what is f(x)? I noticed it's a function, but can anyone explain it to me? What am I suppose to do with f(x)=79x+y+7z; or something like that? How to graph that onto a real number line?
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what is f(x)? I noticed it's a function, but can anyone explain it to me? What am I suppose to do with f(x)=79x+y+7z; or something like that? How to graph that onto a real number line?
f(x) is a user defined function, with parameter x. You could equally have g(x), k(x), p(z), mFunc(s, t)... You define the function, and the parameters.Quote:
Originally posted by prog_tom
what is f(x)? I noticed it's a function, but can anyone explain it to me? What am I suppose to do with f(x)=79x+y+7z; or something like that? How to graph that onto a real number line?
The actual function you specified would have three parameters, as it contains x, y and z variables. So:
f(x, y, z)=79x+y+7z
You can then say f(1,2,4) = 109, as 79*1 + 2 + 7 * 4 = 109.
the function that he specified is not necessarily f(x,y,z)
f(x) simply says that it's a function which has x as a dependant
variable.
f(x) = 79x+y+7z, z and y could be constants if it's a function
with respect to x
Yeah, possibly, but generally, letters nearer the end of the alphabet are used as variables i.e. x, y, z, while letters such as A, B, C are used to represent constants.Quote:
Originally posted by noble
the function that he specified is not necessarily f(x,y,z)
f(x) simply says that it's a function which has x as a dependant
variable.
f(x) = 79x+y+7z, z and y could be constants if it's a function
with respect to x
the reason why i said that y and z are constants is because
f(x) itself is also a variable.... usually y
if f(x) is a variable which depends on x, then if f(x) = y or z
it's odd for it to be expressed in terms of y and z
There are 4 variables in that equation. Im only in grade 10 math, but without knowing some more of those values, i don't think its a valid equation for a line (linear relation).Quote:
Originally posted by prog_tom
what is f(x)? I noticed it's a function, but can anyone explain it to me? What am I suppose to do with f(x)=79x+y+7z; or something like that? How to graph that onto a real number line?
I believe f(x) = "whatever" is what is called the relation of a recursively defined function.
ALong with the relations there should be what is called stopping conditions such as f(1) = 0 and f(0) = 0.
an anology of this would be the towers of hanoi puzzle where the stopping condition is Hanoi(1) = 1, the relation being hanoi(x) = (2^x) -1
Darthy, You are confusing yourself.
If f(x) is defined as
f(x) = 4x + 3x^2 + 1
then it is not a recursive function.
f(x) = 4*f(x-1) is a recursive function.
There seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread. Look here for additional information on functions, notation etc. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Function.html
My aplogies ThinkTank, you are correct.
It's a long time since I have studied computer science!!!!
Like your example illistrates a recursive function is one that although looks as though it is defined in terms of itself, it is in fact defined by a simpler version of themselves (stopping condition).