The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Department of Applied Mathematics

AMA1110 Tutorial Set #01

Functions, Domains and Ranges

A function f: A  BR assigns a number in A (called domain) to ONE number in B
(called codomain).

By a domain (Dom(f)), we mean a set of all allowable inputs of a function f.

By a range (Range(f)), we mean a set of all allowable outputs of a function f. In general, a
range is a subset of codomain.

Intervals
By intervals, we mean
[a, b]  {xR: a  x  b} (closed interval)
(a, b)  {xR: a  x  b} (open interval)
[a, b)  {xR: a  x  b} (left-closed right-open interval)
(a, b] {xR: a  x  b} (left-open right-closed interval)
[a, ) {xR: a  x  } (closed interval, unbounded above)
(, b] {xR:   x  b} (closed interval, unbounded below)
(a, ) {xR: a  x  } (open interval, unbounded above)
(, b) {xR:   x  b} (open interval, unbounded below)

Unions and Intersections

Let A and B be sets. Then
(1) the union A  B  {x: xA or xB}
(2) the intersection A  B  {x: xA and xB}
(3) the relative complement A\B  {x: xA and xB}
(4) the product AB  {(x, y): xA and yB}

Subsets
Let A and B be sets. Then A  B if every element inA is also element in B, mathematically,
we say xA, x B.

- 1 -
Elementary Functions

Polynomials
continuous on the whole real lines Fractional powers of x
continuous on [0,)

Sine, Cosine function Tangent function

continuous on the whole real lines continuous except x(2n1)π/2

Exponential function Logarithm function

continuous on the whole real lines continuous on (0,)

- 2 -
Question1 (Basic Level)
(a) Write down the maximum possible domain of each of the following functions.
30
(1) f (x)  x3 2x24x3 (2) f (x)  x
(3) f (x)  ex (4) f (x) sinx
(5) f (x)  tan x (6) f (x) ln x

(b) Write down the range of each of the functions in (a).

Operations on Functions
f
Domains of fg, fg and fg are all equal toDom(f)Dom(g), while the domain of  is
g
Dom(f)Dom(g){xR: g(x) 0}.

We can also define composite function gf bygf (x)  g(f (x)). Then

Dom(gf) {xDom(f): f (x)Dom(g)}

Question2  (Standard Level)

(a) State the largest possible domain and range of each of the following functions
1
(i) g (x) 
4x1
(ii) f (x)  x38

1
(b) Let f (x)  x x21 and g (x) .
x x21
(i) Find the largest possible domains of f and g;
(ii) Show that f g.
1
(c) Let f (x) , g (x) x1.
2x5
f
(i) Find fg, fgand , and describe their domains;
g
(ii) Find fg and gf, and describe their domains.

- 3 -
Question3  (Intermediate Level)
x3
(a) Find all values of c such that the domain of f (x)  isR.
x23cx6
(b) Prove the following associative law: f(gh)  (fg)h

Question4  (Standard Level)

What is the largest possible domain and range of each of the following f and g? Find a
formula for gf and a formula for fg. What are their domains?
1
(a) f (x)  andg (x) x1
2x1
1
(b) f (x) andg(x)  |x|
x2
1
(c) f (x) andg(x)  1x
3x2

Question5  (Standard Level)

Find the domain of the following functions:
1
(a) f (x)  x 1x (b) h (x) 
sin x  12
1
(c) r (x)  x23x2 (d) g (x) 
x24

Revision on Solving Equations (Optional, Very Basic)

Quadratic Equation
The equation ax2bxc0, where a 0, has a root xR if and only if
b b24ac
(1) x , and
2a
(2) Δ:b24ac0, which is called discriminant.

Hence, if Δ:b24ac 0, then ax2bxc0 cannot have real roots, and

  0 if a  0
ax2bxc
  0 if a  0

- 4 -
 a0 a0
Δ0 Δ0

Rational Root Test

p
If x   (p, qZ and are coprime) is a root of anxnan1xn1 a1x a0 0,
q
where aiZ, then pmust be a factor of a0, and q must be a factor of an.

Factor Theorem (Remark: One should not confuse it with “rational root test”)
A polynomial f (x) has a factor xα if and only if f (α)  0.

Exponential and Logarithmic Function  y  ex  x  ln y

Trigonometric Equations
Given αR such that
(1) y  sin α  for all ysin x, x  nπ (1)nα, for some n Z
(2) y  cos α  for all ycos x, x  2nπ α, for some n Z
(3) y  tan α  for all ytan x, x  nπ α, for some n Z

Drilling Exercises  (Optional, Very Basic)

1. Solve the following equations.
(a) 4x218cx  8c20  (c is a constant)
1
(b) cos x  
2
(c) e2x2yex1  0

2. αβ are the real roots of the equation

x2 (k  2) x  (k  1)  0.
If |α|  |β|, find k. (HKCEE 1992, Additional Mathematics)

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Drilling Exercises on Inequalities 
3. Solve the following simple inequalities.
(a) 7  3x  2  13
1
(b) 3  x31
2
x2 2x3 3x2
(c)   
2 5 6

4. Solve the following polynomial inequalities.

(a) x23x10  0
(b) x28x7 0
(c) 2x211x60
(d) (x  3) (x  2)  (x  1) (3x  8)
(e) (x  1) (x  2) (x  3) 0
(f) (2x  1) (3x  4) (4x  9)  0

5. Solve the following inequalities.

(a) 4x218cx  8c20  (c  0)
1
(b) cos x  
2
(c) e2x2yex1  0

6. Solve the following inequalities involving absolute values.

(a) |x3|  x1
(b) 2x1|x1|
(c) |x22x16|  8
(d) (x3) |x  1|  3
(e) |x2|  |x3| 6

7. Solve the following inequalities involving rational functions.

x10
(a) 0
x23
x
(b) 7  0
2x1
(x3)(x2)
(c) 0
x1

(d) 
4x1 
2
 3x5 

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One-to-one and Inverse Function
If  f (x)  f (y)  x  y, then f is said to be one-to-one. If f is one-to-one, then f has an
inverse function f1: Range(f)Range(f1)Dom(f) such thatf1(f (x))  x.

