this gave me a good recap but how do shift a graph in function notation.

To shift a graph in the x direction, do the opposite of what you would do to the y direction and put it "inside" the parent function. For example, shifting a graph up by 3 is as simple as adding 3 to the value of every point, or adding a +3 in the equation. From y = x^2, we get y = x^2 + 3. To shift 3 to the right, you'd have to _subtract_ 3 instead of add 3, and put it inside the "function" instead of outside. If we wanted to shift y = 4x-5 to the right by 3, we would replace x with x-3, making it y = 4(x-3)-5, or y = 4x - 17. The same goes for multiplying and dividing to stretch or compress a function. To stretch vertically, multiply the parent function by a factor a. To stretch horizontally by the same factor, multiply just the x by the reciprocal, 1/a. If this seemed a bit confusing, just let me know and I can try to make it clearer in a comment.

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Function Notation | Lesson

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What is function notation, and how frequently does it appear on the test?

What is a function?

Khan Academy video wrapper

What is a function?See video transcript

A function takes an input and produces an output. In function notation, f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, f is the name of the function, x is the input variable, and f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis is the output.

For example, given f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, 2, x, plus, 1, the expression 2, x, plus, 1 works as instructions on what to do with the input x. In this case, the input x is multiplied by 2, then 1 is added to the product.

The input of a function can be a

, an

, or even

. Functions can also be

In this lesson, we'll learn to:

Evaluate functions algebraically
Determine inputs and outputs using tables
Evaluate

On your official SAT, you'll likely see 1 to 2 questions that test your understanding of function notation. However, function notation appears in many more questions, and you need a basic understanding how functions work for those questions as well!

You can learn anything. Let's do this!

How do I evaluate functions?

Evaluate a function given its formula

Khan Academy video wrapper

Worked example: Evaluating functions from equationSee video transcript

Evaluating functions algebraically and using tables

When we encounter an algebraic function, we can find the value of the function at specific inputs. For example, for f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, 2, x, plus, 1, we can calculate f, left parenthesis, 2, right parenthesis, the output of the function f when its input, x, is equal to 2.

[Show me more!]

What are the steps?

To evaluate a function at a specific input value:

Plug in the input value for the input variable wherever it appears.
Perform the operations specified by the function to calculate the ouput.

Example: If f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, cubed, minus, 9, what is the value of f, left parenthesis, minus, 2, right parenthesis ?

[Show me!]

With algebraic functions, we can evaluate the function using multiple inputs to create multiple input-output pairs. These input-output pairs can be put in a table, as shown below for f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, 2, x, plus, 1.

x	f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
0	1
1	3
2	5
3	7

Sometimes, a table of input-output pairs is provided without an algebraic function. Consider the table below.

x	g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
minus, 2	7
minus, 1	0
0	4
1	minus, 1

The table contains four input-output pairs. We can interpret the information in the table as:

g, left parenthesis, minus, 2, right parenthesis, equals, 7
g, left parenthesis, minus, 1, right parenthesis, equals, 0
g, left parenthesis, 0, right parenthesis, equals, 4
g, left parenthesis, 1, right parenthesis, equals, minus, 1

To evaluate a function using a table:

Find the input value you're looking for in the input column (typically the left column with a header of the input variable such as x).
Find the corresponding output value in the output column.

Example:

x	f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
0	3
1	2
3	5
4	3

Based on the table above, what is the value of f, left parenthesis, 3, right parenthesis ?

[Show me!]

Try it!

try: complete a table based on a function

f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared, minus, 3

Complete the table below.

x	f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
0	Your answer should be an integer, like 6 a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5 a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4 a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4 an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75 a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text
1	minus, 2
2	Your answer should be an integer, like 6 a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5 a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4 a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4 an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75 a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text
4	Your answer should be an integer, like 6 a simplified proper fraction, like 3, slash, 5 a simplified improper fraction, like 7, slash, 4 a mixed number, like 1, space, 3, slash, 4 an exact decimal, like 0, point, 75 a multiple of pi, like 12, space, start text, p, i, end text or 2, slash, 3, space, start text, p, i, end text

How do I evaluate composite functions?

Intro to function composition

Khan Academy video wrapper

Intro to composing functionsSee video transcript

Evaluating composite functions algebraically and using tables

A composite function uses the output of one function as the input of another. For example, for f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, right parenthesis:

x is the input to function g.
g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis is the input to function f.

As such, composite functions should be worked from the inside out. Order matters when evaluating composite functions: g, left parenthesis, f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, right parenthesis is not the same as f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, right parenthesis! For example, for f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared and g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, plus, 1, f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, 1, right parenthesis, right parenthesis, equals, 4, but g, left parenthesis, f, left parenthesis, 1, right parenthesis, right parenthesis, equals, 2.

