Algebra 17 - Vertical Line Test

Professor Von Schmohawk introduces the concept of functions, focusing on real-valued functions of a real variable. The lecture covers the independent and dependent variables, domain, and range. It explains how functions are graphically represented on the Cartesian plane and introduces the vertical line test to determine if a graph represents a function. The lecture also distinguishes between functions and binary relations, emphasizing that functions map each domain value to a single range value. The session concludes with a preview of the next lecture on functions with multiple input variables.

What is the significance of the Cartesian plane in the context of functions?

What happens to the representation of a function if a graph fails the vertical line test?

How can a curve that does not represent a function be modified to represent one?