MHF 4U1

AVERAGE RATE OF CHANGE

def AVERAGE RATE OF CHANGE

The average rate of change for any function y = f ( x ) between x = a and x = b is
f (b ) − f (a )
b−a
Graphically, it is the slope of the secant through (a, f (a )) and (b, f (b )) .

def SECANT
A line between two points on a graph.

Ex. 1 Given f (x ) = x .
a) Graph f (x ) = x .

b) Draw the secants that pass through

i. (1,1) and (4,2)
ii. (1,1) and (16,4)
c) Determine the slope of each secant in b).

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Ex. 2 A ball is dropped from a building with a height of 125 m. After t seconds, it is s meters
above the ground, where s (t ) = 125 − 5t 2 , 0  t  5 .
a) Find the average velocity of the ball between times t = 1 s and t = 3 s.

b) Find the average velocity of the ball between 2 seconds and 5 seconds.

Ex. 3 Determine the rate of change of the area of a circular oil slick with respect to its radius as
the radius changes from 3 m to 8 m.

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INSTANTANEOUS RATE OF CHANGE

def INSTANTANEOUS RATE OF CHANGE

The instantaneous rate of change for any function y = f ( x ) at x = a is the slope of the
tangent to the function at x = a .

def TANGENT
A line that touches but does not cross the graph.

Ex. 1 Given f (x ) = x .
a) Graph f (x ) = x .

b) Draw the tangent at

iii. (1,1)
iv. (9,3)
c) Determine the slope of each tangent in b).

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Ex. 2 A stone falls freely from rest from the edge of a cliff. After t seconds its height with
respect to the cliff is h(t ) = −5t 2 in meters.
a) Complete the following table to predict the approximate instantaneous rate of change in
the stone’s height with respect to time at exactly two seconds after falling.
t1 t2 t = t 2 − t1 h = h(t 2 ) − h(t1 ) slope of secant
2 5
2 4
2 3
2 2.5
2 2.1
2 2.01
2 2.001
2 2.0001
b) Use the graph below to show how the sequence of slopes of secants you computed is
leading to an approximation for the slope of the tangent at t = 2 seconds.

The slope of the tangent at 2 seconds is ____________________.

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Ex. 3 A ball is dropped from a building with a height of 125 m. After t seconds, it is s meters
above the ground, where s (t ) = 125 − 5t 2 , 0  t  5 .
a) Find the instantaneous velocity of the ball at time t = 1 s.

b) Find the instantaneous velocity of the ball at time t = 3 s.

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Ex. 3 Determine the instantaneous rate of change of the area of a circular oil slick with respect
to its radius when the radius is 4 m.

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RATES OF CHANGE AND OPTIMUM POINT

At a maximum or minimum point, the instantaneous rate of change is __________.

For a maximum point, the instantaneous rate of change is _______________ before the point,

then __________ at the point, and then _______________ after the point.

For a minimum point, the instantaneous rate of change is _______________ before the point,

then __________ at the point, and then _______________ after the point.

Ex. 1 Show that the minimum value of the function occurs at .

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COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS

Composite functions are composed of two functions in one. Given two functions f ( x ) and
g ( x ) , the composite function is denoted f ( g ( x )) or f  g or ( f  g )(x ) .

Given f ( x ) = 2 x and g ( x ) = 3x 2 , complete the following mapping diagram for f ( g ( x )) .

g f
1
2
3
x

Ex. 1 Given f = (3,2), (5,1), (7,4), (9,3), (11,5) and g = (1,3), (2,5), (3,7 ), (4,9), (5,11), find:
a) f (g (3)) b) g ( f (9 ))

Ex. 2 If f ( x ) = x 2 − 3 and g (x ) = 2 x , find:

a) f (g (1)) b) (g  f )(1) c) f g

d) g  f e) f  f (3)

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Note: f ( g ( x )) does not necessarily equal g ( f ( x ))

Ex. 3 Given f (x ) = and g ( x ) = x 2 , show that f (g (x )) = g ( f (x )) .

1
x

Ex. 4 If f (x ) = 3x − 1 and g ( x ) = x 2 + x + 2 , determine values of x such that

f (g (x )) = g ( f (x )) .

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Ex. 5 Sketch the graph of f  g and state the domain and range if f ( x ) = x 2 − 2 x and
g (x ) = x + 1 .

Ex. 6 A forest fire spreads in a circular pattern. The radius of the forest fire increases by 0.5
km/day and is represented by the equation r (t ) = 0.5t , where r is the radius in km and t
is the time in days. Recall that area is function of radius according to A(r ) = r 2 .
a) Determine A(r (2)) . What does A(r (2)) mean in this context?

b) Determine A(r (t )) . What does A(r (t )) mean in this context?

