odd function

(noun)

A continuous set of $\left(x,f(x)\right)$ points for which $f(-x) = -f(x)$, and there is symmetry about the origin.

Related Terms

  • Periodic Functions
  • vertical asymptotes
  • periodic function
  • even function
  • period
  • vertical asymptote
  • asymptote

(noun)

An continuous set of $\left(x, f(x)\right)$ points in which $f(-x) = -f(x)$, and there is symmetry about the origin.

Related Terms

  • Periodic Functions
  • vertical asymptotes
  • periodic function
  • even function
  • period
  • vertical asymptote
  • asymptote

(noun)

A continuous set of $\left(x, f(x)\right)$ points in which $f(-x) = -f(x)$, with symmetry about the origin.

Related Terms

  • Periodic Functions
  • vertical asymptotes
  • periodic function
  • even function
  • period
  • vertical asymptote
  • asymptote

Examples of odd function in the following topics:

  • Trigonometric Symmetry Identities

    • We have previously discussed even and odd functions.
    • Recall that even functions are symmetric about the $y$-axis, and odd functions are symmetric about the origin, $(0, 0)$.
    • On the other hand, sine and tangent are odd functions because they are symmetric about the origin.
    • Graphs that are symmetric about the origin represent odd functions.
    • For odd functions, any two points with opposite $x$-values also have opposite $y$-values.
  • Even and Odd Functions

    • Functions can be classified as "odd" or "even" based on their composition.
    • The terms "odd" and "even" can only be applied to a limited set of functions.
    • Oftentimes, the parity of a function will reveal whether it is odd or even.
    • How can we check if a function is odd or even?  
    • The function, $f(x)=x^3-4x$ is odd since the graph is symmetric about the origin.  
  • Sine and Cosine as Functions

    • A periodic function is a function with a repeated set of values at regular intervals.
    • Specifically, it is a function for which a specific horizontal shift, $P$, results in a function equal to the original function:
    • As we can see in the graph of the sine function, it is symmetric about the origin, which indicates that it is an odd function.
    • This is characteristic of an odd function: two inputs that are opposites have outputs that are also opposites.
    • The sine function is odd, meaning it is symmetric about the origin.
  • Tangent as a Function

    • Characteristics of the tangent function can be observed in its graph.
    • The tangent function can be graphed by plotting $\left(x,f(x)\right)$ points.
    • As with the sine and cosine functions, tangent is a periodic function.
    • In the graph of the tangent function on the interval $\displaystyle{-\frac{\pi}{2}}$ to $\displaystyle{\frac{\pi}{2}}$, we can see the behavior of the graph over one complete cycle of the function.
    • The graph of the tangent function is symmetric around the origin, and thus is an odd function.
  • The Leading-Term Test

    • Consider the polynomial function:
    • If $n$ is odd and $a_n$ is positive, the function declines to the left and inclines to the right.
    • If $n$ is odd and $a_n$ is negative, the function inclines to the left and declines to the right.
    • Except when $x$ is negative and $n$ is odd; then the opposite is true.
    • Because the degree is odd and the leading coefficient  is positive, the function declines to the left and inclines to the right.
  • Other Equations in Quadratic Form

    • Many equations with no odd-degree terms can be reduced to quadratics and solved with the same methods as quadratics.
    • For example, if a quartic equation is biquadratic—that is, it includes no terms of an odd-degree— there is a quick way to find the zeroes of the quartic function by reducing it into a quadratic form.  
    • Consider a quadratic function with no odd-degree terms which has the form:
  • Finding Zeros of Factored Polynomials

    • A polynomial function may have many, one, or no zeros.
    • All polynomial functions of positive, odd order have at least one zero (this follows from the fundamental theorem of algebra), while polynomial functions of positive, even order may not have a zero (for example $x^4+1$ has no real zero, although it does have complex ones).
    • Regardless of odd or even, any polynomial of positive order can have a maximum number of zeros equal to its order.
    • For example, a cubic function can have as many as three zeros, but no more.
    • Thus if you have found such a factorization of a given function, you can be completely sure what the zeros of that function are.
  • Basics of Graphing Polynomial Functions

    • A polynomial function in one real variable can be represented by a graph.
    • A typical graph of a polynomial function of degree 3 is the following:
    • Functions of odd degree will go to negative or positive infinity when $x$ goes to negative infinity and vice versa, again depending on the highest-degree term coefficient.
    • Every time we cross a zero of odd multiplicity (if the number of zeros equals the degree of the polynomial, all zeros have multiplicity one and thus odd multiplicity) we change sign.
    • We also call this the $y$-intercept of the function.
  • The Rule of Signs

    • The difference is that you must start by finding the coefficients of odd power (for example, $x^3$ or $x^5$, but not $x^2$ or $x^4$).
    • This can also be done by taking the function, $f(x)$, and substituting the $x$ for $-x$, so that we have the function $f(-x)$.
    • By only multiplying the odd powered coefficients by $-1$, we are essentially saving ourselves a step.
    • This function has one sign change between the second and third terms.
    • Change the exponents of the odd-powered coefficients, remembering to change the sign of the first term.
  • Basics of Graphing Exponential Functions

    • The exponential function $y=b^x$ where $b>0$ is a function that will remain proportional to its original value when it grows or decays.
    • At the most basic level, an exponential function is a function in which the variable appears in the exponent.
    • The most basic exponential function is a function of the form $y=b^x$ where $b$ is a positive number.
    • If $b=1$, then the function becomes $y=1^x$.
    • If $b$ is negative, then raising $b$ to an even power results in a positive value for $y$ while raising $b$ to an odd power results in a negative value for $y$, making it impossible to join the points obtained an any meaningful way and certainly not in a way that generates a curve as those in the examples above.
Subjects
  • Accounting
  • Algebra
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Writing

Except where noted, content and user contributions on this site are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 with attribution required.