To tell the difference between a relationship that is a function and one that isn't:
In a function, each x-value has only one y-value paired with it.
For instance, y = x2 is a function because any x-value that you choose has only one y-value paired with it:
when x = 2, y = 4 when x = -2, y = 4 when x = 0, y = 0 when x = 12, y = 144 etc.
as points, these are: (2, 4) (-2, 4) (0, 0) (12, 144)
(using the same y-value twice is OK).
But y2 = x is not a function because
when x = 4, y can be either 2 or -2
as points, these are (4,2) (4, -2) (using the same x-value twice isn't OK).