Functions Test Topics

We’ll use the questions on the Functions Diagnostic Test to illustrate the
conventions of functions.

WHO’S AFRAID OF FUNCTIONS?

Lots of students are afraid of functions. But there’s nothing especially difficult
about them. They just look scary. Once you “get” the conventions, however,
you’ll never be afraid of functions again. Here’s a quick and painless review of
the basic things you need to know about functions.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF FUNCTIONS

There’s nothing inherently  difficult   about   functions.  There   aren't  a   lot

of  formulas    or  theorems    to  remember.   Getting comfortable with

functions   just    means   understanding   the symbolism   and conventions.

A function is a process that turns a number into another number. Squaring is
an example of a function. For any number you can think of, there is a unique
number that is its square. The conventional way of writing this function is