Functions

x + 10
1. A function f is defined by f : x → , x  8 Find
x −8
(i) f – 1 (5) , (ii) a positive number p such that f (p) = p. Answer: (i) 12.5 (ii) 10.
2. The function f is defined for x ∈ R by f : x → a − 2 x , where a is a constant.
(a) Express ff(x) and f −1(x) in terms of a and x. (b) Given that ff(x) = f −1(x), find x in terms of a.
−1 a−x a
Answers:(a) ff ( x) = 4 x − a , f ( x) = ;(b) x = .
2 3
x
3. The function f and g are defined by f : x → 3x + 4 and g : x → . Write down, in similar forms,
2
–1
fg, f , g – 1 and show that g –1 –1
= (f g) – 1
f .
3x + 8 −1 x − 4 −1 2x − 8
Answer: fg( x) = , f ( x) = , g ( x) = 2 x ; both are .
2 3 3
4. Functions f and g are defined for x ∈ >R by
1
f :x→ x−a, g : x → 3x + b , where a and b are constants.
2
(a) Given that gg(2) = 10 and f −1(2) = 14,find the values of a and b.
(b) Using these values of a and b, find an expression for gf(x) in the form cx + d, where c and
3
d are constants. Answers:(a) a = 5 , b = − 2 ;(b) gf ( x) = x − 17 .
2
4
5. Functions f and g are defined by f ( x) = 4 x − 2 , for x ∈ > R, g ( x) = , for x ∈ > R , x ≠ −1.
x +1
(a) Find the value of fg(7).
(b) Find the values of x for which f −1(x)= g−1(x). Answers:(a) fg(7) = 0;(b) x = 2 , x = – 8.
3x
6. Two function are defined by f : x → 2x + 1, g : x → − , x  −1. Find the numerical value of
x +1
x for which fg = gf. Answer: 1.25
7. A faction f is defined by f : x → 3x – 1.
(i) Write down in a similar form f 2 and f – 1.
(ii) Determine whether or not ( f 2 ) – 1 is the same function as ( f – 1) 2.
x +1 x+4
Answer: (i) f 2 (x) = 9x – 4, f −1 ( x) = (ii) yes, each .
3 9
1
8. The function f and g are defined for all real values of x by f : x → 2x + 3, g : x → , x ≠ 0 .Write
x
down in similar form expression for fg, gf, f – 1, g – 1 . Find the value of x for which fg = gf.
2 1 3 x − 3 −1 1
Answer: fg( x) → + 3, x  0; gf ( x) = , x  − ; f −1 ( x) = , g ( x) = , x  0;−1 .
x 2x + 3 2 2 x
9. Function f and g are defined by f : x → px + 2, g : x → qx + 3. If fg = gf, find the relation
between p and q. If also p = 5, find the values of x for which
(i) f f(x) = f(x) (ii) gg(x) = g(x). Answer: 3p – 2q = 1 (i) – 0.5 (ii) – 0.5.
12 b
10. Given the function f : x → , x  − that f (0) = – 3 and f (2) = – 6, find
ax + b a
(i) the values of a and b, (ii) the values of x for which f (x) = x.
Answer: (i) 1, – 4 (ii) –2, 6.
11. The functions f and g are defined for x ≥ 0 by f : x → 3 ax + b , g : x → x 2 , where a and
b are positive constants. Given that fg(1) = 2 and gf(9) = 16,
(i) calculate the values of a and b,
(ii) obtain an expression for f −1(x) and state the domain of f −1.
x3 − 1
Answer: (i) a = 7, b = 1 (ii) f −1 ( x) = ; Domain of f −1
is x ≥ 1.
7
a
12. The function f ( x) = + b is such that f (– 1) = 1.5 and f (2) = 9.
x
(i) State the value of x for which f is not defined.
–1
(ii) Find the value of a and b and hence evaluate f (4) and f (4).
Answer: (i) x = 0 (ii) a = 5, b = 6.5 (iii) f (4) = 7.75 , f –1(4) = – 2.
3
13. Functions f and g are defined on the set of real numbers by f ( x) = ,x ≠ k and g : x → 4x + 5.
x−2
(i) State the value of k. (ii)Express in similar form (a) gf, (b) f –1
(iii) Evaluate f g –1(9) .
5x + 2 −1 3 + 2x
Answers:(i) 2 (ii) (a) gf ( x) = , x ≠ 2 (b) f ( x) = , x ≠ 0 (iii) – 3.
x−2 x
14. Functions f, g and h are defined follows:
f : x → x − 4 x + 1 as for x ≥ 0,
g : x → mx 2 + n for x ≥ −2, where m and n are constants,
h:x→ x − 2 for x ≥ 0.
(i) Solve the equation f(x) = 0, giving your solutions in the form x = a + b c , where a, b
and c are integers.
(ii) Given that f(x) = gh(x) find the values of m and n.
Answers:(i) x = 7  4 3 (ii) m =1, n = −3.
5
15. The function f is defined by f(x) = 2 − for x > −2.
x+2
(a) State the range of f. (b) Obtain an expression for f −1(x) and state the domain of f −1.
The function g is defined by g(x) = x + 3 for x > 0.
ax + b
(b) Obtain an expression for fg(x) giving your answer in the form , where a, b, c and d
cx + d
2x + 1 2x + 5
are integers. Answers:(a) y < 2;(b) f −1 ( x) = , x < 2; (c) fg( x) = .
2− x x+5
2x 1
16. The function f is defined by f ( x) = for x  .
3x − 1 3
−1
(a) Find an expression for f (x).
2 2 2x
(b) Show that + can be expressed as and hence state the range of f.
3 3(3x − 1) 3x − 1
−1 x 2
Answers: (a) f ( x) = ; (b) f ( x)  .
3x − 2 3
17. The function f is defined by f ( x) = 2 x + 3 for x ≥ 0.
2

(a) Find and simplify an expression for ff(x).

