The test is: If you were to draw a vertical line through every point in the domain (every x-value that is allowed), would it intersect the graph in exactly one point? Rather than draw lines, you could just slide a ruler, keeping it parallel to the vertical (y) axis.
If no intersection, then it is not a function because there is a point in the domain which has no image in the range.
If more than one intersection, then it is not a function because there is a point in the domain that is mapped to more than one value in the range.
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Horizonatal line test is a test use to determine if a function is one-to-one. If a horizontal line intersects a function's graph more than once, then the function is not one-to-one. A one-to-one function is a function where every element of the range correspons to exactly one element of the domain. Vertical line test is a test used to determine if a function is a function or relation. If you can put a vertical line through graph and it only hits the graph once, then it is a function. If it hits more than once, then it is a relation.
A graph is represents a function if for every value x, there is at most one value of y = f(x).
The "vertical line test" will tell you if it is a function or not. The graph is not a function if it is possible to draw a vertical line through two points.
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A graph is a representation of a thing/system, and can be used to test a hypothesis. For example, if you have a graph of a trend you can find the function of that trend. Then, you can plug in values the graph defines--say, at 2 the graph reaches 5--and if the function works, you know you have modeled the phenomenon correctly. This function testing can work to test a hypothesis, especially in finding trends.