Example 3 from Algebra and Trigonometry, 3.1 Functions and Function Notation

Using Function Notation for Days in a Month

Use function notation to represent a function whose input is the name of a month and output is the number of days in that month. Assume that the domain does not include leap years.

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Solution
The number of days in a month is a function of the name of the month, so if we name the function $f,$ we write $days = f (month)$ or $d = f (m) .$ The name of the month is the input to a “rule” that associates a specific number (the output) with each input.

Figure 2

For example, $f (March) = 31,$ because March has 31 days. The notation $d = f (m)$ reminds us that the number of days, $d$ (the output), is dependent on the name of the month, $m$ (the input).

How did it go?

Solution

Solution