Chapter 4: Problem 13
In \(13-20\) : a. Graph each function. b. Is the function a direct variation? \(c\) . Is the function one-to-one? \(y=3 x\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The graph of \(y = 3x\) is a straight line through the origin. It is a direct variation and a one-to-one function.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Function Type
The function given is \( y = 3x \). This is a linear function where the coefficient of \(x\) is 3. A linear function can generally be written in the form \( y = mx + b \), where \( m \) is the slope, and \( b \) is the y-intercept. Here, \( m = 3 \) and \( b = 0 \).
02
Graph the Function
To graph the function \( y = 3x \), identify the slope \( m = 3 \). This means for every 1 unit increase in \( x \), \( y \) increases by 3 units. The y-intercept is at \( b = 0 \), so the graph passes through the origin (0,0). Plot points by choosing values for \( x \) (e.g., \( x = 1, 2, -1 \) ) and compute corresponding \( y \) values (e.g., \( y = 3 \times 1 = 3 \), \( y = 3 \times 2 = 6 \), \( y = 3 \times (-1) = -3 \)). Draw a straight line through these points.
03
Check for Direct Variation
A function is a direct variation if it can be expressed as \( y = kx \) where \( k \) is the constant of variation. Here, \( y = 3x \), which matches the direct variation form with \( k = 3 \). Therefore, this function is a direct variation.
04
Determine if the Function is One-to-One
A function is one-to-one if every \( y \) value has exactly one corresponding \( x \) value. For the function \( y = 3x \), each \( x \) produces a unique \( y \) because multiplying any input \( x \) by 3 will give a unique output. Therefore, the function is one-to-one.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Graphing Functions
Graphing linear functions is a fundamental skill in understanding algebra. It involves plotting points on a coordinate plane. For the function \( y = 3x \), the process of graphing involves understanding the slope and intercept:
- **Slope (\( m \)):** This is a measure of how steep the line is. For \( y = 3x \), the slope is 3, indicating that for every 1 unit increase in \( x \), \( y \) increases by 3 units.
- **Y-intercept (\( b \)):** This is the point where the line crosses the y-axis. In \( y = 3x \), the y-intercept is 0, meaning the line passes through the origin \((0,0)\).
- Start at the origin \((0,0)\), which is also the y-intercept.
- From the origin, move up 3 units (the rise) and 1 unit to the right (the run) to plot the next point \((1,3)\).
- Continue plotting more points, like \((2,6)\) and \((-1,-3)\), following the same rise/run pattern.
Direct Variation
Direct variation is a special type of linear function where the relationship between two variables can be described by the equation \( y = kx \). Here, \( k \) is the constant of variation, and it represents the rate at which \( y \) changes with respect to \( x \). In our given function \( y = 3x \):
- The equation matches the direct variation format \( y = kx \), with \( k = 3 \).
- This means as \( x \) increases or decreases, \( y \) does the same in direct proportion.
- Passing through the origin (\((0,0)\) point), because when \( x = 0 \), \( y \) must be 0. This is true for \( y = 3x \).
- The line will always have a constant slope, illustrated by the ratio \( \frac{y}{x} = k \).
One-to-One Functions
One-to-one functions, also known as injective functions, have the important property that each \( x \) value has a unique \( y \) output, and each \( y \) value is paired with exactly one \( x \) value. This characteristic is essential for functions that can be reversed (i.e., have an inverse function):
- To confirm if a function is one-to-one, use the **Horizontal Line Test**. If any horizontal line intersects the graph of the function at most once, the function is one-to-one.
- For our function \( y = 3x \), applying this test shows that each \( y \) value corresponds to one unique \( x \) value. Hence, it is one-to-one.
- This property implies that no two different \( x \) values produce the same \( y \) value.