Ex. 7 Given f (x ) = x + 1 , g ( x ) = x 3 , h(x ) = x , and m( x ) = x 2 − 2 , find two functions whose

composite function is p ( x ) .
a) p(x ) = x + 1 (
b) p(x ) = x 2 − 2 )
3
c) p( x ) = x 2 + 2 x − 1

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Ex. 8 If f (x ) = 2 x − 3 , find
a) f −1  f b) ( (x ))
f f −1

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ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF FUNCTIONS

ADDITION
The sum f + g , of two functions f and g is defined for the interval where f and g are both
defined. That is, any x belonging to the domain of f and to the domain of g , belongs to the
domain of __________. To find the y-coordinates of f + g , just _____ the
____________________ of both functions.
f + g = ( f + g )(x ) = f (x ) + g (x )

Ex. 1 Find f + g if f = (2,3), (3,5), (4,7 ), (− 3,−7 ), (0,−1) and g = (− 2,−5), (0,1), (1,4), (2,7 )

Ex. 2 Graph f + g .
a) b)
f
f

g g

SUBTRACTION
The difference f − g , of two functions f and g is defined for the interval where f and g are
both defined. That is, any x belonging to the domain of f and to the domain of g , belongs to
the domain of __________. To find the y-coordinates of f − g , just ____________________
the ____________________ of _____ from the ____________________ of _____.
f − g = ( f − g )(x ) = f (x ) − g (x )

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Ex. 3 Given f = (− 4,4), (− 2,4), (1,3), (3,5), (4,6) and g = (− 4,2), (− 2,1), (0,2), (1,2), (2,2), (4,4).
a) Find f − g .

b) Find g − f .

Ex. 4 Graph f − g .
a) b)
f
f
g

Ex. 5 Graph h(x ) = x +

1
.
x

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PRODUCTS AND QUOTIENTS OF FUNCTIONS

The product of any two functions f ( x ) and g ( x ) is denoted fg ( x ) and is defined by

fg (x ) = f (x )  g (x ) .

The quotient of any two functions f ( x ) and g ( x ) is denoted ( x ) and is defined by

f
g
f
(x ) = f (x ) .
g g (x )

Ex. 1 If f ( x ) = x + 3 and g ( x ) = x 2 + 5 x + 6 , find fg ( x ) .

a) Algebraically. b) Graphically.

Note: The domain of fg consists of all values that belong to both the domain of f ( x ) and the
domain of g ( x ) .

Ex. 2 If f ( x ) = x + 3 and g ( x ) = x 2 + 5 x + 6 , find (x ) .

f
g
a) Algebraically. b) Graphically.

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consists of all values that belong to both the domain of f ( x ) and the
f
Note: The domain of
g
domain of g ( x ) except those values for which g (x ) = _____.

Ex. 3 If f (x ) = 2 x + 4 and g (x ) = x , find (x ) and state its domain and range.

f
g
a) Algebraically. b) Graphically.

Ex. 4 The rate at which a contaminant leaves a storm sewer and enters a lake depends on two
factors: the concentration of the contaminant in the water from the sewer and the rate at
which the water leaves the sewer. Both of these factors vary with time. The
concentration of the contaminant, in kilograms per cubic meter of water, is given by
c(t ) = t 2 , where t is in seconds. The rate at which water leaves the sewer, in cubic

meters per second, is given by w(t ) = 4

1
.
t + 10
a) Determine the rate at which the contaminant leaves the sewers and enters the lake.
b) Determine the time at which the contaminant leaves the sewer and enters the lake at the
maximum rate.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNCTIONS INVESTIGATION

Part A: Addition and Subtraction of Polynomial Functions

Set A Set B
f (x ) = 3x 2 + 4 g (x ) = 2 x 3 + x
f ( x ) = x 4 − 3x 2 g (x ) = 4 x
f (x ) = x − 4
4
g ( x ) = − x 5 + 2x 3
f (x ) = 5 x 4 + 4 x 2 − 4 g (x ) = x 3 − x 5
f (x ) = 4 g (x ) = 2 x 5 + x 3 − 3x

1. Sketch each function in Set A one at a time. What does each function have in common?

2. Select any two functions from Set A and create a new function by adding them. Graph the
new function. Categorize the new function as even, odd or neither. Complete the table.
New Function Even/Odd/Neither
( ) (
y = 3x 2 + 4 + x 4 − 3x 2 )
y=( )+ ( )
y=( )+ ( )
y=( )+ ( )+ ( )

3. State a conclusion based on question 1 and 2.

4. Sketch each function in Set B one at a time. What does each function have in common?

5. Select any two functions from Set B and create a new function by adding them. Graph the
new function. Categorize the new function as even, odd or neither. Complete the table.
New Function Even/Odd/Neither
( )
y = 2 x 3 + x + (4 x )
y=( )+ ( )
y=( )+ ( )
y=( )+ ( )+ ( )

6. State a conclusion based on question 4 and 5.

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7. Will your conclusions hold for subtraction of functions as well? Verify by creating two new
functions from Set A and two new functions from Set B.
New Function Even/Odd/Neither
y=( )− ( )
y=( )− ( )
y=( )− ( )
y=( )− ( )

8. State a conclusion based on question 7.

9. What happens if you combine one function from each set by addition or subtraction?
New Function Even/Odd/Neither
y=( )+ ( )
y=( )+ ( )
y=( )− ( )
y=( )− ( )

10. State a conclusion based on question 9.

Part B: Addition and Subtraction of Functions

Repeat Part A using the following sets of functions.

