Mathematical and Pedagogical Discussions of the Function Concept

The evolution of the function concept was delineated in terms of the 17th and 18th Centuries' dependent nature of function, and the 19th and 20th Centuries' arbitrary and univalent nature of function. According to mathematics educators' beliefs about the value of the function concept in school mathematics, certain definitions of the concept tend to be emphasized. This study discusses three types - genetical (dependence), logical (settheoretical), analogical (machine/equations) - of definition of function and their values.