

Identify Functions Using Graphs

Learning Outcomes

  • Verify a function using the vertical line test
  • Verify a one-to-one function with the horizontal line test
  • Identify the graphs of the toolkit functions
As we have seen in examples above, we can represent a function using a graph. Graphs display many input-output pairs in a small space. The visual information they provide often makes relationships easier to understand. We typically construct graphs with the input values along the horizontal axis and the output values along the vertical axis. The most common graphs name the input value [latex]x[/latex] and the output value [latex]y[/latex], and we say [latex]y[/latex] is a function of [latex]x[/latex], or [latex]y=f\left(x\right)[/latex] when the function is named [latex]f[/latex]. The graph of the function is the set of all points [latex]\left(x,y\right)[/latex] in the plane that satisfies the equation [latex]y=f\left(x\right)[/latex]. If the function is defined for only a few input values, then the graph of the function is only a few points, where the x-coordinate of each point is an input value and the y-coordinate of each point is the corresponding output value. For example, the black dots on the graph in the graph below tell us that [latex]f\left(0\right)=2[/latex] and [latex]f\left(6\right)=1[/latex]. However, the set of all points [latex]\left(x,y\right)[/latex] satisfying [latex]y=f\left(x\right)[/latex] is a curve. The curve shown includes [latex]\left(0,2\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(6,1\right)[/latex] because the curve passes through those points. Graph of a polynomial. The vertical line test can be used to determine whether a graph represents a function. A vertical line includes all points with a particular [latex]x[/latex] value. The [latex]y[/latex] value of a point where a vertical line intersects a graph represents an output for that input [latex]x[/latex] value. If we can draw any vertical line that intersects a graph more than once, then the graph does not define a function because that [latex]x[/latex] value has more than one output. A function has only one output value for each input value. Three graphs visually showing what is and is not a function.

How To: Given a graph, use the vertical line test to determine if the graph represents a function.

  1. Inspect the graph to see if any vertical line drawn would intersect the curve more than once.
  2. If there is any such line, the graph does not represent a function.
  3. If no vertical line can intersect the curve more than once, the graph does represent a function.

Example: Applying the Vertical Line Test

Which of the graphs represent(s) a function [latex]y=f\left(x\right)?[/latex] Graph of a polynomial.

Answer: If any vertical line intersects a graph more than once, the relation represented by the graph is not a function. Notice that any vertical line would pass through only one point of the two graphs shown in parts (a) and (b) of the graph above. From this we can conclude that these two graphs represent functions. The third graph does not represent a function because, at most x-values, a vertical line would intersect the graph at more than one point. Graph of a circle.

https://youtu.be/5Z8DaZPJLKY

Try It

Does the graph below represent a function? Graph of absolute value function.

Answer: Yes.

[ohm_question]40676[/ohm_question]

try it

In the graph below, use the vertical line test to determine which relations are functions and which are not.

The Horizontal Line Test

relations, functions, and one-to-one functions

A relation is a set of ordered pairs, inputs and their corresponding outputs, [latex]\left(x, y\right)[/latex]. A function is a particular relation in which each input corresponds to exactly one output, [latex]\left(x, f(x)\right)[/latex]. A one-to-one function is a particular function in which each output corresponds to exactly one input.
Once we have determined that a graph defines a function, an easy way to determine if it is a one-to-one function is to use the horizontal line test. Draw horizontal lines through the graph. A horizontal line includes all points with a particular [latex]y[/latex] value. The [latex]x[/latex] value of a point where a vertical line intersects a function represents the input for that output [latex]y[/latex] value. If we can draw any horizontal line that intersects a graph more than once, then the graph does not represent a function because that [latex]y[/latex] value has more than one input.

How To: Given a graph of a function, use the horizontal line test to determine if the graph represents a one-to-one function.

  1. Inspect the graph to see if any horizontal line drawn would intersect the curve more than once.
  2. If there is any such line, the function is not one-to-one.
  3. If no horizontal line can intersect the curve more than once, the function is one-to-one.

Example: Applying the Horizontal Line Test

Consider the functions (a), and (b)shown in the graphs below. Graph of a polynomial. Are either of the functions one-to-one?

Answer: The function in (a) is not one-to-one. The horizontal line shown below intersects the graph of the function at two points (and we can even find horizontal lines that intersect it at three points.) The function in (b) is one-to-one. Any horizontal line will intersect a diagonal line at most once.

[embed]
https://youtu.be/tbSGdcSN8RE

Identifying Basic Toolkit Functions

toolkit functions

You should memorize the shapes of these graphs along with their names in words and in equation form. Be able to plot a few points of each to the left and right of the y-axis. You'll be using these function families throughout the rest of the course.
In this text we explore functions—the shapes of their graphs, their unique characteristics, their algebraic formulas, and how to solve problems with them. When learning to read, we start with the alphabet. When learning to do arithmetic, we start with numbers. When working with functions, it is similarly helpful to have a base set of building-block elements. We call these our "toolkit functions," which form a set of basic named functions for which we know the graph, formula, and special properties. Some of these functions are programmed to individual buttons on many calculators. For these definitions we will use [latex]x[/latex] as the input variable and [latex]y=f\left(x\right)[/latex] as the output variable. We will see these toolkit functions, combinations of toolkit functions, their graphs, and their transformations frequently throughout this book. It will be very helpful if we can recognize these toolkit functions and their features quickly by name, formula, graph, and basic table properties. The graphs and sample table values are included with each function shown below.
Toolkit Functions
Name Function Graph
Constant [latex]f\left(x\right)=c[/latex], where [latex]c[/latex] is a constant Graph of a constant function.
Identity [latex]f\left(x\right)=x[/latex] Graph of a straight line.
Absolute value [latex]f\left(x\right)=|x|[/latex] Graph of absolute function.
Quadratic [latex]f\left(x\right)={x}^{2}[/latex] Graph of a parabola.
Cubic [latex]f\left(x\right)={x}^{3}[/latex] Graph of f(x) = x^3.
Reciprocal/ Rational [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{1}{x}[/latex] Graph of f(x)=1/x.
Reciprocal / Rational squared [latex]f\left(x\right)=\frac{1}{{x}^{2}}[/latex] Graph of f(x)=1/x^2.
Square root [latex]f\left(x\right)=\sqrt{x}[/latex] Graph of f(x)=sqrt(x).
Cube root [latex]f\left(x\right)=\sqrt[3]{x}[/latex] Graph of f(x)=x^(1/3).
 

Try It

[ohm_question]111722[/ohm_question]

Try It

In this exercise, you will reference the nine toolkit functions presented above.
  1. Graph each toolkit function using function notation on an online graphing calculator.
  2. Make a table of values that references the function and includes at least the interval [-5,5].

Licenses & Attributions

CC licensed content, Original

  • Question ID 111715, 11722. Provided by: Lumen Learning License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: IMathAS Community License CC-BY + GPL.
  • Revision and Adaptation. Provided by: Lumen Learning License: CC BY: Attribution.
  • Vertical Line Test. Authored by: Lumen Learning. Located at: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/dcq8twow2q. License: CC BY: Attribution.

CC licensed content, Shared previously

  • College Algebra. Provided by: OpenStax Authored by: Abramson, Jay et al.. Located at: https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra/pages/1-introduction-to-prerequisites. License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected].
  • Question ID 40676. Authored by: Jenck, Michael. License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: IMathAS Community License CC-BY + GPL.