Function notation terminology

Given the function $f:X\longrightarrow Y$, $X$ is called the domain while $Y$ is called the codomain. But what do you call $f(x)=x^2$ in this context, where $x\in X$? That is to say - what is the name for the $f(x)$ notation?

And while I'm here, what is the proper way to write a function like this? Would it be $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R},\;f(x)=x^2$?

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Edit:

I figured I'd add this to add a bit of context into why I'm asking. I'm writing a set of notes in LaTeX, and I'd like to use the correct terminology for the definition of a function.

A function from set $A$ to set $B$, denoted by

$$f:A\to B;x\mapsto f(x)$$
is a mapping of elements from set $A$, (the $\textit{domain}$) to elements in set $B$ (the $\textit{codomain}$) using the $\color{blue}{\sf function}$ $f(x)$. The domain of a function is the set of all valid elements for a function to map from. The codomain of a function is the set of all possible values that an element from the domain can be mapped to. The $\textit{range}$ (sometimes called the $\textit{image}$) of a function is a subset of the codomain, and is the set of all elements that actually get mapped to by the function $f$.

Here I'm pretty sure the highlighted word "function" is not right.

Answer

I can remember to read this text, and being puzzled with the exact same question. From what I've learned from my teacher, you're right, writing down something as "the function $f(x)$..." is sloppy notation. However, many books/people will use it this way.

If you're are very precise, $f(x)$ is not a function or an map. I don't know of a standard way to refer to $f(x)$, but here is some usage I found on the internet:

• The output of a function $f$ corresponding to an input $x$ is denoted by $f(x)$.


• Some would call "$f(x)=x^2$" the rule of the function $f$.



• For each argument $x$, the corresponding unique $y$ in the codomain is called the function value at $x$ or the image of $x$ under $f$. It is written as $f(x)$.


• If there is some relation specifying $f(x)$ in terms of $x$, then $f(x)$ is known as a dependent variable (and $x$ is an independent variable).

A correct way to notate your function $f$ is:

$$f:\Bbb{R}\to\Bbb{R}:x\mapsto f(x)=x^2$$

Note that $f(x)\in\Bbb{R}$ and $f\not\in\Bbb{R}$. But the function $f$ is an element of the set of continuous functions, and $f(x)$ isn't.

In some areas of math it is very important to notate a function/map specifying it's domain, codomain and function rule. However in for example calculus/physics, you'll see that many times only the function rule $f(x)$ is specified, as the reader is supposed to understand domain/codmain from the context.

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