(b) Solve the equation ff ( x) = 34 x + 19 . Answer: (a) ff ( x) = 8 x 4 + 24 x 2 + 21 (b) x = 1,0.5.
2
 2x + 1
18. Functions f and g are defined as follows: f ( x) = for x ≠ 0.5, g ( x) = x 2 + 4 for x ∈ > R.
2x −1
(a)

The diagram shows part of the graph of y = f(x). State the domain of f −1.
(b) Find an expression for f −1(x).
x +1
(c) Explain why g−1(x) cannot be found. Answers:(a) x ≠ 1;(b) f −1 ( x) = (c) Not 1 – 1.
2( x − 1)
19. Functions f and g are both defined for x ∈ > R and are given by
f ( x) = x 2 − 2 x + 5 , g ( x) = x 2 + 4 x + 13 .
(a) By first expressing each of f(x)and g(x) in completed square form, express g(x) in the form
f(x + p) + q, where p and q are constants.
(b) Describe fully the transformation which transforms the graph of y = f(x) to the graph of y = g(x).
−3
Answers:(a) f ( x) = ( x − 1) 2 + 4 ; g ( x) = ( x + 2) 2 + 9 ; g(x) = f(x + 3) + 5; (b) Translation  5  .
 
8 8
20. Functions f and g are defined by f ( x) = + 2 for x > 2, g ( x) = + 2 for 2 < x < 4.
x−2 x−2
(i) State the range of the function f. (ii) State the range of the function g.
(iii) State the range of the function fg. (iv) Explain why the function gf cannot be formed.
Answers: (i) f(x) > 2;(ii) g(x) > 6;(iii) 2 < fg(x) < 4;
(iv) The range of f is not contained in the domain of g.
2x 1
21. The function f is defined by f ( x) = for x  .
3x − 1 3
−1
(c) Find an expression for f (x).
2 2 2x
(d) Show that + can be expressed as and hence state the range of f.
3 3(3x − 1) 3x − 1
x
Answers: (a) f −1 ( x) =
2
; (b) f ( x)  .
3x − 2 3
22. The functions f and g are defined for all real values of x by f ( x) = (3 x − 2) 2 + k and g(x) = 5x – 1,
where k is a constant.
(a) Given that the range of the function g f is gf(x) ≥ 39, find the value of k.
(b) For this value of k, determine the range of the function fg.
(c) The function h is defined for all real values of x and is such that gh(x) = 35x + 19. Find an
expression for g – 1 (x) and hence, or otherwise, find an expression for h(x).
Answers: (a) k = 8;(b) fg(x) ≥ 8;(c) h(x) = 7x + 4.
23.

2
The diagram shows the graph of y = f(x). On this diagram sketch the graph of y = f −1(x).
x
(a) It is now given that f ( x) = − where −2 < x < 2. Find an expression for f −1(x).
4 − x2
The function g is defined by g(x) = 2x for −a < x < a, where a is a constant.
(c) State the maximum possible value of a for which fg can be formed.
(d) Assuming that fg can be formed, find and simplify an expression for fg(x).
x +1 −x
Answers: (b) f −1 ( x) = (c) a =1; (c) fg( x) = .
2( x − 1) 1− x 2

x2 − 4
24. The function f is defined as by f ( x) = for x > 2.
x2 + 4
(a) Find an expression for f −1(x).
8 x2 − 4
(b) Show that 1 − 2 can be expressed as 2 and hence state the range of f.
x +4 x +4
(c) Explain why the composite function ff cannot be formed.
4x + 4
Answers: (a) f −1 ( x) = , x ≤ 1; (b) 0 < f(x) < 1; (c) Because the range of f does not include
1− x
the whole of the domain of f.
25. The functions f and g are defined by f ( x) = x 2 − 4 x + 3 for x > c, where c is a constant and
1
g ( x) = for x > −1.
x +1
(a) Express f(x) in the form ( x − a ) 2 + b .
(b) It is given that f is a one-one function. State the smallest possible value of c.
(c) It is now given that c = 5. Find an expression for f −1(x) and state the domain of f −1.
(d) Find an expression for gf(x) and state the range of gf.
1
Answer: (a) a = 2, b = −3 (b) c = 2; (c) f −1 ( x) = 2 + x + 1 , x > 8 ;(d), 0  gf ( x) 
.
9
26. The function f is such that f(x) = 2x + 3 for x ≥ 0. The function g is such that g(x) = ax2 + b for
x ≤ q, where a, b and q are constants. The function fg is such that fg(x) = 6x2 − 21 for x ≤ q.
(i) Find the values of a and b. (ii)Find the greatest possible value of q.
It is now given that q = −3.
(iii) Find the range of fg. (iv) Find an expression for (fg)−1(x) and state the domain of ( fg)−1.
−1 x + 21
Answer: (i) a = 3, b = −12 (ii) q = − 2; (iii) y ≥ 33; (iv) f ( x) = − , x ≥ 33.
6