Created by T.

Madas

SIMPLE
RECIPROCAL
FUNCTIONS

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**+)
The curves C1 and C2 have respective equations

1
C1 : y = , x≠3
x−3

1
C2 : y = −3, x ≠ 0
x

Sketch on separate diagrams the graph of C1 and the graph of C2 .

Indicate clearly in each graph any asymptotes and the coordinates of any intersections
with the coordinate axes.

C1P , graph

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**+)

y
4
y=−
x
O x

The figure above shows the graph of the curve with equation

4
y = − , x ≠ 0.
x

a) Sketch the graph of the curve C with equation

4
y = 2− , x ≠ 0.
x
Indicate clearly the coordinates of any points of intersection between C and the
coordinate axes.

b) State the equations of the two asymptotes of C .

C1L , x = 0, y = 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (***)
The curves C1 and C2 have respective equations

1
C1 : y = − , x ≠ 0
x

1
C2 : y = , x≠2
x−2

a) Sketch on separate diagrams the graph of C1 and the graph of C2 .

Indicate clearly in each graph any asymptotes and the coordinates of any
intersections with the coordinate axes.

b) Find the coordinates of the point of intersection between C1 and C2 .

C1A, part (a) only , (1, −1)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (***)
The curves C1 and C2 have respective equations

1
C1 : y = +2, x ≠0
x

1
C2 : y = , x ≠ −2
x+2

a) Sketch on separate diagrams the graph of C1 and the graph of C2 .

Indicate clearly in each graph any asymptotes and the coordinates of any
intersections with the coordinate axes.

b) Find the coordinates of the point of intersection between C1 and C2 .

C1C, part (a) only , ( −1,1)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***)

2
y=
x

O
x

The figure above shows the graph of the curve C with equation

2
y= , x ≠ 0.
x

a) Describe the geometric transformation which maps the graph of C onto the
graph with equation

2
y= , x ≠ 0.
x−2

b) Sketch the graph of the curve with equation

2
y= + 2, x ≠ 0 .
x

Indicate clearly the coordinates of any points of intersections between the curve
and the coordinate axes. State the equations of the two asymptotes of the curve.

[continues overleaf]

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

[continued from overleaf]

c) Show that the x coordinates of the points of intersection between the graph of
2 2
y= and the graph of y = + 2 are the roots of the quadratic equation
x−2 x

x2 − 2 x − 2 = 0 .

d) Hence find, in exact surd form, the x coordinates of the points of intersection
2 2
between the graph of y = and the graph of y = + 2 .
x−2 x

C1O , translation, 2 units to the "right" , x = 1 ± 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***)
A curve C has equation

1
y= , x∈» , x ≠ 0 .
x2

a) Sketch the graph of C .

b) Sketch on separate set of axes the graph of ...

1
i. ... y = +1 , x ∈ » , x ≠ 0 .
x2

1
ii. ... y = , x ∈ » , x ≠ −1 .
( x + 1)2

Mark clearly in each sketch the equations of any asymptotes to these curves and
the coordinates of any intersections with the coordinate axes.

MP1-N , graph

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***)
A curve C has equation

1
f ( x) = − , x∈» , x ≠ 0 .
x2

a) Sketch the graph of C .

b) Sketch on separate set of axes the graph of ...

i. ... f ( x − 1) .

ii. ... f ′ ( x ) .

Mark clearly in each sketch the equations of any asymptotes to these curves and
the coordinates of any intersections with the coordinate axes.

MP1-U , graph

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***+)

1
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ 0 .
x

1
g ( x) = +1 , x ∈ » , x ≠ 1.
x −1

a) Describe mathematically the two transformations that map the graph of f ( x )

onto the graph of g ( x ) .

b) Sketch the graph of g ( x ) .

The sketch must include …

• … the coordinates of any points where g ( x ) meet the coordinate axes.

• … the equations of any asymptotes of g ( x ) .

c) Solve the equation

g ( x ) = x −1,

giving the answers in the form a + b 5 , where a and b are constants.

translation "right" by 1 unit, followed by translation "upwards" by 1 unit ,

SYN-H , x = 3 ± 1 5
2 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***+)
A curve has equation y = f ( x ) given by

1
f ( x) = 2 + , x≠1.
2x −1 2

a) Express f ( x ) as a single simplified fraction.

Consider the following sequence of transformations T1 , T2 and T3 .

