Starter

Answer
IB Mathematics
Analysis and Approaches HL
Year One

Functions – Composite and Inverse Functions

 Composite functions
Suppose we have two functions defined for all real numbers:
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥 −3
𝑔 (𝑥)=𝑥 2
We can combine these two functions by applying and then applying as follows:

𝑓 𝑔
x x–3 (x – 3)2

𝑔𝑓
Since we are applying to , this can be written as , or more simply as . So:
2
𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥)=( 𝑥 − 3)
 Composite functions
is an example of a composite function.
means perform first and then .
Compare this with the composite function
𝑔 𝑓
x x2 x2 – 3

𝑓𝑔
It is also possible to form a composite function by applying the same function
twice. For example, if we apply the function to , we have or .

𝑓 2(𝑥)= 𝑓 ( 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) )
¿ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 − 3)
¿ ( 𝑥 − 3 ) −3
¿ 𝑥−6
 Domain and Range of Composite functions
Example. For and
a) State the domain and range of and
b) Find and , stating the domain and range of each

𝐷𝑓 : 𝑥 ∈ℝ 𝑅𝑓 :𝑦 ∈ℝ
𝐷 𝑔: 𝑥 ∈ ℝ 𝑅𝑔: 𝑦 ∈ℝ , 𝑦 ≥ 0

𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )
2
𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑔(2 𝑥 −1)
2 2
¿ 2 𝑥 −1 ¿ (2 𝑥 −1)

𝐷 𝑓𝑔 : 𝑥 ∈ ℝ 𝑅 𝑓𝑔 : 𝑦 ∈ ℝ , 𝑦 ≥ −1 𝐷 𝑔𝑓 : 𝑥 ∈ ℝ 𝑅 𝑓𝑔 : 𝑦 ∈ ℝ , 𝑦 ≥ 0
 Domain and Range of Composite functions
Example. For , and
a) State the domain and range of and
b) Find and , stating the domain and range of each

𝐷𝑓 : 𝑥 ∈ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ 0 𝑅𝑓 : 𝑦 ∈ℝ , 𝑦≠0
𝐷 𝑔: 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 0 𝑅𝑔: 𝑦 ∈ℝ , 𝑦 ≥ 0
𝐷h: 𝑥 ∈ ℝ 𝑅 h : 𝑦 ∈ ℝ , 𝑦 ≥ −1
 Domain and Range of Composite functions
Example. For , and
a) State the domain and range of and
b) Find and , stating the domain and range of each

2
𝑔h ( 𝑥 )=𝑔( 𝑥 − 1)

¿ √ 𝑥 −1
2

𝐷 𝑔h : 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 1, 𝑥 ≤ −1
𝑅 𝑓𝑔 : 𝑦 ∈ ℝ , 𝑦 ≥ 0
 Domain and Range of Composite functions
Example. For , and
a) State the domain and range of and
b) Find and , stating the domain and range of each

𝑓𝑔h ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑓 ( √ 𝑥 2 −1)
1
¿
√𝑥 2
−1
𝐷 𝑓𝑔h : 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥>1 , 𝑥<−1
𝑅 𝑓𝑔 : 𝑦 ∈ ℝ , 𝑦 >0
Classwork
Exercise 2M,
pages 111 - 112
 Inverse functions
The identity function is a function , such that when composed with another
function leaves unchanged. I.e.:

𝑓 𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )
The identity function for composition is therefore

A function h that, when composed with another function g, results in the

identity function , is called an inverse function. I.e.:

𝑔h ( 𝑥 ) = h𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥
 Inverse functions
We can write the function using a mapping diagram as follows:
×4 +3
x 4x 4x + 3

To find the inverse of , we can start with x and perform the inverse operations in
reverse order.

x3 ÷4 –3
x–3 x
4

The inverse of is written as , so if ,

−1 𝑥 −3
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
4
 Inverse functions
The function maps onto . Reversing the process maps onto

The the range of becomes the domain of and the domain of becomes the
range of .

Since is a one-to-one function, its inverse must also be a one-to-one function.

