Pure 1 A level

FUNCTIONS
I. Definition of a function
1. The language of functions

A mapping is any rule associates two sets of items.

Domain is the set of possible inputs.

Range is the set of possible outputs.

One-to-one mapping Many-to-one mapping Many-to-many mapping One-to-many mapping

A function is a mapping where every element of the domain (x-values) is mapped onto exactly one element of
the range (y-values). It is a one-to-one mapping or many-to-one mapping.

The notation f ( x) represents a function of x.

The roots of a function are values of x for which f ( x) = 0

Example: The function f ( x) = 2 x + 1 or f : x 2 x + 1 for x 

It is a one-to-one function. It is a many-to-one function.

It is not a function.
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Example: Graph of a map and a function
a) Consider the graph of b) Consider the graph of c) Consider the graph of
y = x+2 y = x2 y2 = x

x x + 2 for x  is a one-one x x 2 for x  is a many-

one mapping. It is a one-many mapping.
mapping. (Exist one input value has two
So, f ( x) = x + 2 is a one-one So, f ( x) = x 2 is a a many-
output values). The relation is
function one function not a function
2. How to define domain of a function
a. Finding the domain, remember:

g ( x)
The denominator (bottom) of a fraction cannot be zero. f ( x) =  h( x)  0  x...
h( x )

The number under a square root sign must be greater or equal to zero.
f ( x) = g ( x)  g ( x)  0  x...

From 2 rules, you can deduce

 h( x )  0
g ( x) g ( x) 
1) f ( x) =  h( x)  0  x... 2) f ( x) =   g ( x)  x...
h( x ) h( x )  h( x )  0


Example: Find the domain of y = x + 4

Condition: x + 4  0  x  −4
 Domain: x  −4

x+2
Example: Find the domain of y =
x2 − 9

x + 2  0  x  −2  x  −2
Condition:  2  2 
x − 9  0 x  9  x  3
 Domain: x  −2 ; x  3
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Example: Find the greatest possible domain of f ( x) = for x  , f ( x)  5
( x − 2) 2

f ( x)  5
5
5
( x − 2) 2
5( x − 2) 2
 5( x − 2) 2
( x − 2) 2

( x − 2)2  1

( x − 2)2 = 1
x − 2 = 1 or x − 2 = −1
x = 3 or x =1

So, domain: 1  x  3 , x  2

b. Finding the range.

The range of a function is the spread of possible y-values (minimum y-value to maximum y-value).
Step 1: Substitute x (in Domain) into y = f ( x ) . (Ask yourself: Is y always positive or negative? Is y
always greater or smaller a number? Or not equal to certain numbers?).
Step 2: Make sure you look for maximum and minimum values of y. (You can use differentiation to
find)
Note: Draw a sketch! (If you can.)

1
y = g ( x)  0 y = ( g ( x) )  0 y = g ( x)  0
2n
Remember: y= 0
g ( x)
−1  sin ( g ( x) )  1 −1  cos ( g ( x) )  1
From the above rule, you can deduce
1) y = g ( x)  c  c 2) y = − g ( x)  c  c
3) y = a g ( x)  c  c ( a  0 ) 4) y = b g ( x )  c  c ( b  0 )
5) −a  a sin ( g ( x) )  a 6) −a  b  a sin ( g ( x) )  b  a  b

Case 1: Finding range without given domain

Example:
1. Find the range of y = x + 4 2. Find the range y = sin x
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 Example: h( x) = 2 x 2 − 12 x + 22
a) Express h( x ) in the form a( x + b)2 + c b) Find the range.

a) h( x) = 2 x 2 − 12 x + 22 b) h( x) = 2( x − 3) 2 + 4
= 2( x 2 − 6 x) + 22 Because: 2( x − 3) 2  0 for x 
= 2[( x − 3)2 − 9] + 22 2( x − 3)2 + 4  0 + 4
= 2( x − 3) 2 − 18 + 22 h( x )  4
Range: h( x)  4
= 2( x − 3) 2 + 4