1 T1 1 T2 1 T3 1
→ →  → 2+ .
x x −1 2x −1 2x −1

b) Describe geometrically the transformations T1 , T2 and T3 .

c) Hence sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

Indicate clearly any asymptotes and the coordinates of any intersections with the
coordinate axes.

d) Find the coordinates of the point of intersection of f ( x ) and the line y = 3 .

SYN-J , T1 = translation, "right", 1 unit , T2 = horizontal stretch by scale factor 1 ,

2
T3 = translation, "upwards", 2 units , (1,3)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***+)
Consider the following sequence of transformations T1 , T2 and T3 .

1 T1 1 T2 1 T3 1
→ − → −  → 2−
x x x +1 x +1

a) Describe geometrically the transformations T1 , T2 and T3 .

b) Hence sketch the graph of
1
y = 2− , x ≠ −1 .
x +1
Indicate clearly any asymptotes and the coordinates of any intersections with the
coordinate axes.

c) Solve the equation

1 1
2− = .
x +1 x

SYN-U , T1 = reflection in the x-axis , T2 = translation, "left", 1 unit ,

T3 = translation, "upwards", 2 units , x = ± 2

2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***+)
Consider a sequence of geometric transformations T1 , T2 and T3 which map the graph
1
of the curve with equation y1 = onto the graph of y2 .
x

T1 : reflection in the x axis.

T2 : translation in the negative x direction by 2 units.

T3 : translation in the positive y direction by 2 units.

a) Show that the equation of y2 is given by

2x + 3
y2 = , x ≠ −2 .
x+2
b) Sketch the graph of y2 .
Indicate clearly any asymptotes and coordinates of intersections with the axes.

c) Solve the equation

2x + 3 2
= 2+ .
x+2 x −1

SYN-W , x = −1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (***+)
The curve C1 has equation

2
y = − , x∈», x ≠ 0 .
x

a) Sketch the graph of C1 .

The curve C2 has equation

y = x3 − 3 x , x ∈ » .

b) Sketch the graph of C2 .

The sketch must include the coordinates, in exact surd form where appropriate,
of all the points where the curve meets the coordinate axes.

c) Find the x coordinates of the points of intersection between C1 and C2 .

C1A , x = ±1, ± 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (***+)

1
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ 0 .
x

1
g ( x) = 2 − , x ∈ » , x ≠ 0 .
x

a) Describe mathematically the two transformations that map the graph of f ( x )

onto the graph of g ( x ) .

6
h ( x) = , x ∈ » , x ≠ −2 .
x+2

b) Sketch in the same diagram the graphs of g ( x ) and h ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of …

• … all the points where the curves meet the coordinate axes.
• … the equations of any asymptotes of the curves.

c) Solve the equation g ( x ) = h ( x ) .

SYN-Y , reflection in the x axis, followed by translation "upwards" by 1 unit ,

x = − 1 ,2
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (***+)

2
y= , x∈», x ≠ 0 .
x

1
a) Describe mathematically the transformation that maps the graph of y = onto
x
2
the graph of y = .
x

2
b) Sketch the graph of y = .
x
Write down the equations of the asymptotes of the curve.

The straight line with equation y = k − 2 x , where k is a constant, is a tangent to the

2
curve with equation y = .
x

c) Determine the possible values of k .

C1Z , stretch, vertically, by scale factor of 2 , k = ±4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (***+)

1
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ 0 .
x

1
g ( x) = + 2 , x ∈ » , x ≠ −2 .
x+2

a) Describe mathematically the two transformations that map the graph of f ( x )

onto the graph of g ( x ) .

b) Sketch the graph of g ( x ) .

The sketch must include the …

• … coordinates of all the points where the curve meet the coordinate axes.
• … equations of any asymptotes of the curve.

c) Find the coordinates of the points of intersection of g ( x ) and the line with
equation

3y + x = 8 .

MP1-Y , translation "left" by 2 units, followed by translation "upwards" by 2 units ,

(1, 73 ) , ( −1,3)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (***+)

4 x − 13
f ( x) = , x ∈» , x ≠ 3.
x −3

a) Show that the equation of f ( x ) can be written as

1
f ( x) = 4 − , x ∈» , x ≠ 3.
x −3

b) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include …

• … the coordinates of the points where f ( x ) meets the coordinate axes.