 Inverse functions

To find the inverse of a function let interchange and and rearrange to make
the subject. E.g.
 Inverse functions
Suppose we wanted to find the inverse of a many-to-one function, for example,
the inverse of over the domain {–2, – 1, 0, 1, 2}.

x2
–2 3 This is a
0 many-to-one
–1 7
mapping.
0 11
1
1 15
2 4
19
 Inverse functions
The inverse of this function would map the range of f(x) onto the domain of as
follows:

±√𝑥
3 –2 This is a
0 one-to-many
7 –1
mapping.
11
1 0
15 1
4
19 2

The inverse of f(x) is not a function because some of the elements in the domain
are mapped to more than one element in the range.

The inverse of will only be a function if is a

one-to-one function.
 Finding inverse functions
To find the inverse of a many-to-one function we have to restrict the domain so
that the function becomes one-to-one.
For example,
is a many-to-one function.
 Its inverse is not a function.
However, , is a one-to-one function.
 Its inverse is a function.
 Finding inverse functions
Example. For the function
a) State the domain and range for which is one-to-one
b) With defined over this domain, find the inverse function, stating the domain
and range
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝑥 + 2
For the function to be one to one, the domain must be restricted to:
𝐷𝑓 : 𝑥 ∈ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 0

And the range is:

𝑅𝑓 :𝑦 ∈ ℝ , 𝑦 ≥2
 Finding inverse functions
Example. For the function
a) State the domain and range for which is one-to-one
b) With defined over this domain, find the inverse function, stating the domain
and range
2
( 𝑥 )= 𝑥 + 2
But the range of the function is the domain of the inverse
⇒ and the domain of the function is the range of the inverse
2
❑ 𝑦= 𝑥 +2
⇒
❑ 𝑥= 𝑦
2
+2 𝐷 𝑓 : 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥2
−1

❑ 𝑥 − 2= 𝑦
2
𝑅𝑓 : 𝑦∈ℝ , 𝑦 ≥0
−1

∴𝒇 −𝟏
( 𝒙 )= √ 𝒙 −𝟐
 Finding inverse functions
Example. For the function find the inverse function, stating the domain and range

The function is one to one on the given domain

⇒
1
❑ 𝑦= +3 ∴ 𝒈 −𝟏 ( 𝒙 )= 𝟏 +𝟐
𝑥−2 𝒙 −𝟑
⇒
1
❑ 𝑥= +3
𝑦 −2 𝐷𝑔 : 𝑥 ∈ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ 3
−1
⇒
1
❑ 𝑥 − 3=
𝑦 −2
⇒
1 𝑅𝑔 : 𝑦 ∈ ℝ , 𝑦 ≠ 2
−1

❑ 𝑦 −2=
𝑥−3
⇒
1
❑ 𝑦= +2
𝑥−3
 Geometric relationship

The geometric relationship between a function and its inverse is a reflection in

the line

Example. For the function find the inverse function, sketching both on the same set of
axes

The function is one to one on the domain: 𝐷 h : 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥1 and

⇒ ⇒
❑ 𝑦= √ 𝑥 − 1 − 2 ❑ 𝑦 = ( 𝑥 +2 ) +1
2

⇒ −𝟏 𝟐
∴ 𝒉 ( 𝒙 ) = ( 𝒙 +𝟐 ) +𝟏
√
❑ 𝑥= 𝑦 − 1− 2
⇒
𝐷 h : 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ −2
❑ 𝑥 +2=√ 𝑦 − 1
−1

⇒
2
𝑅h : 𝑦 ∈ℝ , 𝑦 ≥ 1
−1

❑ ( 𝑥 +2 ) = 𝑦 − 1
 Geometric relationship

−𝟏 𝟐
𝒉 ( 𝒙 ) =( 𝒙 + 𝟐 ) +𝟏
 Self-inverse

If a function has the property it is said to be self-inverse.

In other words, for a self inverse function:

Example. Show that the function is self-inverse.

⇒
𝑥−3 ⇒
❑ 𝑦= ❑ 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦= 𝑥 − 3
𝑥−1
⇒
⇒
𝑦 −3 ❑ 𝑦 ( 𝑥 − 1)= 𝑥 − 3
❑ 𝑥= ⇒
𝑥−3
𝑦−1 ❑ 𝑦=
⇒ 𝑥−1
❑ 𝑥 ( 𝑦 − 1 )= 𝑦 − 3
⇒
❑ 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥= 𝑦 − 3 , so is self-inverse
 Exercise 2N, page 116

Classwork
Worksheet –
composition inverse
functions