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Sets and functions

1.1 Introduction

Finding relationships between quantities is of central importance in engineering. For instance, we know that given a simple circuit with a 1000 Ω resistance then the relationship between current and voltage is given by Ohm's law, I =V /1000. For any value of the voltage V we can give an associated value of I. This relationship means that I is a function of V. From this simple idea there are many other questions that need clarifying, some of which are:

1. Are all values of V permitted? For instance, a very high value of the voltage could change the nature of the material in the resistor and the expression would no longer hold.

2. Supposing the voltage V is the equivalent voltage found from considering a larger ...

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