• … the equations of any asymptotes of the curve.

c) Solve the equation

3
f ( x) = ,
x

giving the answers in the form a + b 7 , where a and b are constants.

SYN-R , x = 2 ± 1 7
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (***+)

1
f ( x) = a − , x∈», x ≠ b ,
b−x

where a and b are positive constants such that ab > 1 .

Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include, in terms of a and b , …

• … the coordinates of the points where f ( x ) meets the coordinate axes.

• … the equations of any asymptotes of the curve.

SYN-P , graph

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (****)
The curve C1 has equation

a
y= , x ≠ 0,
x

where a is a positive constant.

a) Describe geometrically the transformation that maps the graph of C1 onto the
a
graph of C2 whose equation is y = + 1 .
x

b) Sketch the graph of C2 .

The sketch must include the coordinates of …
• … all the points where the curves meet the coordinate axes.
• … the equations of any asymptotes of the curves.

The line with equation y = x intersects C2 at the point A ( −2, −2 ) and B .

c) Determine …
i. … the value of a .
ii. … the coordinates of B .

MP1-R , translation "upwards" by 1 unit , a = 6 , B ( 3,3 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (****)
The curve C has equation

2x + 3
y= , x∈», x ≠ 2.
x−2

a) Show clearly that

2x + 3 7
≡ 2+ .
x−2 x−2

b) Find the coordinates of the points where C meets the coordinate axes.

c) Sketch the graph of C showing clearly the equations of any asymptotes.

d) Determine the coordinates of the points of intersection of C and the straight line
with equation

y = 7 x − 12 .

( )( )
SYN-M , 0, − 3 , − 3 ,0 , (1, −5 ) , ( 3,9 )
2 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (****)

1
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ 2.
x−2

1
g ( x) = 1+ , x ∈ » , x ≠ 0 .
x

1
a) Describe mathematically the transformation that maps the graph of y = onto
x
the graph of …
i. … f ( x ) .

ii. … g ( x ) .

b) Sketch in the same diagram the graphs of f ( x ) and g ( x ) .

The sketch must include …

• … the coordinates of any the points where the curves meet the coordinate
iiii axes.
• … the equations of any asymptotes of the curves.

c) Find as exact surds the coordinates of the points of intersection of the graphs of
f ( x ) and g ( x ) .

MP1-L , translation "right" by 2 units , translation "upwards" by 1 unit ,

 1± 3 
1 ± 3, 
 2 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (****)

x−2
f ( x) = , x ∈» , x ≠ 3.
x −3

a) Express f ( x ) in the form

1
f ( x) = a + ,
x+b

where a and b are integers.

1
b) By considering a series of transformations which map the graph of onto the
x
graph of f ( x ) , sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include …

• … the coordinates of all the points where the curve meets the coordinate
iiii axes.
• … the equations of the two asymptotes of the curve.

a = 1 , b = −3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (****)
The curves C1 and C2 have respective equations

1
C1 : y = , x ≠1
x −1

3
C2 : y = 1 − , x ≠ −3
x+3

a) Sketch on the same diagram the graphs of C1 and C2 .

Indicate clearly any asymptotes and coordinates of any intersections with the
coordinate axes.

b) By finding the intersections between C1 and C2 , and considering the graphs

sketched in part (a), solve the inequality

1 3
+ ≥ 1.
x −1 x + 3

−3 < x ≤ −1 ∪ 1 < x ≤ 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (****)

3x + 3
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ 2.
x−2

a) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of …

• … all the points where the curve meets the coordinate axes.
• … the equations of the two asymptotes of the curve.

b) Solve the equation f ( x ) = 2 .

c) Hence solve the inequality f ( x ) ≥ 2 .

SYN-F , x = −7 , x ≤ −7 ∪ x > 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (****+)
A curve has equation y = f ( x ) given by

3x − 1
f ( x) = , x∈», x ≠ 2.
x+2

a) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of …

• … all the points where the curve meets the coordinate axes.
• … the equations of the two asymptotes of the curve.

A different curve has equation y = g ( x ) given by

1
g ( x) = + k , x ∈ » , x ≠ 0 , where k is a constant.
x

The graph of f ( x ) meets the graph of g ( x ) at the points A and B .

b) Given that A lies on the x axis determine …

i. … the value of k .

ii. … the coordinates of B .

SYN-O , k = −3 , B ( −1, −4 )

Created by T. Madas