Case 2: Finding range with given domain

Example: Finding the range of

a) f ( x) = x + 5 , x  5 b) g ( x) = x3 , −2  x  4

a) Given domain: x  5 b) Given domain: −2  x  4

x +5  5+5 −8  x 3  64
f ( x)  10 −8  g ( x)  64
Range: f ( x)  10 Range: −8  g ( x)  64

Example: Find the range of each of the following functions and state they are one-to-one or many-to-one.
a) f ( x) = 3 x − 2 , domain {x = 1 , 2, 3, 4}
b) g ( x) = x 2 , domain {x  , −5  x  5}
1
c) h( x) = , domain {x  , 0  x  3}
x

Solution

Case 3: Finding domain and range

Example: Find range and domain

a) f ( x) = x 2 + 2
b) h(t ) = 20t − 4.9t 2 with h(t )  0
c) g ( s) = 3 − s
d) f ( x) = x 2 + 4 for x  2
e) Function defined by the coordinates: {(−4;1), ( −2; 2.5), (2; −1), (3; 2)}
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f) f (t ) =
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t+2

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 a) f ( x) = x 2 + 2 b) h(t )  0
Domain: x  20t − 4.9t 2  0
Range: f ( x)  2 ( y = f ( x) = x 2 + 2  2 ) 20t − 4.9t 2 = 0
t = 0 or t = 4.08
Domain: 0  t  4.08

20t − 4.9t 2 = −4.9(t − 2.04) 2 + 20.4  20.4

Range: 0  h(t )  20.4

c) g ( s) = 3 − s Condition: 3 − s  0 d) f ( x) = x 2 + 4 for x  2
Domain: s  3 Domain: x  2 (given)
g ( s) = 3 − s  0 (by definition) x 2 + 4  22 + 4
Range: g ( s)  0 f ( x)  8
Range: f ( x)  8

e) Function defined by the coordinates: 1

{(−4;1), ( −2; 2.5), (2; −1), (3; 2)} f) f (t ) = Condition: t + 2  0
t+2
Domain: t  −2 , t 
Domain: x  {−4; −2; 2; 3} t+20
Range: y  {−1; 1; 2; 2.5} Range: f (t )  0; f (t ) 
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c. Determine the range and domain of

✓ Function f ( x) = ax 2 n +1 + b ( n = 0,1, 2,3... )

• Case 1: Without given domain

Domain of f: x 
Range of f: f ( x) 

• Case 2: Given domain c  x  d

Domain of f: c  x  d
Range of f: f (c)  f ( x)  f (d ) as a  0 [Increasing function]
f (d )  f ( x)  f (c) as a  0 [Decreasing function]

Action: f ( x) = 5 − 2 x for x  , −4  x  5
a) Write down the domain of the function f.
b) Sketch the graph of the function f.
c) Write down the range of the function f.

Solution
a) Domain: −4  x  5

b) The graph of y = 5 − 2 x is a straight line with

gradient -2 and y-intercept 5.

c) When x = −4 , y = 5 − 2(−4) = 13
When x = 5 , y = 5 − 2(5) = −5
Range: −5  f ( x)  13

✓ Function f ( x) = ax 2 + bx + c

• Case 1: Without given domain

Write f ( x) in the form f ( x) = a( x − h)2 + k
Domain of f: x 
 b 
Range of f: f ( x)  k or f ( x)  f  −  as a  0
 2a 
 b 
f ( x)  k or f ( x)  f  −  as a  0
 2a 
• Case 2: Given domain d  x  e , base on the graph to determine.

Note:
 b   b 
1. With domain: x  h  x  −  or x  h  x  −  , f ( x) = ax 2 + bx + c is one-one function,
 2a   2a 
−1
so it has f ( x) .

