MATH 115 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Difference Quotient, Inverse Function, Dependent And Independent Variables
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We use a function to represent the dependence of one quantity upon another. Ex: temperature of certain day of the year depends on time, position in car depends on time. Area of circle depends on the radius. (a= r2) Formally, a function is a rule which takes certain numbers as inputs and assigns to each a definite output number (each input has an output). The collection of possible inputs=domain possible outputs=range ex: domain for area of a circle as function of radius = any #>0 range is also any #>(cid:882) because it can"t be negative. Note: a function is not always given by a formula t f(t) Still a function because every input has an output. A function can have two types of domains: 1: discrete: can only take certain isolated values, such as dates. If its not an interval its discrete: continuous: can take on any number at any given interval.
