Question

Which of the following relations are also functions? Explain. $$y=\sqrt{2 x}$$

Short answer

The relation \(y=\sqrt{2x}\) is a function because it assigns exactly one output (y-value) for each input within its domain (\(x \geq 0\)).

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the concept of a function

A relation is a function if for every input value (x), there is one and only one output value (y). This means that for each x in the domain of the function, there must be a single corresponding y value.

Analyzing the given relation for functionality

To determine if the given relation \(y=\sqrt{2x}\) is a function, we need to check if each x-value corresponds to exactly one y-value. The square root function produces a single positive result for every non-negative input. Since the square root is defined for non-negative input values and produces a unique output for each input, the relation qualifies as a function.

Checking the domain of the relation

The domain of the function \(y=\sqrt{2x}\) is all non-negative real numbers (\(x \geq 0\)), because the square root of a negative number is not defined in the set of real numbers. Therefore, within its domain, the relation is indeed a function.

Key concepts

Function Definition

A function is a fundamental concept in mathematics that pairs each element in a domain with exactly one element in the codomain. To illustrate, imagine having a machine into which you insert a coin (input), and the machine dispenses a particular type of candy (output). This machine can be thought of as a function if each type of coin consistently results in the same candy, and no coin can lead to two different types of candy. Similarly, in mathematical functions, for any given input (or 'x' value), there is one and only one output (or 'y' value). This one-to-one relationship is what differentiates functions from general relations, where an input could give multiple outputs.

When identifying if a relation is a function, like for the relation \(y = \text{sqrt}{2x}\), it is crucial to confirm that each x-value within the domain leads to exactly one y-value. If it does, the relation is indeed a function, which ties back to our candy machine analogy—each coin gives one and only one type of candy.

Domain of a Function

The domain of a function encompasses all the possible input values that the function can accept to produce real, defined outputs. Think of it as the set of 'x' values for which the function does not hit a snag like division by zero or taking the square root of a negative number (in the realm of real numbers).

More formally, if you are considering the function \(f(x)\), the domain is the complete set of 'x' values for which \(f(x)\) is defined. When examining the domain of a relation such as \(y = \text{sqrt}{2x}\), we're looking for the x-values that won't cause issues when we plug them into the square root function. Since square roots are defined for non-negative numbers, the domain of \(y = \text{sqrt}{2x}\) is all non-negative real numbers, that is, all 'x' greater than or equal to zero (\(x \geq 0\))

Square Root Function

The square root function, symbolized as \( f(x) = \text{sqrt}{x} \), is a special type of function in mathematics where the output is a number that, when multiplied by itself, equals the input number. In simpler terms, if the input is 9, the output is 3 because 3 times 3 equals 9. An essential characteristic of the square root function is that it is defined only for non-negative inputs in the set of real numbers.

When looking at \( y = \text{sqrt}{2x} \), it's a modified version of the square root function where the input is doubled before taking the square root. As in the definition of a function, every 'x' value has exactly one corresponding 'y' value, even with this modification. It's key to remember, the square root function will always yield one result for any non-negative input, establishing consistency and predictability, which is crucial for the definition of a function.