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Functions Notes

This document provides notes on functions for a GCSE maths course. It defines a function as a machine that takes an input number, performs operations on it, and outputs a different number. Examples are given of evaluating functions at specific values and finding inverse and composite functions. A practice worksheet is included with questions testing understanding of functions.

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19 views

Functions Notes

This document provides notes on functions for a GCSE maths course. It defines a function as a machine that takes an input number, performs operations on it, and outputs a different number. Examples are given of evaluating functions at specific values and finding inverse and composite functions. A practice worksheet is included with questions testing understanding of functions.

Uploaded by

985wtz8rcj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GCSE Maths – Algebra

Functions
Notes

WORKSHEET

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc


https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Functions

A function can be thought of as a machine that takes in a number, performs operations on it


and outputs a different number.

Input Machine Output


number (Function) number ( ) or

Functions are written in the form ( ) which means ‘function with an input number ’. A
function ( ) is typically written in algebra, for example ( ) = 2 + 1. We must be careful to
apply the order of operations correctly. To do this, we use BIDMAS (Brackets, Indices,
Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction).

×2 +1 ( )

We could be asked to replace with a specific number to evaluate a function at a certain


value.

Example: What is the value of ( ) = 2 + 1 when = 2?

1. We replace with the number 2.

( ) evaluated at = 2 is equal to (2):

(2) = 2(2) + 1

2. Simplify this where possible and compute the required computation.

(2) = 2(2) + 1 = 4 + 1 = 5

This type of question can be asked in many different ways. For example, we may simply be
asked to find (2). This similarly means we must replace with the number 2.
Inverse Functions (Higher Only)

Lots of functions have inverse functions. These do the opposite of what a function does
to a number . They are written in the form ( ).

A common exam question is to find the inverse function of a function. The following
example demonstrates the method required to do that.

Example: What is the inverse function of ( ) = 3 7?

1. Replace ( ) with y.
=3 7

2. Rearrange the equation to make the subject.

=3 7

+7=3

+7
=
3

3. Swap the letters and with each other and then replace with ( ).

+7 +
= ( )=
3

We can think of the inverse function as the reverse process.

Composite Functions (Higher Only)


When we have more than one function, we can combine them to form a composite
function. Composite functions formed from functions ( ) and ( ) may take the form
( ) or ( ), depending on which function is substituted into the other.

Example: If ( ) = 2 + 1 and ( ) = 6 4, what is ( )?

1. Substitute the innermost function, ( ), into the outer function, ( ), in the place of the
letter .

Putting ( ) into ( ) gives

( )= ( ) =2 ( ) + 1 = 2(6 4) + 1

2. Expand any brackets being multiplied and simplify the equation where possible.

( ) = 12 8 + 1 = 12 7

( )=
We may even be asked to find the value of a composite function when has a specific
value. To do this, it is helpful to first write the composite function algebraically before then
substituting in a value of .

Example: If ( ) = 5 and ( ) = 6 4, what is (3)?

1. Substitute the innermost function in the place of into the outer function.

( )= ( ) = ( ) 5 = (6 4) 5

2. Expand any brackets being multiplied and simplify where possible.

(6 4) 5 = (36 48 + 16) 5

( )= +

3. Substitute the given -value, = 3, into this equation and calculate the required value.

(3) = 36(3) 48(3) + 11 = 324 144 + 11 =


Functions – Practice Questions

1. Complete the following:

a) Find the value of (5) when ( ) = 3 2.

b) Find the value of (7) when ( ) = 4 .

2. Solve the following for :

a) ( )= 5 + 2, ( )= 4.

b) ( ) = 18 2, ( ) = 6.

3. Find the inverse functions of the following functions:

a) ( )=4 +7

b) ( ) = 15 +3

c) ( )=

4. Find the value of ( ) = if (7).

5. Solve ( ) = 3 + 6 for given ( ) = 2.

6. Given ( ) = 1 2 and ( ) = 4 show that ( )= .

7. Given ( ) = 4 + 6 and ( ) = 9 find the value of (3).

Worked solutions for the practice questions can be found amongst the worked solutions for the
corresponding worksheet file.

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