Why is y = x2 a function, while x = y2 is not a function? Give a graphical and an algebraic explanation.
+23254 A function is the type of relation that every x-value has only one y-value paired with it.
In y = x², for every value of x, there is only one value for y. For instance, when x = 2, y = 4, when x = 5, y = 25, etc. No matter what x-value we choose, there is only one y-value for an answer.
However, in the equation x = y², there are values for x that have two y-numbers paired with it. For example, when x = 4, y can be either +2 or -2; same when x = 9, y can be either +2 or -2; etc. Thereore, this is not a function because there are x-values that have two y-values for an answer.
+23254 A function is the type of relation that every x-value has only one y-value paired with it.
In y = x², for every value of x, there is only one value for y. For instance, when x = 2, y = 4, when x = 5, y = 25, etc. No matter what x-value we choose, there is only one y-value for an answer.
However, in the equation x = y², there are values for x that have two y-numbers paired with it. For example, when x = 4, y can be either +2 or -2; same when x = 9, y can be either +2 or -2; etc. Thereore, this is not a function because there are x-values that have two y-values for an answer.
