MIND ACTION SERIES

Empowering Educators, Unlocking Student Potential - A Future-Focused Approach

MATHEMATICS WORKSHOP

FUNCTIONS

GRADE 11

Presented by: Jurg Basson

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Functions
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THE MOTHER FUNCTIONS

y A straight line passing

Linear Function through (0 ; 0).
y=x Domain: x ∈!
(Straight Line) x
Range: y ∈!

y
A curve with a turning
Quadratic Function point at (0 ; 0).
y = x2 Domain: x ∈!
(Parabola)
Range: y ≥ 0
x

y Two curves with the x-axis

and the y-axis as
Reciprocal Function 1 asymptotes.
y=
(Hyperbola) x x Domain: x ≠ 0 ; x ∈!
Range: y ≠ 0 ; y ∈!

y An increasing curve with

y=b x 1 the x-axis as asymptote.
Domain: x ∈!
(b > 1) x
Range: y > 0
Exponential Function
(Exponential Curve) y A decreasing curve with
y=b x 1 the x-axis as asymptote.
(0 < b < 1) x Domain: x ∈!
Range: y > 0
TRANSFORMATIONS OF FUNCTIONS

Function Notation Effect on Equation Effect on Graph

Vertical Shift
Graph shifts
f (x) + q A constant (q) is added
to the function formula • up when q > 0
• down when q < 0
Translation (In accordance with sign of q.)
(Shift)
Change in position A constant (p) is added Horizontal shift
directly to x, wherever x Graph shifts
f (x + p) appears in the function • left when p > 0
formula. (x is replaced • right when p < 0
with x + p) (Opposite to sign of p.)
The sign of the entire Reflection in the x-axis
function formula Graph flips about the x-axis
− f (x) changes. (The sign of
every term in formula
Reflection changes)
Change in orientation
x is replaced with −x Reflection in the y-axis
wherever x appears in Graph flips about the y-axis
f (−x) function formula

The entire function Vertical stretch/squash

formula is multiplied by Graph is:
a constant (a). (Every • stretched away from x-axis
Stretch/Squash af (x) term of the formula is if a > 1 or a < −1
Change in shape multiplied by a.) • squashed towards x-axis if
−1 < a < 1
If a is negative the graph is
also reflected in x-axis.
INTERPRETATION OF GRAPHS

Inequalities

If you are required to solve an inequality in the context of functions, you should try to use a
graphical approach, rather than an algebraic approach.

To solve the inequality… Look for the values of x for which…

f (x) > 0 f is above the x-axis

f (x) < 0 f is below the x-axis

f (x) > g(x) f is above g

f (x) < g(x) f is below g

f (x)⋅ g(x) > 0 f and g have the same sign (Both are above the x-
axis OR both are below the x-axis)

f and g have opposite signs (f is above the x-axis and

f (x)⋅ g(x) < 0 g is below the x-axis OR f is below the x-axis and g
is above the x-axis)
EXAMPLE 1

The following sketch shows the graphs of f (x) = x 2 − 6x − 7 and g(x) = ax + b.

y

Q f

R A O N B x

C
S

T is the turning point of f. TPN and QRS are perpendicular to the x-axis.

(a) Determine
(1) the length of AB.
(2) the coordinates of C.
(3) the values of a and b.
(4) the coordinates of T.
(5) the length of PT.
(6) the length of OR if QS = 18 units.

(b) Write down the range of f.

(c) For which values of x is

(1) f (x) ≥ g(x)?
(2) f (x)⋅ g(x) < 0?

(d) Write down the coordinates of the turning point of

(1) y = f (x − 2)
(2) y = f (−x)
EXAMPLE 2

The sketch shows the graphs of f (x) = 5 − x and g (a hyperbola).

y
s P g

A
B

g 0 2 x
−1 f

(a) Determine the equation of g.

(b) Write down the domain of g.

(c) Determine the equation of s, an axis of symmetry of g.

(d) Determine the coordinates of A and B.

(e) Determine the average gradient of g between A and B.

a
(f) If y = is the reflection of g in the y-axis, determine the values of a and b.
x+b

(g) If y = g(x + p) + q has vertical asymptote x = 4 and passes through the point (6; 4),
determine the values of p and q.
EXAMPLE 3

6
(a) The sketch shows the graphs of f (x) = + 2 and g(x) = −x + 8 :
x −1
y

A
B
f

C D x
g

(1) Write down the domain and range of f.

(2) Write down the equation of the vertical asymptote of f.

(3) Calculate the length of CD.

(4) Determine the coordinates of A and B.

