Look at this table:

x y
15 –17
2 –17
20 0

Is this relation a function?

1 answer

To determine whether the relation represented in the table is a function, we need to see if each input value (x value) corresponds to exactly one output value (y value).

Looking at the table:

x   |  y
---------
15  | -17
2   | -17
20  |  0
  • The x value of 15 corresponds to y = -17.
  • The x value of 2 also corresponds to y = -17.
  • The x value of 20 corresponds to y = 0.

In this table, each x value (15, 2, and 20) is unique, meaning that no x value is repeated. Each x value has a defined and unique y value (even though -17 appears for two different x values, it does not violate the definition of a function because the same output can result from different inputs).

Since no x value maps to more than one y value, this relation is indeed a function.