f is defined by f(x)=x^2 for 0<=x<=3, f(x)=3x for 3<=x<=10. g is defined by g(x)=x^2 for 0<=x<=2, g(x)=3x for 2<=x<=10. Show f is a function and g is not.
Hint. Check the single point where the two pieces of each definition overlap -- that is the only place a piecewise rule can go wrong.
For f, the two pieces overlap only at x=3: the first piece gives f(3)=3^2=9, and the second piece gives f(3)=3(3)=9 -- they agree, so f assigns exactly one value everywhere and is a function. For g, the two pieces overlap at x=2: the first piece gives g(2)=2^2=4, but the second piece gives g(2)=3(2)=6 -- these disagree, so x=2 would need to map to both 4 and 6, which is not allowed for a function.
✦ Working through each part gives: f is a function since its pieces agree at x=3 (both give 9); g is not a function since its pieces disagree at x=2 (4 versus 6).