(5) Determine the average gradient of f between x = 2 and x = 4.

(6) For which values of x is

(i) f (x) < 0?
(ii) f (x) ≥ g(x)?
(iii) f (x)⋅ g(x) ≤ 0?
(7) Determine the equations of the axes of symmetry of f.

(8) h is obtained by reflecting f in the y-axis and then shifting the result 3 units up.
Write down the equation of h.
EXAMPLE 4

(d) The following sketch show the graphs of f (x) = −2 x + 4 and g(x) = 2 x+1 + q, with
asymptotes PQ and RS respectively.
y
g

P Q
M
E C
A
D
O B x
F
R S

(1) Find the value of q.

(2) Write down the equation of

(i) PQ
(ii) RS

(3) Write down the range of f.

(4) Determine the coordinates of

(i) A
(ii) B
(ii) C

(5) If OD = 1 unit, determine the length of EF.

(6)* Explain how the graph of g can be transformed to produce the graph of f.
(Hint: This transformation consists of three steps.)

(7) For which values of x is f (x)⋅ g(x) < 0?

EXAMPLE 5

(e) The sketch shows the graph of f (x) = b x + t and g(x) = a(x − 2)2 + 1. h is the asymptote of f
and passes through P, the turning point of g. PQ is parallel to the y-axis.
PQ = 9 units.
y f
Q

P
h
0 A
x

(1) Write down the coordinates of P.

(2) Write down the range of

(i) f
(ii) g

(3) Write down the domain of f.

(4) Find the values of a, b and t.

(5) Find the lengths of

(i) OC
(ii) OA

(6) The graph of s(x) = c x + q is produced by reflecting f in the y-axis and then shifting
the result downwards. s passes through the origin. Determine the values of c and q.
MORE ADVANCED GRAPH INTERPRETATION

EXAMPLE 6

The sketch shows the graphs of f (x) = 2x − 7 and g(x) = x 2 − 6x − 7.

y
g
f

P
0
x
A

PQ is a vertical line segment with xA < xP < xB . Determine the maximum length of PQ.
NATURE OF ROOTS

The roots of an equation are its solutions. The following example illustrates how problems about the
nature of roots of an equation are solved graphically:

EXAMPLE 7

The following sketch shows the graph of f (x) = x 2 − 4x + 3 :

y

0 1 2 3
x

−1
(2;− 1)

(a) How many roots does f (x) = 0 have?

(b) If f ( x + p ) = 0 has one negative root and one positive root, determine the value(s) of p.

(c) For which values of k does f (x) = k have two distinct real roots?

(d) For which value of p does x 2 − 4x + 3 = p have equal roots?

(e) For which values of t will x 2 − 4x + t = 0 have non-real roots?

EXAMPLE 8
x−1
⎛ 1⎞
The following sketch shows the graph of f (x) = − ⎜ ⎟ + 4 and g(x) = a ⋅ 3x + q.
⎝ 2⎠

g f

B 0
x

(1) Determine the lengths of

(i) OA
(ii) OB

(2) Determine the values of a and q.

(3) Write down the range of g.

(4) Determine the average gradient of f between x = 1 and x = 2.

(5) For which values of x is

(i) f (x) > 0?

(ii) f (x) ≤ g(x)?

(iii) x ⋅ f (x) ≤ 0?

(6) Write down the equation of the reflection of f in the

(i) x-axis.

(ii) y-axis.

(7) The graph of h(x) = f (x + p) passes through the origin. Determine the value of p.

(8) For which values of k does f (x) = k have a real solution?

*EXAMPLE 9

A ball is thrown, at an angle, from the top of a building, as shown in the following sketch.
The height of the building is 20 m. The ball reaches its original height again after travelling
across a horizontal distance of 30 m. The ball finally hits the ground 40 m from the foot of
the building. A set of axes is placed as shown in the sketch.
y

x
30 m
Building

20 m

40 m

Ground level

(1) Determine the equation of the parabolic path followed by the ball.
(2) Determine the maximum height reached by the ball.

(3) What is the domain of this graph?

(4) What is the range of this graph?
(5) If the ball was thrown, at the same angle from the top of a 30 m tall building, how far
from the foot of the building would it have hit the ground?
*EXAMPLE 10

22 x − 4
The graph of f (x) = is shown:
2x − 2
y
f

B
A

The point B is excluded from the graph of f because f is undefined there.

(1) Determine the coordinates of A.

(2) Determine the equation of the horizontal asymptote of f.
(3) Determine the coordinates of B.
(4) Write down the domain of f.
(5) Write down the range of f.