Final answer:
The pair (name, shirt color) is a function because it maps each name to exactly one shirt color at any given moment, fulfilling the definition of a mathematical function, which requires each input to be associated with exactly one output.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether (name, shirt color) is a function, we should understand what a function signifies in mathematical terms. A function is a relation between a set of inputs and a set of permissible outputs with the property that each input is related to exactly one output. An example of a function in words might be stating that your professor is Adam Smith, expressed as Professor = Adam Smith. This showcases that for the input 'Professor,' there is a single output 'Adam Smith.' Similarly, when we consider the relationship of (name, shirt color), it implies a function if each name (input) is associated with exactly one shirt color (output).
Considering that it is normal for a person to wear only one shirt at a time, it could be said that each name is associated with one shirt color at any given moment, making it a function. So, the answer is:
- A. Yes, because it maps names to shirt colors.
This relation indeed involves a mathematical function because it fits the definition of a function where there is a unique output for each input. Therefore, it's not based on whether it involves numbers or clear mathematical expressions but on the unique association between inputs and outputs.