[Show me more!]

To evaluate composite functions at a specific input value:

Plug in the input value for the input variable wherever it appears in the
.
Perform the operations specified by the inner function to calculate the output. This output becomes the input of the
.
Plug in the result of Step 2 for the input variable wherever it appears in the outer function.
Perform the operations specified by the outer function to calculate the final output.

Example: If f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, 2, x, plus, 1 and g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared, minus, 2, x, plus, 1, what is the value of f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, minus, 1, right parenthesis, right parenthesis ?

[Show me!]

Composite functions can also be evaluated using a table. The table can have an additional column for a total of three: one column for input and two columns for the outputs of two functions. Consider the table for f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared and g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, plus, 1:

x	f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis	g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
start color #7854ab, 1, end color #7854ab	1	start color #ca337c, 2, end color #ca337c
start color #ca337c, 2, end color #ca337c	start color #208170, 4, end color #208170	3
3	9	4
4	16	5

From the table, we can tell that g, left parenthesis, start color #7854ab, 1, end color #7854ab, right parenthesis, equals, start color #ca337c, 2, end color #ca337c, and f, left parenthesis, start color #ca337c, 2, end color #ca337c, right parenthesis, equals, start color #208170, 4, end color #208170. Therefore, f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, 1, right parenthesis, right parenthesis, equals, 4.

To evaluate composite functions at a specific input value given a table:

Find the output value for the inner function corresponding to the specific input value. This is also the input value of the outer function.
Find the output value for the outer function corresponding to the input of the result of Step 1.

Example:

x	f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis	g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
1	3	0
2	5	1
3	7	4
4	9	9
5	11	16

The table above provides the values of functions f and g at several values of x. What is the value of g, left parenthesis, f, left parenthesis, 2, right parenthesis, right parenthesis ?

[Show me!]

Try it!

try: evaluate composite functions using a table

x	p, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
0	1
1	2
2	3
3	5

The table above shows the value of function p at several values of x. Since p, left parenthesis, 2, right parenthesis, equals

and p, left parenthesis, 3, right parenthesis, equals

, the value of p, left parenthesis, p, left parenthesis, 2, right parenthesis, right parenthesis is

How do I compose functions?

Finding composite functions

Khan Academy video wrapper

Finding composite functionsSee video transcript

Inputting expressions instead of values into functions

In addition to inputting a specific value, we can also input one function into another function, which creates a composite function defined by a single expression.

For example, for f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared and g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, plus, 1, f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, right parenthesis replaces each instance of x in f with g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, which is equal to x, plus, 1: f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, right parenthesis, equals, left parenthesis, x, plus, 1, right parenthesis, squared. Inputting an expression into a function, e.g., f, left parenthesis, x, plus, 1, right parenthesis, comma works similarly.

A function can also be defined in terms of another function. For example, for f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared and g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, plus, 1, we can replace the f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis in function g with x, squared: g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared, plus, 1.

If you find yourself struggling to rewrite complex functions, you might want to brush up on the Operations with polynomials and Operations with rational expressions skills, which have their own lessons.

To compose two functions:

Plug in the expression that defines the inner function wherever the input variable appears in the outer function.
Perform the operations specified by the outer function. Combine like terms as needed.

Let's look at some examples!

If f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, minus, 1 and g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared, plus, 1, what is f, left parenthesis, g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, right parenthesis ?

[Show me!]

If g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared, plus, 1, what is g, left parenthesis, x, minus, 1, right parenthesis ?

[Show me!]

Try it!

try: identify equivalent function composition

\begin{aligned} f(x) &=x^2+3x+7 \\\\ g(x) &=x^3 \end{aligned}

The functions f and g are shown above. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to g, left parenthesis, f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, right parenthesis ?

(Choice A)
left parenthesis, x, squared, right parenthesis, cubed, plus, 3, x, plus, 7
(Choice B)
left parenthesis, x, squared, plus, 3, x, plus, 7, right parenthesis, cubed
(Choice C)
left parenthesis, x, cubed, right parenthesis, squared, plus, 3, x, cubed, plus, 7
(Choice D)
left parenthesis, x, cubed, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, squared, plus, 3, x, plus, 7, right parenthesis

try: Draw conclusions about the features of two related functions

\begin{aligned} f(x)&=-x^2+10 \\\\ g(x)&=f(x)-7 \end{aligned}

The functions f and g are shown above. For the same value of x, the value of g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis is always

the value of f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis.

Therefore, if the maximum value of the function f is 10, then the maximum value of function g is

Your turn!

