A function, 𝑓(𝑥) relates an input and an output. The equation 𝑦 = 𝑥² can be written as the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥². The notation for a function is 𝑓(𝑥) or 𝑔(𝑥) or ℎ(𝑥) and so on. Sometimes ...
Plotting a graph takes time. Often mathematicians just want to know the key features. These are: shape, location and some key points (such as where the graph crosses the axes or turning points). So ...