Graph of a function

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For the more general concept of the graph of a relation, see relation. For another use of the term "graph" in mathematics, see graph theory. For a graph-theoretic representation of a function from a set to the same set, see functional graph.

In mathematics, the graph of a function f is the collection of all ordered pairs (x, f(x)). In particular, if x is a real number, graph means the graphical representation of this collection, in the form of a curve on a Cartesian plane, together with Cartesian axes, etc. Graphing on a Cartesian plane is sometimes referred to as curve sketching. If the function input x is an ordered pair (x1, x2) of real numbers, the graph is the collection of all ordered triples (x1, x2, f(x1, x2)), and its graphical representation is a surface (see three dimensional graph).

The graph of a function on real numbers is identical to the graphic representation of the function. For general functions, the graphic representation cannot be applied and the formal definition of the graph of a function suits the need of mathematical statements, e.g., the closed graph theorem in functional analysis.

The concept of the graph of a function is generalised to the graph of a relation. Note that although a function is always identified with its graph, they are not the same because it will happen that two functions with different codomain could have the same graph. For example, the cubic polynomial mentioned below is a surjection if its codomain is the real numbers but it is not if its codomain is the complex field.

Contents

Examples

Graph of the function f(x)={{x^3}-9x} \!\

Functions of one variable

The graph of the function

f(x)= \left\{\begin{matrix} a, & \mbox{if }x=1 \\ d, & \mbox{if }x=2 \\ c, & \mbox{if }x=3. \end{matrix}\right.

is

{(1,a), (2,d), (3,c)}.


The graph of the cubic polynomial on the real line

f(x)={{x^3}-9x} \!\

is

{(x, x3-9x) : x is a real number}.

If this set is plotted on a Cartesian plane, the result is a curve (see figure).

Graph of the function f(x, y) = sin(x2)·cos(y2).

Function of two variables

The graph of the trigonometric function on the real line

f(x, y) = sin(x2)·cos(y2)

is

{(x, y, sin(x2)·cos(y2)) : x is a real number}.

If this set is plotted on a three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, the result is a surface (see figure).

Tools for plotting function graphs

Hardware

Software

See List of graphing software

See also

External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Graphs
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Wikipedia content modification information:

  • This page was last modified on 3 January 2009, at 12:12.

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