Question6  (Standard Level)

Find the inverse of the following functions, if exists. In this case, write down also the domain
of the inverse function. If there is no inverse, explain briefly.
(a) f (x)x22x7 with Dom(f) (, 1];
(b) f (x)x22x7 with Dom(f) ( 0.5, 5].


Question7  (Standard Level)

Find a formula and the maximum possible domain of the inverse of each of the following
functions.
(a) f (x)  4x31
9
(b) f (x)  2x5
4
(c) f (x)  1x
x2
(d) f (x)  
x7

Question8  (Concept)
Assume that f has an inverse function.
(a) Suppose the graph of f lies in the first quadrant. In which quadrant does the graph of
f1 lies?
(b) Suppose the graph of f lies in the second quadrant. In which quadrant does the graph of
f1 lies?

Revision on Trigonometric Identities

It is given that the compound angle formulas are:
sin (θ)  sin θ cos   cos θ sin 
cos (θ)  cos θ cossinθsin
tanθtan
tan(θ) 
1tanθtan

- 7 -
and Pythagoras’ Theorems are:
sin2θcos2θ  1,  tan2θ1sec2θ,  1cot2θcsc2θ

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The inverse trigonometric functions are defined such that
π π
sin1 : [11]  [  ], sin (sin1x)  x
2 2
cos1 : [11]  [0π] cos (cos1x)  x
π π
tan1 : ( )  (  ) tan (tan1x)  x
2 2

Question9  (Standard Level)

1
Let f (x)  2
 and g(x)  tan x. Show that (fg) (x)  cos2x.
1x

Question10  (Standard Level)

π
(a) Show that cos1ysin1y for every y[1, 1]
2
(b) Prove the compound-angle formula for tangent.
(c) Prove the double-angle formula: sin 2θ  2 sin θ cos θ, cos 2θ  cos2θsin2θ.
θ 1cosθ θ 1cosθ
(d) Prove the half-angle formula: cos2  and sin2  .
2 2 2 2
(e) Find the values in surd form of tan 150 and tan22.5 without using calculator.

Question11  (Exam Level)

Prove the following identities without using calculator.
1 1 π
(a) tan1 tan1 tan11 
2 3 4
3 24
(b) 2 sin1 sin1
5 25
63 12 4
(c) tan1 cos1 sin1
16 13 5

- 8 -
Question12 (Standard Level)
π
(a) Compute cos in surd form.
12
(b) Express sin4x in terms of first powers of trigonometric functions on multiple angles.

Question13  (HKCEE 1986, Additional Mathematics)

If θ is an obtuse angle and the equation in x,
3x2 (4 cos θ) x  2 sin θ  0,
has equal roots, find the value of θ.

Question14  (HKCEE Level)

Solve the equation, for 0  θ 2π,
(a) 3 tan θ  cot θ  5cscθ
(b) 3 (1  cos θ)  sin2θ (3  2 cos θ)
(c) 3 (3sin θ3 sin θ)  10

Question15  (HKCEE Level, Very Interesting)

(a) Prove that cos 3θ  4 cos3θ  3 cos θ
(b) By putting x  2 cos θ, show that the equation x3 3x1  0 can be transformed to
1
cos3θ .
2
(c) Hence, find, correct to two decimal places, the three roots of the equation in (b).

Question16 (Concept)
(a) Use compound angle formula to prove the product-to-sum formula:
sin (θ )  sin (θ )  2 sin θ cos
cos(θ)  cos (θ )  2 cos θ cos 
cos(θ)  cos (θ )  2 sin θ sin 
(b) Using results in (a), or otherwise, prove the sum-to-product formula:
xy xy xy xy
sin x  sin y  2 sin cos sin x  sin y  2 cos sin
2 2 2 2
xy xy xy xy
cosx  cos y  2 cos cos cosx  cos y   2 sin sin 
2 2 2 2

- 9 -
Question17 (Concept)
This question guides you to prove the compound angle formulae.
(a) We suppose θ (0 π/2), and a rectangle with an inscribed triangle as shown.
(i) Fill in the lengths of all the line segments of the figure in terms of θ and.

θ


θ

(ii) By (a) (i), show that

(1) sin (θ)  sin θ cos   cos θ sin; (2) cos (θ) cos θ cossinθsin

(b) We supposeθ (0 π/2), and a rectangle with an inscribed triangle as shown.
(i) Fill in the lengths of all the line segments of the figure in terms of θ and.

1


θ

(ii) By (b) (i), show that

(1) sin (θ)  sin θ cos  cos θ sin; (2) cos (θ)  cos θ cossinθsin

Odd and Even Functions

A function is called odd (or even) if  f (x)  f (x)  (or  f (x)  f (x)).

Question18   (Basic Level)

Determine whether the following functions are even, odd, or neither.
x41
(a) f (x)  sec x tan x (b) f (x)  (c) f (x)  1  sin x
x32x
(d) f (x)  x33 sin x (e) f (x)  2  x6cos x (f) f (x) 4x  x2x4

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