THE SIMPLEST ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS

Compiled by Schmidt Edit, buda University

POWER FUNCTIONS
f ( x) = x , R fixed
1. is a positive even integer (e.g. f ( x) = x 2 , x 4 ... )
(Figure 1)
Properties: D = R, R = R + {0} = [0, ) . Bounded from below.
Strictly decreasing on ( , 0] , strictly increasing on [0, ) . Concvex.
Having a local and global minimum and a zero at x0 = 0 with the value f ( x0 ) = 0 .
lim f ( x) = + .

2. is a positive odd integer (e.g. f ( x) = x, x 3 , x 5 ... )

(Figure 2)
Properties: D = R = R .
The graph is the identity function (an increasing line with y intercept 0 and slope 1) in the
case of = 1.
Otherwise strictly increasing. Concave on ( , 0] , convex on [0, ) .
Having an inflection and a zero at x0 = 0 with the value f ( x0 ) = 0 .
lim f ( x) = , lim f ( x) = +

Figure 1

Figure 2

1 1
,
,... )
(Figure 3)
x2 x4
Properties: D = R {0} = ( , 0 ) (0, ), R = R + = (0, ) . Bounded from below.
Strictly increasing on ( , 0) , strictly decreasing on (0, ) .
Convex both on ( , 0) and on (0, ) . Having no intersection with the axes.
3. is a negative even integer (e.g. f ( x) =

lim f ( x) = 0 + , lim
f ( x) = lim
f ( x) = + .
+

1 1
,
,... )
x x3
Properties: D = R = R {0} = ( , 0) (0, ) .
Strictly decreasing both on ( , 0) and on (0, ) .
Concave on ( , 0) , convex on (0, ) . Having no intersection with the axes.
4. is a negative odd integer (e.g. f ( x) =

(Figure 4)

lim f ( x) = 0 , lim f ( x) = 0 + , lim

f ( x) = , lim
f ( x) = + .

Figure 3

Figure 4

5. = 0 ( f ( x) = 1 )
Properties: D = R, R = {1}. Bounded.
The graph is a line, parallel to the x-axis.
lim f ( x) = 1 .

(Figure 5)

6. is not an integer
The domain, the graph and the characterization depends on .
1
2

For example let us see f ( x) = x = x .

(Figure 6)
Properties: D = R = [0, ) . Bounded from below.
Strictly increasing. Concave down.
Having a global minimum and a zero at x0 = 0 with the value f ( x0 ) = 0 .

lim f ( x) = + .
+

Figure 5

Figure 6

EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
f ( x) = a x , a R fixed, a > 0, a 1

1. a > 1 (e.g. f ( x) = 2 x , e x )

Properties: D = R , R = R + = (0, ) . Bounded from below.

Strictly increasing. Convex. Having no zero. Intersects the y-axis at y 0 = 1 .

(Figure 7)

lim f ( x) = 0 + , lim f ( x) = + .

1
1
2. 0 < a < 1 (pl. f ( x) = = 2 x , = e x )
2
e
+
Properties: D = R , R = R = (0, ) . Bounded from below.
Strictly decreasing. Convex. Having no zero. Intersects the y-axis at y 0 = 1 .

(Figure 8)

lim f ( x) = +, lim f ( x) = 0 + .

Figure 7

Figure 8

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

f ( x) = log a x, a R fixed, a > 0, a 1

1. a > 1 (e.g. f ( x) = log 2 x, log e x = ln x, log10 x = lg x )

(Figure 9)

Properties: D = R = (0, ), R = R .
Strictly increasing. Concave. Having a zero at x0 = 1 .
+

lim
f ( x) = , lim f ( x) = + .
+
0

2. a < 1 (e.g. f ( x) = log 1 x, log 1 x )

2

Properties: D = R + = (0, ), R = R .
Strictly decreasing. Convex. Having a zero at x0 = 1 .

lim
f ( x) = +, lim f ( x) = .
+
0

(Figure 10)

Figure 9

Figure 10

TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
1. f ( x) = sin x
(Figure 11)
Properties: D = R, R = [ 1;1] . Bounded.
Periodic, with period 2 . Characterization on [0, 2 ) :

3
3

Strictly increasing on 0, , strictly decreasing on , , strictly increasing on , 2 .

2
2 2
2

Concave on [0, ) , convex on [, 2 ) .

Having a local and global maximum at x0 = with the value f ( x0 ) = 1 . Having a local and
2
3
global minimum at x0 =
, with the value f ( x0 ) = 1 .
2
Having an inflection and a zero at x1 = 0 and at x 2 = .
Having no lim f ( x) .

2. f ( x) = cos x
(Figure 12)
Properties: D = R, R = [ 1;1] . Bounded.
Periodic, with period 2 . Characterization on [0, 2 ) .
Strictly decreasing on [0, ) , Strictly increasing on [, 2 ) .

3
3

Concave on 0, , convex on , , concave on , 2 .

2
2 2
2

Having a local and global maximum at x0 = 0 ,with the value f ( x0 ) = 1 . Having a local and

global minimum at x0 = , with the value f ( x0 ) = 1 .

3
Having an inflection and a zero at x1 = and at x 2 =
.
2
2
Having no lim f ( x) .

Figure 11

3.

Figure 12

f ( x) = tan x

(Figure 13)

Properties: D = R \ + k where k Z, R = R .
2

Periodic, with period . Characterization on , :
2 2


Strictly increasing. Concave on , 0 , convex on 0, .
2
2
Having an inflection and a zero at x0 = 0 .
lim+ f ( x) = , lim
f ( x) = + , but having no lim f ( x) .

4.

f ( x) = cot x

(Figure 14)

Properties: D = R \ + k where k Z, R = R .
2

Periodic, with period . Characterization on (0, ) :

Strictly decreasing. Convex on 0, , concave on , .
2
2

Having an inflection and a zero at x0 = .

2
lim
f ( x) = +, lim
f ( x) = , but having no lim f ( x) .
+

Figure 13

Figure 14