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Introduction to Functions 17453 Views


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Description:

This video will tell you all about the function of functions.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

Functions, a la Shmoop. Ever see something that is...dysfunctional?

00:16

Like some families, for instance. Or a society with no rules.

00:25

Now, picture the world without functions. Without functions, zebras would equal monkeys...

00:32

...and 2 + 2 would equal bananas. Picture functions as the parent...

00:40

... and variables as the children. Some variables are a little more independent

00:44

than others. Functions love to tell variables what to do...

00:48

...but not all variables follow the rules. Independent variables are the free thinkers.

00:58

They can be anything, and they know it.

01:01

A dependent variable is the kid that never moves out of the house.

01:05

They don't really have a plan, and just go with the flow.

01:07

They sit around, letting the function tell them what to be.

01:11

So, if you have the function f(x) = 3x + 2... ...f(x) is the function, and 3x + 2 is the

01:20

rule that needs to be followed. By the way, don't freak out about the weird

01:26

f(x) thing. It's a little something we like to call "notation"...

01:30

...and it's read either as, "f is a function of x" or "f of x".

01:36

"x" is where you plug in the independent variable. Oh, and f(x) also equals the dependent variable

01:43

y. Plugging in a free thinking independent variable,

01:49

such as 2... ...we get f(2) = 3(2) + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8 = y.

02:06

Getting the answer 8 depends on what you plug in for x.

02:09

If the independent variable decides he wants to be the number 4...

02:13

...we get f(4) = 3(4) + 2 = 12 + 2 = 14. You can plug any number into "x," and some

02:30

other number will come out the other end. And there a lots of functions out there.

02:51

We kind of hope that dependent variable doesn't get too adventurous...

02:55

...or else we might be in trouble.

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