Caleb’s Blog

May 01

For this weeks math blog post I will be explaining how to use the vertical line test to find out if a x and y axis pattern is a function or a relation.

Our first step will be to have a x and y axis with a pattern on it in this case it will be continuous, because the vertical line test only works on a x and y axis

This is one of the simplest tests to find out if it is a function or not.

 

the next step is just to see if you can draw a vertical line, that intercepts our continuous pattern in more than 2 places.

as you can see where I drew the line, this means that it is NOT a function. when our vertical line intercepts in 2 places. this means it is a relation. If it where to be a continuous pattern that passed our vertical line test, it would have been a function.

as for discrete patterns, it is the same thing as continuous, if we can draw a line and it goes through two dots, then it is not a function, BUT NOTE: if the discrete patterns dots differentiate from each other because they are filled in or not filled in, it will change if it is a function or not. for example if a filled in dot was above a non filled dot, it would still not pass the vertical line test, but since one is colored in and one is not the vertical line test does not matter.

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