y = f(x)
Definition
This notation represents the relationship between the dependent variable y and the independent variable x in a function. It indicates that y is determined by some rule or equation involving x.
Analogy
Imagine you are baking cookies using a recipe. The recipe tells you how much flour, sugar, and other ingredients to use based on the number of cookies you want to make. In this case, y represents the number of cookies and x represents the desired quantity. Just like how the recipe determines the number of cookies based on your desired quantity, f(x) determines y based on x.
Related terms
Dependent Variable: The variable that depends on another variable in an equation or relationship.
Independent Variable: The variable that is not dependent on any other variable in an equation or relationship.
Equation: A statement that shows equality between two expressions containing variables.
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