2. To find f −1 ( x) , write f ( x) in the form f ( x) = a( x − h)2 + k

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Action: f ( x) = ( x − 3) 2 + 8 for −1  x  9 . Sketch the graph of the function. Find the range of f.
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Solution
f ( x) = ( x − 3)2 + 8
a = 1  0 , graph has  -shaped.
So, minimum point: (3, 8)

When x = −1 , y = (−1 − 3) 2 + 8 = 24
When x = 9 , y = (9 − 3) 2 + 8 = 44

Range: 8  f ( x)  44

ax + b
✓ Function f ( x) =
cx + d
_ Find domain
Because denominator  0 , cx + d  0  Domain of f:
d
x−
c
_ Find range without domain
a ad
(cx + d ) − +b
ax + b c c a e ad
f ( x) = = = + with e = − +b
cx + d cx + d c cx + d c
e a e a a
Because:  0 , f ( x) = +   Range of f: f ( x) 
cx + d c cx + d c c

d d
_ Find range with domain x  k  − or x  k  −
c c
a a e a e a
 Range of f:  f ( x)  + or +  f ( x) 
c c ck + d c ck + d c

d d ax + b
Note: With domain: x  − or x  − , f ( x) = is one-one function, so it has f −1 ( x)
c c cx + d
2x − 3
Action: Find range of f ( x) = , x 1
3x − 1

Solution
2x − 3 For all values of x  1
f ( x) =
3x − 1 7
0
2 2 3x − 1
(3x − 1) + − 3
2 7 7
=3 3 = − − 0
3x − 1 3 3x − 1 3x − 1
2 7 2
Domain: x  1 −  (2)
3 3x − 1 3
3x  3
3x − 1  2 17 2
1 1 (1), (2)  −  f ( x) 
 6 3
3x − 1 2
−7 −7

3x − 1 2
7

2 7 17
− − (1)
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3 3x − 1 6

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 Case 4: Finding domain and range of the piecewise defined function (The function defined by more than
one equation)
5 − 2 x, x  1
Example: The funtion f ( x) =  2
 x + 3, x  1
a) Sketch y = f ( x ) , and state the range of f ( x) .
b) Solve f ( x) = 19 .

Example:
4 − x, −2  x  1
a) Sketch the graph of f ( x) = 
2 x + 1, 1  x  3
b) Find the range.
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 II. Composite functions

• fg ( x) means apply g first, then apply f.

• fg ( x) = f ( g ( x) ) & fg ( x)  gf ( x)
• fg only exists if the range of g is contained within the domain of f.
• f 2 ( x) = ff ( x) = f ( f ( x) ) means you apply the function f twice.

Example: The functions f and g are defined by f : x 3x + 2 , x  g : x 7 − x , x

a) find fg ( x ) b) ff ( x) c) Solve the equation gf ( x)

Solution

2x + 3
Example: f ( x) = ( x − 4) 2 − 1 for x  , and g ( x) = for x  , x  2 . Find fg (4)
x−2
Solution
2(4) + 3 11  11   11 
2
g (4) = = fg (4) = f   =  − 4  − 1 =
5
4−2 2 2 2  4
Example: f ( x) = 2 x + 3 for x  , and g ( x) = x − 1 for x  . Find:
2

a) fg ( x ) b) gf ( x) c) ff ( x)

Solution
a) fg ( x) = f ( x 2 − 1) b) gf ( x) = g (2 x + 3) c) ff ( x) = f (2 x + 3)
= 2( x 2 − 1) + 3 = (2 x + 3) − 1
2 = 2(2 x + 3) + 3
= 4 x 2 + 12 x + 9 − 1 = 4x + 9
= 2 x2 + 1
= 4 x 2 + 12 x + 8

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Example: f : x for x  , x  2 , g ( x) = 3 − x 2 for x 
x−2
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Find: a) fg ( x ) b) ff ( x)
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 Solution

Example: f ( x) = x 2 + 4 x for x  g ( x) = 3x − 1 for x 

Find the values of k for which the equation fg ( x) = k has real solutions.

