Algebra

Functions
 Learning Objective
To work with inputs and outputs of given functions, including finding the
inverse of a function.

Success Criteria
• To calculate the output of a function given an input, using 𝑓 ( 𝑥) notation.
• To calculate the input of a function given an output, using 𝑓 ( 𝑥) notation.
• To find the inverse of a given function, using listing and rearranging methods.
 Starter: Number Machines
Let’s start with a number machine. This number machine multiplies by 2 then adds 5.

×2 +5

Answer the following questions, giving your answers to 3 and 4 in terms of 𝑥:

1) If 7 goes into the machine, what number comes out? 7 × 2 + 5 = 19
2) If 13 comes out of the machine, what number went in? (13 – 5) ÷ 2 = 4
3) If 𝑥 goes into the machine, what comes out? 2𝑥 + 5
𝑥–5
4) If 𝑥 comes out of the machine, what went in? 2
 How Do Functions Work?
A function is a mathematical relationship which connects any input to an output. You may
have heard them referred to as ‘number machines’, and that is really what they are; they take a
number (the input) and perform some mathematical operations to produce an output.

A function can be written as 𝑓(𝑥). 𝑓 stands for function and the 𝑥 in the brackets refers to the
input.

In the example in the starter, where the machine multiplied by 2 then added 5, we would
write 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 5. This is saying that the function takes an input, 𝑥, multiplies it by 2 then
adds 5, to give the output.

𝑥 is the input and 𝑓(𝑥) or 2𝑥 + 5 is the output.

If we replace the 𝑥 with a number, say 9, we get:

𝑓(9) = 2 × 9 + 5 = 23
So when 9 is the input, the output is 2 × 9 + 5 which is 23.

Functions are not always referred to as f, they may be g, h or any other letter, especially if more
than one function is used.
 How Do Functions Work?
Answer the following:
1) A function, f, divides by 2 then adds 4. Write the function, f(𝑥), in terms of 𝑥.
𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 2+ 4

2) 𝑔(𝑥) = 5(𝑥 + 3), find 𝑔(9)

𝑔(9) = 5(9 + 3) = 60

𝑥–3
3) ℎ(𝑥) = 4
Express what this function does, in words.

It subtracts 3 then divides by 4

𝑥
4) 𝑘(𝑥) = 3 − 5, find 𝑥 when 𝑘(𝑥) = 5
𝑥
3
-5=5
𝑥
3
= 10
𝑥 = 30
 Inverse Functions
Every function has an inverse function. If the function is 𝑓( 𝑥), then its inverse is
𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙). If the function is 𝑔(𝑥), then its inverse is 𝑔−1 (𝑥), and so on.

For example
Find the inverse function, 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙), of the function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟕

We are aiming to answer the question: “The number machine multiplies by 10 then adds 7. If 𝒙
was the output, write an expression for the input in terms of 𝒙.”

The function multiplies by 10 then adds 7. The inverse function must do the inverse and in
the opposite order: subtract 7 then divide by 10.
𝑓-1 (𝑥) = 𝑥10– 7

Make sure, when you write the inverse function, that you use brackets if necessary, to ensure
that the operations happen in the order you need them to, for example,
𝑥
𝑔(𝑥) = 5 + 3

The function divides by 5 then adds 3, so the inverse function must subtract 3 then multiply by
5: .
 Inverse Functions
Answer the following:
1) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 9, find 𝑓−1 (𝑥)

𝑥+9
𝑓−1 (𝑥) = 2

𝑥
2) 𝑔(𝑥) = 5 + 7, find 𝑔−1 (𝑥)

𝑔−1 (𝑥) = 5(𝑥 − 7)

3) h(𝑥) = 2(𝑥 + 4), find ℎ−1 (𝑥)

𝑥
ℎ−1 (𝑥) = 2- 4

𝑥–3
4) j(𝑥) = 4 , find 𝑗−1 (𝑥)

𝑗−1 (𝑥) = 4𝑥 + 3
 Inverse Functions by Rearranging
So far, we have found the inverse function by:
• listing the operations that the function applies to the input;
• finding their inverses;
• writing the inverse function using these inverses in the opposite order.

However, it is not always possible to do this:

4
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥. When we ask what the function does to 𝑥, the input, it isn’t really possible to answer
because it is 4 that’s being divided by 𝑥; the input is happening to 4, rather than something
happening to the input.
𝑥
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1. In this function, appears twice, which means that the input is happening to the
input.

In either of these situations, we can use another method for finding the inverse function, instead
of the list and inverse method.
 Inverse Functions by Rearranging
The method is as follows:
• write out the function, with 𝒚 in place of 𝑓( 𝑥) (or whatever letter denotes the function);
• rearrange the resulting equation to make 𝒙 the subject;
• in the resulting equation, remove the 𝑥 and replace it with 𝑓−1 (𝑥) (or the equivalent inverse function);
• remove all 𝑦s and replace them with 𝑥s.
For example:
𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥
𝑥+1
Write out your function with in place of 𝑔(𝑥).
𝑦=
𝑥
𝑥+1
Rearrange the resulting equation to make 𝑥 the subject.
𝑦(𝑥 + 1) = 𝑥
𝑦𝑥 + 𝑦 = 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 𝑦𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑥(1 − 𝑦)
𝑥=
𝑦
1-𝑦
In the resulting equation, remove the 𝑥 and replace it with 𝑔−1 (𝑥) and remove all 𝑦s and replace them with
𝑥s.
𝑔-1 (𝑥) =
𝑥
1-𝑥
 Inverse Functions by Rearranging
5𝑥 + 2
ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥
, Find ℎ−1 (𝑥).
5𝑥 + 2
𝑦= 𝑥

𝑥𝑦 = 5𝑥 + 2

𝑥𝑦 − 5𝑥 = 2

𝑥(𝑦 − 5) = 2
2
𝑥= 𝑦-5

2
ℎ−1 (𝑥) = 𝑥-5
 Activity Sheet
Work independently through the activity sheet.
 Plenary: Inverse Functions
3 (2𝑥 + 4)
𝑔(𝑥) = 2 + 8

1) Without simplifying, list the operations on the input, in the order that they are applied.

Multiply by 2, add 4, multiply by 3, divide by 2, add 8.

2) Use the list, inverse, opposite method to find 𝑔−1 (𝑥).

Subtract 8, multiply by 2, divide by 3, subtract 4, divide by 2:

𝑔−1 (𝑥) = ( )-4
2(𝑥 - 8)
23
3) Write 𝑔(𝑥) in its simplest form:
𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 14

4)Use your answer to 2) to write 𝑔−1 (𝑥) in its simplest form:

( )-4 = = =
2(𝑥 - 8) 2𝑥 – 16 - 12 2𝑥 – 28 𝑥 – 14
32 (Multiplying
6 numerator6and denominator
3 by 3)