Functions and Domains Drill

FUNCTIONS AND DOMAINS DRILL

1. If f(x) = , g(x) = x2 – 36, and h(x) = x3 + 2, then f(g(h(2))) =

(A) –10
(B) –8
(C) 0
(D) 8
(E) 10

2. What is the domain of f(x) = ?

(A) 0 < x < 5

(B) All real numbers; x ≠ 0
(C) All real numbers; x ≠ 5
(D) All real numbers; x ≠ 0, 5
(E) x < 0 and x > 5

3. Find the domain of f(x) = .

(A) (–∞,–1)
(B) (–1,1)
(C) (1,∞)
(D) (–∞,1)
(E) (–1,∞)

4. If f(x) = 3x + 2 and g(x) = (x – 2)2, then g (f (0)) =

(A) –14
(B) –4
(C) 0
(D) 4
(E) 14

5. What is the domain of ?

(A) All real numbers

(B) All real numbers ; x ≠ 0
(C) All real numbers ; x ≠ 2
(D) All real numbers ; x ≠ –2
(E) All real numbers ; x ≠ ± 2

6. Consider the function, f(x) = x3 + x2 − 2x + 6. Which of the following must be false?

(A) There is a relative maximum at x = –2.

(B) There is an absolute maximum on the interval [2,4] at x = 4.
 (C) There is a relative minimum at x = .

(D) There is an absolute minimum at x = , on the interval [–4, 1].

(E) There is an absolute maximum at x = –2, on the interval [–4, 1].

7. Consider the function f(x) = . What type of discontinuity occurs at x = 2?

(A) point
(B) essential
(C) removable

(D) jump
(E) There is no discontinuity at x = 2.

8. For what value of a is the function f(x) = continuous at x = 1?

(A) –3
(B) –2
(C) –1
(D) 0
(E) 1

9. Given the function f(x) = f(x) = , at what value of a will the function be continuous?

(A) –10
(B) –7
(C) –5
(D) 1
(E) 5
Functions and Domains Drill Answers and
Explanations
ANSWER KEY
1. D
2. E
3. B
4. B
5. E
6. D
7. D
8. B
9. C
EXPLANATIONS
1. D We must combine the functions starting from the innermost operation and work outwards.

Calculate h(2) rst.

h(2) = 23 + 2 = 10

Calculate g(10) next.

g(10) = (10)2 – 36 = 64

Calculate f(64) next.

f(64) = = 8.

2. E To nd the domain of this function, we must nd where the denominator is equal to zero.

Set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.

=0
x2 − 5x = 0
x(x − 5) = 0

x = 0; x = 5

Since the radical is in the denominator, and requires an even root, the values of x must produce a positive
radicand, so we must test values to see what yields a result greater than zero. Test values around the x-
values.

f(–1) = + f(2) = – f(6) = +

Therefore, the domain must be x < 0 and x > 5.

3. B Find the domain of f(x) = .

Since the function has an even root, it must be greater than or equal to zero. But rst, we must set it equal to
zero to nd what x is equal to.

=0
1 − x2 = 0
1 = x2
±1 = x

Test values around the x-values found in step 1.

f(–2) = – f(0) = + f(2) = –

Therefore, the domain must be (–1, 1).

4. B We must calculate the value of the composite function starting with the innermost value. Find f(0) rst.

f(0) = 3(0) + 2 = 2

Find g(2) next.

g(2) = (2 – 2)2 = 0
5. E Set the denominator equal to zero and solve for x.

x2 – 4 = 0
x2 = 4
x=±2

6. D Set the rst derivative equal to zero to determine the critical points: f′(x) = 3x2 + 5x − 2 = 0. Thus, x =
and x = –2. In order to determine whether these points are maximums or minimums, take the second
derivative and evaluate it at each of the critical points: f″(x) = 6x + 5, and f″(–2) = –7. Since,

the second derivative is positive at x = , that x = is at a minimum. Similarly, because the second
derivative is negative at x = –2, x = –2 is at a maximum. These points are relative minima and maxima over
the entire function, because there are no bounds on the function. These points are absolute minima and
maxima on closed intervals if there are no other points that are less or greater than those.

7. D Graph the function to see the discontinuity. If you cannot, notice that the function shifts position at x = 2
and it is not continuous at that point. The limits on either side of x = 2 are not equal, so the discontinuity
cannot be a point or removable. Furthermore, there is no asymptote, so the discontinuity is not essential.
Therefore, it is a jump discontinuity.

8. B There are three conditions that must be satis ed for a function to be continuous: 1. f(c) exists. 2. f(x)
exists. 3. f(x) = f(c). For this function, condition 1 is met because f(1) = 0. For the function to be
continuous, the left and right hand limits must be equal when approaching x = 1. Therefore, we must set a
+ 2 = 0 and a = –2. When a = –2, the third condition is also met: the limit will equal 0 and f(1) = 0.

9. C For a function to be continuous, three conditions need to be met: f(c) exists, f(x) exists, and f(x) =
f(c). For a piecewise function, the f(c) and the limit as x approaches c must be equal for both pieces,
especially at the point where the pieces meet, in this case, x = 1. So, rst determine f(1) by plugging 1 into
the top piece: f(1) = –2. Then, set the second piece equal to that value and solve for a. When this is done, a
= –5. To verify that the function is truly continuous, take the left and right hand limits of f(x) as x
approaches 1. Both the left and right hand limits equal –2, so the limit exists and it is equal to f(1), so the
function is continuous when a = –5.
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