# Functions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100 "2017-08-08T16:09:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![abashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/1 "2017-08-08T16:09:20Z")
What is the purpose of a mathematical function? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/2 "2017-08-08T16:22:05Z")
They form a vector space … ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/3 "2017-08-08T16:39:17Z")
Very much math is defined or formulated in terms of functions. To a basic algebra student who was first starting to learn about functions, I would explain that functions are a way of describing relationships between quantities where the value of one thing depends on the value of another. So, for example, the area of a circle is a function of its radius; the cost to mail a package might be a function of its weight; the amount a worker gets paid might be a function of the number of hours she works. But a mathematician might study certain types of abstract functions as objects for their own sake. Or he might use the concept of function to help him rigorously define something he was studying (like probability, for example). Functions are used in many different branches in math. A first-semester calculus student might easily get the idea that calculus is the study of functions, since functions are the things that all the big concepts of calculus (limits, derivatives, integrals) apply to. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/4 "2017-08-08T16:56:17Z")
Did you read [the Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_(mathematics))? That’s a much more complete explanation than you’re likely to get here. ---
**Author:** ![abashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/5 "2017-08-08T16:59:13Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Very much math is defined or formulated in terms of functions. > > To a basic algebra student who was first starting to learn about functions, I would explain that functions are a way of describing relationships between quantities where the value of one thing depends on the value of another. So, for example, the area of a circle is a function of its radius; the cost to mail a package might be a function of its weight; the amount a worker gets paid might be a function of the number of hours she works. > > But a mathematician might study certain types of abstract functions as objects for their own sake. Or he might use the concept of function to help him rigorously define something he was studying (like probability, for example). Functions are used in many different branches in math. > > A first-semester calculus student might easily get the idea that calculus is the study of functions, since functions are the things that all the big concepts of calculus (limits, derivatives, integrals) apply to. Thank you, that was very well explained. ---
**Author:** ![abashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/6 "2017-08-08T17:01:09Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Did you read [the Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_(mathematics))? That’s a much more complete explanation than you’re likely to get here. To be honest, I don’t find Wikipedia very user-friendly, although I’m sure it must be reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/7 "2017-08-08T17:04:38Z")
Try the [Simple English Wiki article](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_(mathematics)). It is a lot more approachable for the lay person than the regular English article. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functions/793100/8 "2017-08-08T17:38:40Z")
Since this can easily be researched, I’m closing it. If the OP has some specific questions after reviewing the links provided, he can open a new thread. Colibri General Questions Moderator