Chapter I



1. Dependence.

There are countless instances in which one quantity depends upon another. The speed of a body falling from rest depends upon the time it has fallen. One’s income from a given investment depends upon the amount invested and the rate of interest realized. The crops depend upon rainfall, soil fertility and proper cultivation. In mathematics we usually deal with quantities that are definitely and completely determined by certain others. Thus the area A of a square is determined precisely when the length s of its side is given: A=s2; the volume of a sphere is πr3/3; the force of attraction between two bodies is kmm/d2, where m and m are their masses, d. the distanceMathworldPlanetmath between them, and k a certain number given by experiment. The Calculus is the study of the relations between such interdependent quantities, with special reference to their rates of change.

2. VariablesMathworldPlanetmath. Constants. Functions. A quantity which may change is called a variable. The quantities mentioned in §1, except k and π, are examples of variables.

A quantity which has a fixed value is called a constant. Examples of constants are ordinary numbers: 1, 2,-7,2/3,π, 30o,log6, and the number k in §1.

If one variable y depends on another variable x, so that y is determined when x is known, y is said to be a function of x. The variable x, thus thought of as determining the other, is called the independent variable; the other variable y is called the dependent variable. Thus, in §1, the area A of a square is a function, A=ss, of the side s.

In AlgebraMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath we learn how to express such relations by means of equations.

In Analytic GeometryMathworldPlanetmath such relations are represented graphically. For example, if the principal at simple interest is a fixed sum p and if the interest rate r also is fixed, then the amount a, of principal and interest, varies solely with (is a function of) the time t that the principal has been at interest. In fact, if p =100 and r=6%,


This is represented graphically in Fig. 1. In practice fractional parts of a day are neglected.

The relation A=s2 of §1 is represented in Fig. 2.


Represent graphically the following: – 1. a=100+3t,a=300+4t,a=160+7t.

2. The number of feet f in terms of the number of yards y in a given length is given by the equation f=3y.

3. The temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, F, is 32 more than 9/5 the temperature in degrees Centigrade, C.

4. The distance s that a body falls from rest in a time t Is given by s=16t2. (Measure t horizontally and s vertically downward.)

5. (a)y=x2+3x+1. (b)y=2x2-6x.

(c) y=x+2. (d)y=1x+1

(e)y=x-1x+2. (f)y=x2+2x+3x-6.

6. The volume v of a fixed quantity of gas at a constant temperature varies inversely as the pressure p upon the gas.

7. The amount of $ 1.00 at compound interest at 10% per annum for t years i8 a=(1+1/10)t.

8. The area A of an equilateral triangleMathworldPlanetmath is a function of its side s. Determine this function, and represent the relation graphioally. Express the side in terms of the area.

9. Determine the area a of a circle in terms of its radius r. Determine the radius in terms of the area.

10. The radius, surface, and volume of a sphere are functionally related. Find the equations connecting each pair. Also express each of the three as a function of the circumferenceMathworldPlanetmath of a great circle of the sphere.

11. The area A bounded by the straight line y=ax+b, the ordinate y, and the axes, is a function of x. Determine it; and also express y as a function of the area.

3. The Function Notation. A very useful abbreviation for functions consists in writing f(x) (read f of x) in place of the given expression.

Thus if f(x)=x2+3x+1, we may write f(2)=22+32+1=11, that is, the value of x2+3x+1 when x=2 is 11. Likewise f(3)=19,f(-1)=-1,f(0)=1, and so on. f(a)=a2+3a+1. f(u+v)=(u+v)2+3(u+v)+1.

Other letters than f are often used, to avoid confusion, but f is used most often, because it is the initial of the word function. Other letters than x are often used for the variable. In any case, given f(x), to find f(a), simply substitute a for x in the given expression.


1. If f(x)=x2-6x+2 find f(1),f(2),f(3),f(4),f(0),f(-1), f(-2). From these values (and others, if needed) draw the graph of the curve y=f(x). Mark its lowest point, and estimate the values of x and y there.

2. Proceed as in Ex. 1 for each of the following functions using the function notation in calculating values; mark the highest and lowest points if any exist, and estimate the values of x and y at these points.

(a)d-2x+4. (b)3x2-2x+1. (c) x+12x-3. (d)1x+1+2x-1.

(e)y=sinx, taking x=π/6,π/4,π/2,3π/4,π,0,-π/2.

(f)y=log10x, taking x=1,2,10,1/10,1/100.

3. If f(x)=x4-6x3+3x2-2x+3, calculate f(1),f(4),f(6). Hence show that one solution of the equation f(x)=0 is x=1; and that another solution lies between 4 and 5.

(This work is simplified by using the theorem that f(a) is equal to the remainder obtained by dividing f(x) by (x-a); and by using synthetic division.)

