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Functions (Worked Examples)

This document provides a worksheet on functions with examples of evaluating functions, finding inverse functions, and composing functions. It contains 15 practice problems involving these concepts. The document covers basic functions as well as some higher-level examples involving inverse functions and function composition.

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985wtz8rcj
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© © All Rights Reserved
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54 views

Functions (Worked Examples)

This document provides a worksheet on functions with examples of evaluating functions, finding inverse functions, and composing functions. It contains 15 practice problems involving these concepts. The document covers basic functions as well as some higher-level examples involving inverse functions and function composition.

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
Worksheet

This worksheet will show you how to work out different types of function
questions. Each section contains a worked example, a question with hints
and then questions for you to work through on your own.

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
Section A

Worked Example

Find the value of 𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙𝟑𝟑 + 𝟐𝟐𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 − 𝟗𝟗𝒙𝒙 + 𝟏𝟏 when 𝒙𝒙 = 𝟑𝟑.

Step 1: Substitute 𝑥𝑥 = 3 into the function 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥). Replace every 𝑥𝑥 in the function with the numerical
value 3.

𝑔𝑔(3) = (3)3 + 2(3)2 − 9(3) + 1

Step 2: Simplify where possible by multiplying out the brackets and applying powers.

27 + 2(9) − 27 + 1 = 27 + 18 − 27 + 1

Step 3: Complete the final sum.

27 + 18 − 27 + 1 = 18 + 1 = 19

Answer: 𝒈𝒈(𝟑𝟑) = 𝟏𝟏𝟗𝟗

Guided Example

If 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = (𝒙𝒙 + 𝟕𝟕)(𝟔𝟔 − 𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 )(𝟒𝟒 + 𝒙𝒙) what is the value of 𝒇𝒇(𝟒𝟒)?

Step 1: Substitute 𝑥𝑥 = 4 into the function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥).

Step 2: Simplify each term where possible.

Step 3: Compute the final sum.


Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

1. Complete the following:


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

b) Find the value of 𝑔𝑔(7) when 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 4𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 2 .

c) Find the value of ℎ(9) when ℎ(𝑎𝑎) = √𝑎𝑎 − 2𝑎𝑎3 + 1.

3
d) Find the value of 𝑓𝑓(−8) when 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 5𝑥𝑥 + 3( √𝑥𝑥 ) − 2𝑥𝑥 2 .

2. Solve the following for x:

a) ℎ(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 5𝑥𝑥 + 2, ℎ(𝑥𝑥 ) = −4.

b) 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 18𝑥𝑥 − 2, 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 6.

4
3. If 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 3 − 2� √𝑥𝑥 � + 1 what is an expression for 𝑔𝑔(16𝑥𝑥)?
Section B – Higher Only

Worked Example

Find the inverse function of 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟐𝟐𝒙𝒙 + 𝟏𝟏.

Step 1: Replace 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) with 𝑦𝑦.

𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 1

Step 2: Rearrange the terms to make 𝑥𝑥 the subject of the equation.

𝑦𝑦 − 1 = 2𝑥𝑥

𝑦𝑦 − 1
= 𝑥𝑥
2

Step 3: Replace 𝑥𝑥 with 𝑦𝑦 and 𝑦𝑦 with 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥).

𝑥𝑥 − 1
= 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥)
2
𝒙𝒙−𝟏𝟏
Answer: 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) =
𝟐𝟐

Guided Example

𝟐𝟐−𝒙𝒙
Find the inverse function of 𝒉𝒉(𝒙𝒙) = .
𝒙𝒙

Step 1: Replace ℎ(𝑥𝑥 ) with 𝑦𝑦.

Step 2: Make 𝑥𝑥 the subject of the equation.

Step 3: Replace 𝑥𝑥 with 𝑦𝑦 and 𝑦𝑦 with ℎ−1 (𝑥𝑥).


Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

4. Find the inverse of the following functions:

a) 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 4𝑥𝑥 + 7

b) 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 15𝑥𝑥 2 + 3

2𝑥𝑥
c) 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) =
3+𝑥𝑥

4−3𝑥𝑥
d) ℎ(𝑥𝑥 ) =
𝑥𝑥+3
5. Find the value of 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3 if 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑓𝑓 −1 (6).

