function

function in mathematics, a relation f that assigns to each member x of some set X a corresponding member y of some set Y ; y is said to be a function of x, usually denoted f ( x ) (read "f of x " ). In the equation y = f ( x ), x is called the independent variable and y the dependent variable. In practice, X and Y will most often be sets of numbers, vectors, points of some geometric object, or the like. For example, X might be a solid body and f ( x ) the temperature at the point x in X ; in this case, Y will be a set of numbers. The formula A =π r   ² expresses the area of a circle as a function of its radius. A function f is often described in terms of its graph, which consists of all points ( x,y ) in the plane such that y = f ( x ). Although a function f assigns a unique y to each x, several x  's may yield the same y  ; e.g., if y = f ( x )= x   ² ( x is a number), then f (2)= f (-2). If this never occurs, then f is called a one-to-one, or injective, function.

function A task that a software product is designed to carry out. For example, one of the (optional) functions of a word processor is to format text so that it has a right-hand margin that is in alignment.