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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » Functions in Mathematics

Functions in Mathematics

Functions, a core part of mathematics, were first defined by the German mathematician. Learn about functions, formulas and related questions in this study material.

Table of Content
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In mathematics, functions are used to show a specific relationship between an element of one non-empty set and another non-empty set – where the assignment of an element of B to each element of the function A from set A to set B, where set A is the domain of the function and set B is the codomain of the function, where these functions are commonly named f and are represented by letters like g, h, and so on. 

f also expresses the value of the function f on the domain element a. (a). Furthermore, the graph of the function, a function used in mathematics to create calculus, is the set of all pairings (a, f(xa)) that uniquely represents a function.

What are functions?

The function is simply a particular relation in which each element of set A must be mapped to one and only one element of set B. 

The most crucial feature here is that neither set A nor set B’s elements can be empty, a function indicating the relationship between a specific output and a specific input, where f: A B is a function such that an is a function of A. For b b, there will be a single element, indicating that (a, b) denotes the relation of f.

f : (a, b)  or f : a → b or y = f(b)

Which means ‘f is an a to b  function’ or ‘f maps a to b.’

When an element an a is linked to an element b B, b is referred to as the ‘Image of an under f’, the f image of a’, or ‘the value of the function at a’. Under the function, an is also known as the preimage of b or the argument of b.

Condition

If the relation of the set x to the set y is shown, then it is called a function, where certain conditions must be satisfied:

  • All elements of x must be appropriately mapped to elements of y, and x must not contain any unmapped elements, such as x, (x, f(x)) f, where x is an element of the set X.

  • For this condition to be (x, y) f, the elements of the set x must be uniquely mapped to the elements of the set y.

All the elements of the set A are called the domains of the function f, which are called its inputs, while all the elements of the set y are called co. 

For a function from the set x to the set y, f(x, y), all the elements of the set A are called the domains of the function f, which are called its inputs. 

The possible output of a function f is referred to as its domain. Ranges are the real outputs of the function f, which are basically a set or collection of all other elements from an ordered pair (x, y) (x, y).

Domain of f = {x|x X, (x, f(x)) f}

Range of f = {f(x)|x X, f (x) Y, (x, f(x)) f}

Example 

If we want to plot  y = x3

All of the straight lines parallel to the y-axis cut y = x3 only once.

Y = x3

1

8

9

16

X

1

2

3

4

Classifications

Some types of functions are:

Polynomial functions

If n is either 0 or a positive integer (but not a negative integer), and a, an-1,…, a, a0. are real integers, and a 0 is not to the degree n, then f is a polynomial function of degree n.

f(x) = anxn +  an-1xn-1+ …… + ax +a0

Algebraic functions

An algebraic function f is defined as one that involves purely algebraic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and taking roots.

f(x) = X2 + 1

Exponential functions

A function of the type f(x) = x = exln(a) (a >0, a<1, x∊R) is known as an exponential function. Because the variable x is in the exponent, f(x) = x is an exponential function. It is not to be mistaken with the power function g(x) = x2, in which x is the base variable. Range is R+ for f(x) = ex domain in R.

Identity functions

The Identity of A is indicated by IA and is defined as f: A B defined by f(x) = x, x A. The entire real range, that is, R, is the domain and range of the identity function.

One-to-one functions

A one-to-one function is also known as an injection function, and it is represented by the symbol f: A B. If each element in set A is related with a different element in set B, then each domain element describes a different image or co-domain element for the given function.

Many-to-one functions

The function f: A B can be used to define a many-to-one function, in which more than one element in the set A belongs to the same element in the set B, and more than one element has the same co-domain.

Onto functions

Each element in the codomain normally represents a domain element in the onto function. Each element of the set B must describe a preimage in the set A, and f is a function defined by A B.

Conclusion

A function here defines a process or relationship between an element of one non-empty set and an element of another non-empty set, which is important to remember. 

A non-empty set function must also be a relation of every element ‘A’ of the set A. A non-empty set must also have at least one ‘b’ element from another non-empty set b.

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

What are the four different kinds of functions?

Ans : There are four categories of functions that can be roughly classified. Using the Element: One...Read full

What is the function's significance?

Ans : Functions are key instruments in developing mathematical models, and we continuously think ab...Read full

What are the two primary types of function classification?

Ans : Rational and root functions are two types of algebraic functions. Rational functions are func...Read full

Ans : There are four categories of functions that can be roughly classified. Using the Element: One-to-one function, many-to-one function, onto function, one-to-one and onto function, into function are all examples of one-to-one functions.

Ans : Functions are key instruments in developing mathematical models, and we continuously think about the connection between variables in nature and society. Functions are significant in school mathematics because they usually contain numerical inputs and outputs, and are often defined by algebraic expressions.

Ans : Rational and root functions are two types of algebraic functions. Rational functions are functions that are rational. A power function of the form f(x)=x1/n, where n is a positive integer bigger than one, is known as a root function.

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