[CHAPTER 5] Functions

5.1 Relation

A relation is a correspondence between a first set, called the domain, and a second set, called the codomain,
such that each member of the domain corresponds to at least one member of the codomain.

Types of relation:
 One to one
 One to many
 Many to one
 Many to many

5.2 Functions

A function is a correspondence between a first set, called the domain, and a second set, called the codomain,
such that each member of the domain corresponds to exactly one member of the codomain. A function can be
illustrated as a rule that operates on an input and process an output. Only one output will be produced every
time for any given output. This means that a function is either one-to-one relation or many-to-one relation.

Input Output
x Rule f(x)
Function

Let f denote a function from A into B, then this is represented by,

f: A  B

Read as ‘ f is a function from A into B,’ or ‘ f takes/maps A into B.’

x 1
Example 1: Given a function f ( x)  , find the value of:
x2

a) f ( 2 x)
1 
b) f  x2 
3 
2
c) f 
 x
d) f ( 2  3 x)
e) f ( x  h)

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 [CHAPTER 5] Functions

5.3 Composite Functions

Composite functions are functions that arise as a result of the combination of two or more basic functions. The
composite function g  f is denoted by g  f x   g f (x) and its mapping is shown in the diagram below:
f g

x
f(x)
g[f(x)]

g  f or f  g
In general f  g is not the same as g  f .

Example 2

1. Given the function f : x  3x  2 and g : x  5x  1 , find

(a ) gf
(b) fg
(c) gg
2
(d ) f

2. The functions f and g are as follows. Find:

3
f ( x)  g ( x)  3  2 x
x

(a) g2(0)
(b) fg(1)
(c) gf(2)
(d) f2(x)

5
3. The functions g and h are as follows. g ( x) and h( x)  7(9 x  3) Find,
3  7x
(a) g2(-5)
(b) gh(7)
(c) h2(x)

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 [CHAPTER 5] Functions

5.4 Inverse Functions

A function f is one-to-one if different inputs have different outputs:

That is if a  b then f (a)  f (b) .

If a function is onte-to-one, then its inverse exists. For any function, each member of the domain corresponds to
one, and only one, member of the codomain. If f : x  y is a function, then y  x also a function. We call
this function the inverse function of f, written f 1 : y  x .
f
Procedure to find the inverse function:
i. Replace f(x) with y into the function
ii. Interchange x and y to give x = f(y). x y
iii. Solve for y.
iv. Replace y with f-1(x).
f-1
Example:

18
1. A function is defined by f : x  . Find
x 8
1
(a) f (5)
1
(b) f (3)

3x  2
2. A function is defined by f : x  , for all values of x except x = 1. Find
x 1
(a) f (11)
(b) f -1 (4)

x
3. Two functions are defined as f (x) = 3x + 4, g ( x)  . Find
2
(a) fg
(b) f –1
(c) gf
(d) g-1 f -1
(e) g-1

5 8  5x
4. Three functions are defined as f ( x)  x  3, g ( x)  12  4 x, and h( x)  . Find,
2 3
(a) f2
(b) fg (3)
(c) f-1g (2)
(d) ghf (x)
(e) hgf (-2)

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 [CHAPTER 5] Functions

Tutorial

Question 1

Find the value of f(x), given the following functions and its x values.

(a ) f : x  x 2  3x  5; x4
(b) f : x   2 x 2  4 x  5; x  1
(c ) f : x  7  x  x 2 ; x  3 and x  1
(d ) f : x  3  2 x  x 2 ; x  0 and x  5
(e) f : x  x 2  2; x  9 and x  7
( f ) f : x  2 x  x 2 ; x  2 and x  2

Solutions:

(a) 9; (b) 11; (c) 5, 1; (d) 3, -12; (e) 79, 47; (f) -8, 0

Question 2

Three functions f, g and h are given as

x
f :x4 x g : x  2x  1 h: x 
3

(a) fg (b) gh (c) h2 (d) hf (e) ghf (f) h2g

Solutions:

(a) 5 – 2x
2x
(b) –1
3
x
(c)
9
4x
(d)
3
2
(e) (4-x) – 1
3
2x  1
(f)
9

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 [CHAPTER 5] Functions

Question 3

Given the functions f and g, find the following:

f : x  3x  2 g : x  5x  1

(a) gf (b) fg(1) (c) gg (d) f2

Solutions:

(a) 15x – 9
(b) 16
(c) 25x + 6
(d) 9x – 8

Question 4

20
Given f : x  6 x  , find ff (2 ½ )
x

Answer: 39 17

Question 5

3x  2
Given f : x  , find f2
4

9 x  14
Answer:
16

Question 6

Given a function f : x  3 x  1 . Find

2
(a) f

1
(b) f

(c ) f  2 1

(d ) f  1 2

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 [CHAPTER 5] Functions

Solutions:
(a) 9 x  4

x 1
(b )
3

x4
(c )
9

x4
(d )
9

Question 8

The functions g and f are defined as

g(x) = 9 – x
f (x) = 2x + 3

( a ) fg

2
(b ) f

1
(c ) f

( d ) g 1

Solutions:

( a ) 21  2 x

(b) 4 x  9

x3
(c )
2

(d ) 9  x

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