Set A Set B
f (x ) = cos x g (x ) = sin x

f (x ) = x g (x ) =
1
x
2 1

f (x ) = x 3 g (x ) = x 3

Conclusion:
1. The sum or difference of two even functions is ______________________________.
2. The sum or difference of two odd functions is ______________________________.
3. The sum or difference of one even and one odd function is ____________________
________________________________________.

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Part C: Multiplication and Division of Functions

Set A (Even) Set B (Odd)

f (x ) = x 2 − 4 p(x ) = x 3 − 9 x
g ( x ) = cos x q(x ) = sin x
2 1

h( x ) = x 3 r (x ) = x 3

Complete the following table.

New Function Symmetry of Factor Functions Symmetry of New Function
y = f (x )  g (x ) even × even even
y = p(x )  q(x )
y = h( x )  q ( x )
g (x )
y=
h( x )
p(x )
y=
r (x )
f (x )
y=
r (x )
p(x )
y=
g (x )

Conclusion:
1. The product or quotient of two even functions is _________________________.
2. The product or quotient of two odd functions is _________________________.
3. The product or quotient of one even and one odd function is ____________________.

Part D: Composition of Functions

Create your own investigation of composition of pairs of a) even functions, b) odd functions,
and c) even and odd functions.

Conclusion:
1. The composition of two even functions is _________________________.
2. The composition of two odd functions is _________________________.
3. The composition of one even function and one odd function is ____________________.
4. If f ( x ) is even and g ( x ) is any function, then g  f is ____________________.

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PIECEWISE FUNCTIONS

def PIECEWISE FUNCTION

A function defined by more than one rule on two or more intervals. The graph is made
up of two or more functions.

− 2 ,x  0
Ex. 1 Given f (x ) = 
(x − 1) ,x  0
2

a) Graph. b) Find f (4 ) .

c) Find f (− 1) .

d) Find f (0 ) .

e) Find the x-intercept.

f) Find the y-intercept,

g) What is the domain and range?

h) What is the minimum value and when does it occur?

i) What is the maximum value and when does it occur?

j) Find the interval where the function is

i. increasing ii. decreasing iii. constant

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Ex. 2 Given the following graph.

a) Determine the algebraic representation.

b) Find f (− 4) . c) Find f (− 2) .

d) Find f (1) . e) Find f (4 ) .

f) What is the domain and range?

g) What is the maximum value and when does it occur?

h) Find the interval where the function is

i. increasing ii. decreasing iii. constant

Ex. 3 Graph a function that has all the following

properties.
a) f (1) = 2
b) f (3) = f (− 1) = 0
c) f (0) = 4
d) f (x )  0 for x  0
e) f (x )  0 for x  0
f) domain is x  R
g) range is − 4  y  4, y  R

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Ex. 4 Write an algebraic representation for the following.

Ex. 5 Without graphing, determine if the following function is continuous.

2( x + 1)2 − 1, x  0

f ( x ) = 3 x , 0 x2
5 x − 1, x2


Ex. 6 The function f ( x ) is made up of two pieces, g ( x ) and h(x ) . Without graphing,
determine the value of k that makes f ( x ) continuous.
g (x ) = 2 x − 1, x  2
h( x ) = 3 x 2 + k , x  2

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EQUIVALENT TRANFORMATIONS

Ex. 1 Given f ( x ) = x + 3 .
a) Graph y = f ( x ) .
b) What transformations do you apply to y = f ( x ) to get y = f (x + 2) and y = f (x ) + 2 ?

c) Graph y = f (x + 2) and y = f (x ) + 2 .

d) Compare the graphs of the two

transformed functions. What do you
notice?

e) Express y = f (x + 2) and y = f (x ) + 2 as simplified functions of x .

f) Looking at the simplified functions, what do you notice?

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Ex. 2 Given f ( x ) = 2 x .
a) Graph y = f ( x ) .
b) Use transformations to graph
y = f (x + 2) .

c) Based on your graph, predict the equation

for y = f (x + 2) .

d) Using algebra, determine y = f (x + 2) .

Does this equation match your graph?

e) What other transformation would give an equivalent graph? Use algebra to prove your
answer.

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Ex. 3 Given f ( x ) = 2 x .
a) Graph y = f ( x ) .
b) Determine the equation of this function
once it has been
i) translated 2 units left.

ii) translated 2 units right.

c) Graph the transformed functions.

d) State one other transformation that would

give an equivalent graph for each of the
new functions in b). Use algebra to prove
that they are equivalent.

Ex. 4 Given f ( x ) = x 2 and g ( x ) = x 3 .

a) Determine the equation of each function once it has been stretched horizontally by a
factor of 2.

b) What other transformations would give equivalent graphs?

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