TRY: evaluating a function at integer values

p, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, start fraction, 2, divided by, x, end fraction

The function p is defined above. What is the value of p, left parenthesis, 2, right parenthesis, plus, p, left parenthesis, 5, right parenthesis ?

TRY: evaluating composite function

If f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, 3, x, plus, 5 and g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared, minus, 4, what is the value of g, left parenthesis, f, left parenthesis, 1, right parenthesis, right parenthesis ?

TRY: evaluating composite function using table of values

x	h, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
minus, 3	7
minus, 2	4
1	0
3	minus, 3
4	3

The table above shows the value of the function h at certain values of x. What is the value of h, left parenthesis, h, left parenthesis, 3, right parenthesis, right parenthesis ?

TRY: composing two functions

If f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis, equals, x, squared, minus, 2, x, minus, 5, which of the following is equivalent to f, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis ?

(Choice A)
x, squared, minus, 2, x, minus, 2
(Choice B)
x, squared, plus, 4, x, minus, 2
(Choice C)
x, squared, plus, 4, x, plus, 4
(Choice D)
x, squared, plus, 6, x, plus, 9

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Sort by:

okosunfrances7
Posted a year ago. Direct link to okosunfrances7's post “this gave me a good recap...”
this gave me a good recap but how do shift a graph in function notation.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(6 votes)
Answer
- Hecretary Bird
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to Hecretary Bird's post “To shift a graph in the x...”
  To shift a graph in the x direction, do the opposite of what you would do to the y direction and put it "inside" the parent function. For example, shifting a graph up by 3 is as simple as adding 3 to the value of every point, or adding a +3 in the equation. From y = x^2, we get y = x^2 + 3.
  To shift 3 to the right, you'd have to subtract 3 instead of add 3, and put it inside the "function" instead of outside.
  If we wanted to shift y = 4x-5 to the right by 3, we would replace x with x-3, making it y = 4(x-3)-5, or y = 4x - 17.
  
  The same goes for multiplying and dividing to stretch or compress a function. To stretch vertically, multiply the parent function by a factor a. To stretch horizontally by the same factor, multiply just the x by the reciprocal, 1/a.
  If this seemed a bit confusing, just let me know and I can try to make it clearer in a comment.
  Comment on Hecretary Bird's post “To shift a graph in the x...”
  (6 votes)
Marian Oxford
Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to Marian Oxford's post “Can anyone explain how to...”
Can anyone explain how to find a certain function value on a graph? For example, a problem depicts the graphs of y=f(x) and y=g(x) together, and asks for the approximate value of f(g(2)). Graphs and plotted points are not my forte; how would I go about solving this problem? I understand basically how functions work... I just have a hard time seeing how they work with graphs. Thanks.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(3 votes)
Answer
- Hecretary Bird
  Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to Hecretary Bird's post “Try thinking of the funct...”
  Try thinking of the functions as pairs of inputs and outputs. You can then translate that onto a graph. f(x) transforms whatever the "x" is into an output. Even if the "x" is another function, such as (g(2)).
  To solve that problem, you'd have to find g(2), which is the y-value of x=2 on the graph of g. This, g(2), is your input for f. You would use that to find the y-coordinate that matches that x-value.
  Comment on Hecretary Bird's post “Try thinking of the funct...”
  (1 vote)
shirlymac
Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to shirlymac's post “If j(x)=2x-1 and q(x)=j(x...”
If j(x)=2x-1 and q(x)=j(x)+4 simplify r(x)=j(x+4)
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(1 vote)
Answer
- ----God'sKyle----
  Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to ----God'sKyle----'s post “If j(x) = 2x-1 and q(x)= ...”
  If j(x) = 2x-1
  and q(x)= j(x)+4
  
  then q(x)= (2x-1)+4
  = 2x+3
  
  Now lets Simplify r(x)=j(x+4);
  
  We know that j(x) = 2x-1
  Then, j(x+4)= 2(x+4)-1
  =2x+8-1
  =2x+7
  
  Therefore, Since j(x+4) = 2x+7
  and r(x) = j(x+4)
  
  Then, r(x)=2x+7
  Button navigates to signup page
  (1 vote)

SAT

Course: SAT > Unit 6

What is function notation, and how frequently does it appear on the test?

What is a function?

How do I evaluate functions?

Evaluate a function given its formula

Evaluating functions algebraically and using tables

What are the steps?

Try it!

How do I evaluate composite functions?

Intro to function composition

Evaluating composite functions algebraically and using tables

Try it!

How do I compose functions?

Finding composite functions

Inputting expressions instead of values into functions

Let's look at some examples!

Try it!

Your turn!

Want to join the conversation?