Functions can be expressed in several forms. Here are two common forms:
-
Algebraic Form: This includes equations like the one you provided, such as \( f(x) = 3x + 1 \). This form represents the function using algebraic expressions.
-
Graphical Form: This represents the function visually, typically as a graph on a coordinate plane. For the function \( f(x) = 3x + 1 \), the graph would be a straight line with a slope of 3 and a y-intercept of 1.
Other forms include:
-
Tabular Form: A table showing input values (x) and corresponding output values (f(x)).
-
Set-builder Form: This specifies a function as a set of ordered pairs, typically in the form \( {(x, f(x)) | x \in D} \), where \( D \) is the domain of the function.
Each form serves a different purpose depending on the context in which the function needs to be analyzed or utilized.