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Functions

Functions as rules assigning exactly one output to each input: function notation, domain and range, composition, and the one-to-one condition under which an inverse exists.

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12

lessons

108

practice questions

13

prerequisite lessons

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Lesson 01 · What is a function

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Straight line: y=x1 Function

Every vertical line crosses a non-vertical straight line exactly once. This graph represents a function.

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The 12 lessons

The 12 lessons in this unit. Expand any one to see what it covers. Each unlocks when its own prerequisites are passed.

01

What is a function

Preview

8 questions

Learn the definition of a function as a mapping f:ABf: A \to B that assigns each element of the domain exactly one element of the codomain, and how to identify functions from tables and graphs using the vertical line test.

Covers

Input-output relationship

Functions from graphs

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02

Function notation

12 questions

Learn the f(x)f(x) notation for writing and reading functions, interpret expressions like f(3)f(3) and f(a)f(a) as specific outputs, and use different letters such as ff, gg, and hh to distinguish between multiple functions.

Covers

Reading and writing f(x)f(x) notation

Interpreting f(a)f(a)

Alternative function notations

03

Evaluating functions

12 questions

Learn how to evaluate a function at a specific number or algebraic expression by substituting into the function rule, and how to find the input that produces a given output.

Covers

Evaluating a function at a number

Evaluating a function at an expression

Finding inputs from outputs

04

Domain of a function

12 questions

Learn how to identify the domain of a function by finding values that cause division by zero or square roots of negatives, and express the domain using interval notation.

Covers

Domain as valid inputs

Domain from a formula

Expressing domain in interval notation

05

Range of a function

4 questions

Learn what the range of a function is and how it differs from the codomain.

Covers

Range as set of outputs

06

Composition of functions

12 questions

Learn how to compose two functions using the notation fgf \circ g, evaluate compositions at specific inputs, and determine when a composition is defined by checking that the output of the inner function lies in the domain of the outer function.

Covers

Composition notation and definition

Evaluating compositions at a value

Domain of a composition

07

Inverse functions

8 questions

Understand what an inverse function is, how the domain and range swap, and how to verify an inverse using composition.

Covers

Input output reversal

Definition via composition

08

Finding inverse functions

8 questions

Learn how to find inverse functions algebraically by swapping and solving, apply the procedure to linear functions, and understand why the graph of an inverse is a reflection across the line y=xy = x.

Covers

Inverses of linear functions

Graph of an inverse

09

One to one functions

8 questions

Learn what it means for a function to be one-to-one, identify one-to-one functions using the definition or counterexamples, and apply the horizontal line test to determine whether a function is one-to-one from its graph.

Covers

What is a one to one function

The horizontal line test

10

Invertible functions

8 questions

Learn why a function must be one-to-one to have an inverse, use the horizontal line test to determine invertibility, and make non-invertible functions invertible by restricting their domains.

Covers

The invertibility condition

Restricting domains

11

Even and odd functions

8 questions

Learn how to classify a function as even, odd, or neither using the algebraic test f(x)=±f(x)f(-x) = \pm f(x), and read the same parity off a graph by recognising yy-axis or origin symmetry.

Covers

The algebraic test for parity

Graphical symmetry of even and odd functions

12

Piecewise functions

8 questions

Learn how to read and evaluate piecewise function definitions by applying the rule whose condition matches the input, and sketch piecewise graphs using closed and open dots to mark whether each endpoint is included.

Covers

Reading and evaluating piecewise definitions

Graphing piecewise functions

Where this unit sits in the curriculum

This unit is part of our Mathematical Foundations for ML learning path, which contains 83 lessons. Every one of them is drawn below.

The diagnostic test lets you skip any lesson you already know, including the ones in this unit.

Every dot is a lesson and every line a prerequisite. The 12 red dots are the lessons in Functions; the 13 blue dots feeding into them are the lessons Functions depends on; the 58 pale dots are the rest of the learning path, which come after Functions or alongside it.FunctionsFirst lessons on the left83 lessons

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12 lessons in this unit

13 prerequisite lessons across the unit, counting every step back to the start

58 other lessons in the learning path - after this unit, or alongside it

Every dot is a lesson, every line a prerequisite. You can only start a lesson once you have mastered all of its prerequisites, so you are always building on solid foundations.

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More in Mathematical foundations: Inequalities and absolute value, Quadratic equations, Set operations, Exponents and roots, Summation, product, and indexed notation, Logic, Exponentials and logarithms, Trigonometry