# Precalculus : Determine if a Relation is a Function

## Example Questions

### Example Question #1 : Determine If A Relation Is A Function

Which of the following expressions is not a function?

Explanation:

Recall that an expression is only a function if it passes the vertical line test. Test this by graphing each function and looking for one which fails the vertical line test. (The vertical line test consists of drawing a vertical line through the graph of an expression. If the vertical line crosses the graph of the expression more than once, the expression is not a function.)

Functions can only have one y value for every x value. The only choice that reflects this is:

### Example Question #1 : Determine If A Relation Is A Function

Suppose we have the relation  on the set of real numbers  whenever . Which of the following is true.

The relation is a function because  holds and  also holds.

The relation is a function because for every , there is only one  such that  holds.

The relation is not a function because  and  both hold.

The relation is a function because every relation is a function, since that's how relations are defined.

The relation is not a function because  holds but  does not.

The relation is not a function because  and  both hold.

Explanation:

The relation is not a function because  and  hold. If it were a function,  would hold only for one . But we know it holds for  because  and . Thus, the relation  on the set of real numbers  is not a function.

### Example Question #3 : Determine If A Relation Is A Function

Consider a family consisting of a two parents, Juan and Oksana, and their daughters Adriana and Laksmi. A relation  is true whenever  is the child of . Which of the following is not true?

(Adriana,Laksmi) does not hold because Laksmi is not Adriana's child and is a boy.

If the two parents had only one daughter, the relation would be a function.

The relation is not a function because (Laksmi,Juan) and (Laksmi,Oksana) both hold.

Even if the two parents had only one daughter, the relation would not be a function.

Even if the two parents had only one daughter, the relation would not be a function.

Explanation:

The statement

"Even if the two parents had only one daughter, the relation would not be a function."

is not true because if they had only one daughter, say Adriana, then the only relations that would exist would be (Juan, Adriana) and (Oksana,Adriana), which defines a function.

### Example Question #61 : Relations And Functions

Which of the following relations is not a function?

Explanation:

The definition of a function requires that for each input (i.e. each value of ), there is only one output (i.e. one value of ). For , each value of  corresponds to two values of  (for example, when , both  and  are correct solutions). Therefore, this relation cannot be a function.

### Example Question #5 : Determine If A Relation Is A Function

Given the set of ordered pairs, determine if the relation is a function

Cannot be determined

Yes

No

No

Explanation:

A relation is a function if no single x-value corresponds to more than one y-value.

Because the mapping from  goes to  and

the relation is NOT a function.

### Example Question #1 : Determine If A Relation Is A Function

What equation is perpendicular to  and passes throgh ?

Explanation:

First find the reciprocal of the slope of the given function.

The perpendicular function is:

Now we must find the constant, , by using the given point that the perpendicular crosses.

solve for :

### Example Question #1 : Determine If A Relation Is A Function

Is the following relation of ordered pairs a function?

Yes

No

Cannot be determined