Solution

Example: The functions f and g are defined by f ( x) = 3 x + 2 and g ( x) = x 2 + 4 . Find:

a) the function fg ( x ) b) the function gf ( x)
2
c) the function f ( x) d) the values of b such that fg (b) = 62

1
Example: f :x 4x −1, x  g:x , x  −2 h: x (2 − x) 2 , x  . Find:
10

x+2
a) fg ( x ) b) hh( x)
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 Example: f : x ax 2 , x  g : x 3x + b , x  where a and b are constants.
Given that gf (1) = 5 and gg (2) = 14 find
a) the values of a and b b) the values of fg (−3)

III. Inverse functions

• An inverse function f −1 ( x) exists if f ( x) is a one-one mapping.

• ff −1 ( x) = f −1 f ( x) = x
• The domain of f −1 ( x) is the range of f ( x)
• The range of f −1 ( x) is the domain of f ( x)

Note: If f −1 ( x) = f ( x) , then f is called a self-inverse function.

1 −1 1
Example: f ( x) = for x  0 , then f ( x) = for x  0 .
x x
−1 1
So f ( x) = for x  0 is a self-inverse function.
x
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 Example: f ( x) = x + 2 − 7 for x  −2
a) Find an expression for f −1 ( x) b) Solve the equation f −1 ( x) = f (62)

a) f ( x) = x + 2 − 7 b) f (62) = 62 + 2 − 7 = 1
y = x+2 −7 f −1 ( x) = f (62)
x = y+2 −7 ( x + 7) 2 − 2 = 1
x+7 = y+2 ( x + 7)2 = 3
( x + 7)2 = y + 2 x+7 =  3
y = ( x + 7)2 − 2 x = −7 + 3 or x = −7 − 3
So, f −1 ( x) = ( x + 7) 2 − 2

Example: f ( x) = 5 − ( x − 2)2 for k  x  6

a) State the smallest value of k for which f has an inverse.
b) For this value of k find f −1 ( x) , state the domain and range of f −1 .

a) f ( x) = 5 − ( x − 2)2 b) f ( x) = 5 − ( x − 2)2
Minimum point: (2, 5) y = 5 − ( x − 2) 2 2 x6
When x = 6 , y = 5 − (5 − 2)2 = −11 x = 5 − ( y − 2) 2 2 y6
( y − 2) = 5 − x
2

y −2 =  5− x
y −2 = 5− x {as 0  y − 2  4 }
y = 2+ 5− x
So, f −1 ( x) = 2 + 5 − x
Domain of f −1 is range of f.
f has an inverse, it must be a one-one function.
So, k  2  Domain of f −1 ( x) : −11  x  5
The smallest value of k is 2. Range of f −1 is domain of f.
 Range of f −1 ( x) : 2  f −1 ( x)  6

IV. The graph of a function and its inverse

• Consider f ( x) = 2 x + 1 for −4  x  2
f (−4) = −7 , f (2) = 5
Domain of f: −4  x  2 .
Range of f: −7  f ( x)  5

x −1
• The inverse function f −1 ( x) =
2
Domain of f −1 : −7  x  5 .
Range of f −1 : −4  f −1 ( x)  2
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 • The graphs of y = f ( x ) and y = f −1 ( x) are
reflections of each other in the line y = x

• Domain of f −1 is Range of f

• Range of f −1 is Domain of f

• f is self-inverse, the graph of f will be symmetrical

about the line y = x

Example 1: f : x x2
a) Explain why this function does not have an inverse function.
b) Does f : x x 2 where x  0 have an inverse function?
c) Find f −1 ( x) for f : x x2 , x  0
d) Sketch y = f ( x ) , y = x , and y = f −1 ( x) for f in b and f −1 in c

Example 2: f ( x) = ( x − 1) 2 − 2 for x  , 1  x  4
e) State the range of f ( x) b) Find the function f −1 ( x) and state its domain and range.
c) On the same axes, draw the graph of f and the graph of f −1

a) f ( x) = ( x − 1)2 − 2
Minimum point: (1 , −2)
 f ( x) is one-to-one function for 1  x  4 , so the inverse function exists.
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When x = 4 , y = 7 .
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Range of f ( x) : −2  f ( x)  7

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