Section 5.2

Relations

 


What you should learn

To identify the domain, range, and inverse of a relation

To show relations as sets of ordered pairs, tables, mappings, and graphs.

NCTM Curriculm Standards 2, 3, 6-10

 

In doing this the teacher wants to make sure that the following words are incorporated into the introductory lesson:

Domain

Range

Mapping

Inverse

 

 

Introduction: To begin this lesson we will start with the following example. (CONNECTION: BIOLOGY)

 

There are 1.4 million classifid speccies of microorganisms, invertebrates, plants, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Recently, 930 species worldwide were listed as endangered. A species becomes endangered when its numbers are so low that the species is in danger of extinction.

 

 

In the United States, the manatee, an aquatic mammal, is considered to be endangered. In the table below, you will find the number of manatees that have been found dead since 1981.

 

Manatee Mortalit In Florida
 Year  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989
 Number of Manatees  116  114  81  128  119  122  114  133  168
 Year  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998
 Number of Manatees  206  174  163  145  193  201  415  242  231

 

The manatee data could be represented by a set of ordered pairs, as shown in the list below. Each first coordinate is the year, and the second coordinate is the number of manatees. Each ordered pair can then be graphed.

 

 

These points that were ploted above and in the chart, can be written as an ordered pair. For example the first one is (1981, 116). This can be done with all the points given.

(1982, 114)

(1983, 81)

(1984, 128)

(1985, 119)

(1986, 122)

(1987, 114)

(1988, 133)

(1989, 168)

(1990, 206)

(1991, 174)

(1992, 163)

(1993, 145)

(1994, 193)

(1995, 201)

(1996, 415)

(1997, 242)

(1998, 231)

 

Now remember that a relation is a set of ordered pairs, like the one shown above. The set of the first coordinates in the ordered pairs is called the domain. The domin usually contains the x-coordinates while the y-coordinates are usually contained with the range.

 

For the example above we can list the the domain and range as a set of values:

Domain = {1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998}

Range = {116, 114, 81, 128, 119, 122, 114, 133, 168, 206, 174, 163, 145, 193, 201, 415, 242, 231}

 

In addition to ordered pairs, tables, and graphs, a relation can be represented by a mapping. A mapping illustrates how each element of the domain is paired with an element in the range. For example, the relation {(3, 3), (-1, 4), (0, -4)} can be modeled in each of the following ways:

 ORDERED PAIR

 TABLE

 GRAPH

 MAPPING

 

(3, 3)

(-1, 4)

(0, -4)

 

 x

 y

 3

 3

 -1

 4

 0

 -4

 
 

 

 

 

 

Exercise 1: Represent the relation shown in the graph below as

A. A set of ordered pairs

B. A table

C. A mapping

D. Then determine the domain and range

 

 

 

Exercise 2: To protect endangered species, there is a limit to the number of animals that can be exported to other countries. The table below shows yearly quotas for the number of wild crocodiles that could be exported from Indonesia.

 

 Maximum Exportation of Crocodiles from Indonesia
Year   1986  1987 1988  1989   1990 1991  1992   1993 1994 
 Number of Crocodiles  2000  2000  4000 4000  3000   3000  2700 1500   1500

 

A. Determine the domain and range of the relation

B. Graph the data

C. What conclusions might you make from the graph of the data?

 

 

 

More Definitions: The inverse of any relation is obtained by switching the coordinates in each ordered pair.

Relation  Inverse 
(1, 4)  (4, 1) 
(-3, 2)  (2, -3) 
(7, -9)   (-9, 7)

Notice that the domain of the relation becomes the range of the inverse, and vice versa.

 

 

 

Exercise 3: Express the relation shown in the mapping as a set of ordered pairs. Write the inverse of the relation and draw a mapping to model the inverse.

 

 

 

Activity: Modeling Matematics: Relations and Inverses

MATERIALS: Graph paper, ruler, and colored pencils

STEP 1: Graph the relation {(4, 5), (-3, 6), (-5, -3), (4, -7), (5, 0), (0, -3)} on a coordinate plane using one color of pencil. Connect the points in order using the same color pencil.

STEP 2: Use a different color pencil to graph the inverse of the relation, connecting its points in order.

STEP 3: Fold the graph paper through the origin so that the positive y-axis lies on top of the positive x-axis. Hold the paper up to a light so that you can see all of the points you graphed.

 

Questions:

1. What do you notice about the location of the points you graphed when you looked at the folded paper?

2. Unfold the paper. Describe the pattern formed by the lines connecting the points in the relation and its inverse.

3. What do you think are the ordered pairs that represent the points on the folded line? Describe these in terms of x and y.

4. How could you graph the inverse of a function without writing the ordered pairs first?

 

 

 

Further Application: See page 269 in the student text. Working on the Investigation (Go Fish).

 

 

Closing Activity: Check for understanding by using this as a quick review before class is over. It should take about the last five to ten minutes. I would use it for my students as their 'ticket out the door'. Click Here.

 

 

 

Homework: The homework to be assigned for tonight would be: 17-41 odd, 42, 43, 45, 46-53

 

Alternative Homework: Enriched: 16-40 even, 42-53

 

Extra Practice: Students book page 767 Lesson 5-2

 

Extra Practice Worksheet: Click Here.

 

 


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