Input 1, 2, 3, 2, 1

Output 5, 10, 15 20, 24
Definition: A function is a rule that assigns EXACTLY ONE output to each possible input.

This table DOES NOT represent a function.

Change at least one number in the table so that it DOES represent a function.

Explain why you made each change.

double check your answers

1 answer

To ensure that the table represents a function, we need to ensure that each input corresponds to exactly one output. Here's the original input-output mapping:

Input: 1 → 5
Input: 2 → 10
Input: 3 → 15
Input: 2 → 20 (Input 2 mapped to two different outputs)
Input: 1 → 24 (Input 1 mapped to two different outputs)

Since both inputs '2' and '1' map to two different outputs, this violates the definition of a function.

To correct this, we can make the following changes:

  1. Change the output for one of the inputs that currently maps to multiple outputs.
  2. For example, we can change the second occurrence of the input '2' (which gives an output of '20') to a distinct output, such as '11'.

Here’s the new mapping:

  • Input: 1 → 5
  • Input: 2 → 10
  • Input: 3 → 15
  • Input: 2 → 11 (This mapping is now consistent with input '2' → 10)
  • Input: 1 → 24 (This mapping still violates the function definition giving a different output for the same input)

To resolve that, change the last occurrence of '1' output '24' to something else, say '6'.

Thus, the updated mappings would be:

Input: 1 → 5
Input: 2 → 10
Input: 3 → 15
Input: 2 → 11
Input: 1 → 6

If we change the conflicts appropriately and avoid them, one final correct mapping could look something like this:

  • Input: 1 → 5
  • Input: 2 → 10
  • Input: 3 → 15
  • Input: 4 → 20
  • Input: 5 → 24

Now, here's why the changes work:

  • Five distinct inputs (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) each have a unique output (5, 10, 15, 20, 24), fulfilling the definition of a function.
  • No input has more than one output, maintaining the rule of exactly one output per input.

The new mapping represents a valid function as every input links to precisely one unique output.