9−9𝑥𝑥 2
6. Find the value of 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = if 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑔𝑔−1 (7).
𝑥𝑥 2

7. Solve ℎ(𝑥𝑥 ) = 3𝑥𝑥 2 + 6 for 𝑥𝑥 given ℎ−1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 2.

8. If 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 5𝑥𝑥 2 − 3 what is 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)?


Section C – Higher Only
Worked Example

Given 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟐𝟐𝒙𝒙 − 𝟕𝟕 and 𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟒𝟒𝒙𝒙 + 𝟓𝟓 find 𝒇𝒇𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙).

Step 1: Place the innermost function 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) into the outermost function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) in place of 𝑥𝑥.

𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 2𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) − 7 = 2(4𝑥𝑥 + 5) − 7

Step 2: Simplify by expanding the brackets and collecting like terms.

𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 2(4𝑥𝑥 + 5) − 7 = 8𝑥𝑥 + 10 − 7


𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 8𝑥𝑥 + 3

Answer: 𝒇𝒇𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟖𝟖𝒙𝒙 + 𝟑𝟑

Worked Example

Given 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 − 𝟕𝟕𝒙𝒙 and 𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟑𝟑𝒙𝒙 − 𝟑𝟑 find 𝒇𝒇𝒈𝒈(𝟐𝟐).

Step 1: Place the innermost function 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) into the outermost function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) in place of 𝑥𝑥.
𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = (3𝑥𝑥 − 3)2 − 7(3𝑥𝑥 − 3)

Step 2: Simplify by expanding the brackets and collecting like terms.


𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = (3𝑥𝑥 − 3)(3𝑥𝑥 − 3) − 7(3𝑥𝑥 − 3)
𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = (9𝑥𝑥 2 − 9𝑥𝑥 − 9𝑥𝑥 + 9) − 7(3𝑥𝑥 − 3)
𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 9𝑥𝑥 2 − 18𝑥𝑥 + 9 − 21𝑥𝑥 + 21 = 9𝑥𝑥 2 − 39𝑥𝑥 + 30

Step 3: Substitute 𝑥𝑥 = 2 into 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) to find 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(2).


𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(2) = 9(2)2 − 39(2) + 30
𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(2) = −12

Answer: 𝒇𝒇𝒈𝒈(𝟐𝟐) = −𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟐


Guided Example
Given 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟓𝟓𝒙𝒙 + 𝟑𝟑 and 𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟑𝟑𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟐, find 𝒈𝒈𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙).

Step 1: Place the innermost function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) into the outermost function 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) in place of 𝑥𝑥.

Step 2: Simplify by expanding the brackets and collecting like terms.

Guided Example

𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 −𝟑𝟑
Given 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = and 𝒈𝒈(𝒙𝒙) = 𝟑𝟑𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟐, find 𝒇𝒇𝒈𝒈(𝟔𝟔).
𝒙𝒙

Step 1: Place the innermost function 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) into the outermost function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) in place of 𝑥𝑥.

Step 2: Simplify by expanding the brackets and collecting like terms.

Step 3: Substitute 𝑥𝑥 = 6 into 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) to find 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(6).


Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

𝑥𝑥
8. Find 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ), given 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 3(𝑥𝑥 − 4) and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = + 1.
5

1 5
9. Find 𝑔𝑔𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ), given 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 3𝑥𝑥 + 5 and 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 − .
3 2

3 8𝑥𝑥 3 −1
10. Given 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 1 − 2𝑥𝑥 3 and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = − 4, show that 𝑔𝑔𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = .
𝑥𝑥 1−2𝑥𝑥 3

11. Given 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 4𝑥𝑥 + 6 and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 9, find the value of 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(3).
12. Given 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 4 and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 4𝑥𝑥 − 1, find the value of 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 − 2).

5
13. Given 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = and 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 7𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 − 2, find the value of 𝑔𝑔𝑓𝑓(4).
4𝑥𝑥

14. If 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 1, what is 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)?

15. If 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 2 and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥 ) = 12𝑥𝑥 − 1, which value is greater: 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔(3) or 𝑔𝑔𝑓𝑓(3)?

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