Function notation terminology

Question

Given the function $f:X\longrightarrow Y$, $X$ is called the domain while $Y$ is called the codomain. But what do you call $f(x)=x^2$ in this context, where $x\in X$? That is to say - what is the name for the $f(x)$ notation?

And while I'm here, what is the proper way to write a function like this? Would it be $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R},\;f(x)=x^2$?

Edit:

I figured I'd add this to add a bit of context into why I'm asking. I'm writing a set of notes in LaTeX, and I'd like to use the correct terminology for the definition of a function.

A function from set $A$ to set $B$, denoted by $$f:A\to B;x\mapsto f(x)$$ is a mapping of elements from set $A$, (the $\textit{domain}$) to elements in set $B$ (the $\textit{codomain}$) using the $\color{blue}{\sf function}$ $f(x)$. The domain of a function is the set of all valid elements for a function to map from. The codomain of a function is the set of all possible values that an element from the domain can be mapped to. The $\textit{range}$ (sometimes called the $\textit{image}$) of a function is a subset of the codomain, and is the set of all elements that actually get mapped to by the function $f$.

Here I'm pretty sure the highlighted word "function" is not right.

I suggest \to or \rightarrow instead of \longrightarrow. The last one is there for if you need the arrow to be longer because you're writing something over it. As in $\overset{\text{text}}{\longrightarrow}$ instead of $\overset{\text{text}}{\to}$. — Jim, Feb 22 '13 at 23:16
Some would call "$f(x)=x^2$" the rule of the function $f$. — David Mitra, Feb 22 '13 at 23:44
@DominicMichaelis Well, function is used in two places to mean two slightly different things; I don't like using function to describe part of a function. — Mirrana, Feb 22 '13 at 23:47

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:21

I can remember to read this text, and being puzzled with the exact same question. From what I've learned from my teacher, you're right, writing down something as "the function $f(x)$..." is sloppy notation. However, many books/people will use it this way.

If you're are very precise, $f(x)$ is not a function or an map. I don't know of a standard way to refer to $f(x)$, but here is some usage I found on the internet:

The output of a function $f$ corresponding to an input $x$ is denoted by $f(x)$.
Some would call "$f(x)=x^2$" the rule of the function $f$.
For each argument $x$, the corresponding unique $y$ in the codomain is called the function value at $x$ or the image of $x$ under $f$. It is written as $f(x)$.
If there is some relation specifying $f(x)$ in terms of $x$, then $f(x)$ is known as a dependent variable (and $x$ is an independent variable).

A correct way to notate your function $f$ is: $$f:\Bbb{R}\to\Bbb{R}:x\mapsto f(x)=x^2$$

Note that $f(x)\in\Bbb{R}$ and $f\not\in\Bbb{R}$. But the function $f$ is an element of the set of continuous functions, and $f(x)$ isn't.

In some areas of math it is very important to notate a function/map specifying it's domain, codomain and function rule. However in for example calculus/physics, you'll see that many times only the function rule $f(x)$ is specified, as the reader is supposed to understand domain/codmain from the context.

You can also check those questions:

Dominic Michaelis · Answer 2 · 2013-02-22T23:34:51.243

1

normally you say $f:X\rightarrow Y$; $x\mapsto f(x)$, as a functions takes an element from $X$ and give you one from $Y$. $$y=f(x)$$ Is an equation, and not a definition of a function in a strict sense.

The proper way would be $$f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}; \ x\mapsto x^2$$

The Image of a function is definied as $$\operatorname{im}f:=\{f(x)|x\in X\}$$ It is often written as $$f(X):=\{f(x)|x\in X\}$$ Notice that $X$ is a set, not an element. so $f(\{x\})=\{f(x)\}\subseteq Y$ while $f(x)\in Y$

edited Feb 22 '13 at 23:34

answered Feb 22 '13 at 23:10

Dominic Michaelis

19,935

I was wondering - is $f(x)$ called the image? I've seen that word used but only know it to be synonymous with Range. – Mirrana Feb 22 '13 at 23:15
not $f(x)$ but $f(X)$ note the different as $X$ is a set but $x$ is an element – Dominic Michaelis Feb 22 '13 at 23:19
@agent154 You can say "$f(x)$ is the image of the element $x$ under the function $f$". Perhaps this is what you were thinking of (here of course "image" means something different than the image of the function). – David Mitra Feb 22 '13 at 23:32
@davidMitra i would be careful with that, as the image is a set but $f(x)$ is an element of $Y$ – Dominic Michaelis Feb 22 '13 at 23:34
The notation $f(X)$ is also written (in set theory) as $f[X]$ and $f''X$ sometimes, often because the elements of the set are sets themselves, and sometimes $f(x)\neq f''x$. – Asaf Karagila Feb 22 '13 at 23:35
@DominicMichaelis This terminology, though perhaps unfortunate, is standard in the U.S. (in undergraduate courses at least). "image" has at least two distinct meanings. That is: the image of a set, $f({x})$, and the image (value) of a member of the domain under $f$, $f(x)$. – David Mitra Feb 22 '13 at 23:38
As a non native speaker my first idea was the value of the function $f$ for $x$ – Dominic Michaelis Feb 22 '13 at 23:39
@DominicMichaelis What is the symbol $:=$? – Mirrana Feb 22 '13 at 23:40
@agent154 it says that something is defined. – Dominic Michaelis Feb 22 '13 at 23:42
who downvoted ? – Dominic Michaelis Feb 23 '13 at 06:59

score -3 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 02 '18 at 07:05

From what I understand, $f$ is the function, so saying "a function $f(x)$" would be wrong. Instead, you could say "a function $f$", or if you didn't want to assign it a name, "a function $x\mapsto x^2$", or if you want to specify the domain and codomain, "a function $f:X\to Y$".

If you just want to define the function's input-output relationship, $f(x)=x^2$ suffices, maybe with a $\forall x\in X$ at the beginning if you want to do it properly. That doesn't necessarily define the domain though, that set could just be a subset of the domain. $f(x)$ is really no different from $f(1)$, except that $x$ is a (qualified) variable. It's basically a rule defining the input and output for an improper subset of its domain.

The addition of "$:X\to Y$" is useful if you want to specify both the domain and codomain when defining the function. As far as I can tell, you can add it after a function like $f$ and the whole expression still refers to the function. You can't really use it with the $f(x)$ style, so I'd do something like

$f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R=x\mapsto x^2$

Function notation terminology

3 Answers3

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