4. If f(x)=2x2-3x+5, show that f(a)=2a2-3a+5, f(m+n)=2(m+n)2-3(m+n)+5; find f(a-b),f(a+2b),f(a/b).

5. If f(x)=x2+3 and ϕ(x)=3x+1, show that f(1)=ϕ(1) and f(2)=ϕ(2). Show that f(3)&gt;ϕ(3). Draw y=f(x) and y=ϕ(x).

6. In Ex. 5, draw the curve y=f(x)-ϕ(x). Mark the points where f(x)-ϕ(x)=0. Mark the lowest point.

7. If f(x)=-2x2+1 and ϕ(x)=x2+2x+4, find the value for which f(x)=ϕ(x) by use of f(x)-ϕ(x). Sketch all of the curves y=f(x),y=ϕ(x),y=f(x)-ϕ(x).

8. If f(x)=sinx and ϕ(x)=cosx, show that [f(x)]2+[ϕ(x)]2=1 ; f(x)÷ϕ(x)=tanx;f(x+y)=f(x)ϕ(y)+f(y)ϕ(x);ϕ(x+y)=?;f(x)=ϕ(π/2-x);ϕ(x)=f(π/2-x)=-ϕ(π-x);f(-x)=-f(+x);ϕ(-x)=ϕ(x).

9. If f(x)=log10x, show that


f(m/n)-f(n/m)=2f(m)-2f(n); f(m/n)+f(n/m)=0.

10. If f(x)=tanx,ϕ(x)=cosx, draw the curves y=f(x),y=ϕ(x), y=f(x)-ϕ(x). Mark the points where f(x)=ϕ(x) and estimate the values of x and y there.

11. Taking f(x)=x2, compare the graph of y=f(x) with that of y=f(x)+1, and with that of y=f(x+1).

12. Taking any two curves y=f(x),y=ϕ(x), how can you most easily draw y=f(x)-ϕ(x)?y=f(x)+ϕ(x) ? Draw y=x2+1/x.

13. How can you most easily draw y=f(x)+5 ? y=f(x+5) ? assuming that y=f(x) is drawn.

l4. Draw y=x2 and show how to deduce from it the graph of y=2x2; the graph of y=-x2.

Assuming that y=f(x) is drawn, show how to draw the graph of y=2f(x); that of y=-f(x).

15. From the graph of y=x2, show how to draw the graph of y=(2x)2; that of y=x2+2; that of y=(x+2)2; that of y=(2x-3)2.

16. What change is made in a curve if x, in the equation, is replaced by -x ? if y by -y ? if both things are done ? Compare the graphs of y=f(x),y=f(-x),-y=f(x);y=2f(x);y=f(x)+2.

17. What change is made in a curve if x is replaced by 2x,3x,x/2? Compare the graphs of y=f(x),y=f(2x),y=f(3x),y=f(x/2); y=f(x+2).

18. What Is the effect upon a curve if, In the equation, x and y are interchanged ? Compare the graphs of y=f(x),x=f(y).

19. Plot the following curves: (a)y+2=sin(3x+2),(b)y=x+sinx, (c) y=2l-sinx,(d)y=2xcosx,(e)3x+4y=4sin(4x-3y), (f) y=(cosx)/(2x+3), (g)siny=cos2x, (h)y=log2(x2+1).

20. In polar coordinates (r,θ), what change is made in a curve if, in the equation, θ is replaced by 2 θ, if r is replaced by 2r?

21. What change in θ is equivalent to a change in the sense of r.

22. From the graph of r=f(θ) derive those of (a) f=f(2θ), (b)r=2f(θ), (c)r=f(-θ), (d)r=-f(θ), (e)f+1=f(θ), (f)r=f(θ+1), (g)r+1=f(θ+2).

Take, for example, f(θ)=1,f(θ)=θ,f(θ)=sinθ,f(θ)=2θ,f(θ)=arctanθ, and draw the variations from the original graph.

23. Plot the following: (a)r=2+3cosθ, (b)r=3+2cosθ, (c)r=2+2cosθ, (d)r=2θ, (e)r2=aθ, (f)θ=2r, (g)θ2=ar, (h)θ=sinr, (i)θ=cosr, (j)θ=tanr, (k)r=sec(θ-a), (l)θ=secr.

24. Show how to obtain the graph of y=Asin(at+b) by suitable modification of the simple sine curve y=sint.

25. Draw the graphs from the following equations: (a)2s=et+e-t, (b)2s=et-e-t, (c) s=(et+e-l)/(el-e-l), (d)s=sint+sin2t, (e)s=sint+e-tsin2t. Take e=2.7, and use logarithms in computations.

Title Chapter I
Canonical name ChapterI
Date of creation 2014-08-03 22:49:42
Last modified on 2014-08-03 22:49:42
Owner PMBookProject (1000683)
Last modified by rspuzio (6075)
Numerical id 4
Author PMBookProject (6075)
Entry type Topic
Classification msc 26A06