AQA Core 3 Algebra and functions

Section 1: Functions
Solutions to Exercise
1. (i)

f( x ) 1 3 x
The domain is x 0 3 x 0
1 3x 1
so the range is f( x ) 1

(ii) f( x ) x 2
The domain is x x 2 0
so the range is f( x ) 0

1
1 x2
The domain is 1 x 1 0 x 2 1

(iii) f( x )

so the range is

1
2

1 1 x2 2
1
1

1
2 1 x2
f( x ) 1 .

2. (i) (a) The factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3 and 6, so 6 has 4 factors.

d(6) = 4.
(b) The factors of 5 are 1 and 5, so 5 has 2 factors.
d(5) = 2.
(c) The factors of 16 are 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16, so 16 has 5 factors.
d(16) = 5
(d) The factors of 13 are 1 and 13.
d(13) = 2.
(ii) The set of numbers for which d(n) = 2 is the set of prime numbers
(since a prime numbers has only 2 factors itself and 1).
(iii) The set of numbers for which d(n) is an odd number is the set of square
numbers (since all factors other than a square root come in pairs).

3. (i) 1 must be excluded from the domain, as the denominator of the function
is zero when x = 1, so the function is not defined for x = 1.

1 of 7

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Algebra 1 Exercise

(ii) f( x )

1
x 1

1
1
21
1
1
f( 3)

3 1
4
1
f(0)
1
01

f(2)

(a)
(b)
(c)

(iii) f( x ) 2
1
2
x 1
1 2( x 1)
1 2x 2
3 2x
x 1.5

4. (i)

fg( x ) f( x 2 ) 1 x 2
2

1
1 1
(ii) gh( x ) g 2
x
x x
1
1
1

(iii) gfh( x ) gf g 1 1
x
x
x

1
(iv) fhg( x ) fh( x 2 ) f 2
x

1 2
x

(v) f 2( x ) f(1 x ) 1 (1 x ) x

1 1
(vi) h2( x ) h 1 x
x x

5. (i)

x 2 means add 2, then take square root, which means applying t

first, then s.
Therefore st( x ) x 2

(ii) The function x 2 means take square root, then add 2 which means
applying s first, then t.
Therefore ts( x ) x 2
(iii) x 4 involves adding 2 twice, which means applying t twice.
Therefore t 2( x ) x 4 .

2 of 7

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Algebra 1 Exercise

6. (i)

f( x ) 3 x 3 1
y 3x 3 1

y 1 3x 3
y1
x3
3

y1
3

The inverse function f 1( x )

(ii) f( x )

x 1
3

x 2
x 1

x 2
x 1

y( x 1) x 2
yx y x 2
yx x y 2
x( y 1) y 2
y 2
x
y 1
The inverse function f 1( x )
(iii) f( x ) 1

y 1
2

x 2
x 1

1y

2
x
1y
The inverse function f 1( x )

2
1x

3 of 7

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Algebra 1 Exercise

7. (i)

f( x ) x 2 1

x 0

(a) Range of function is f( x ) 1

The domain of f-1

is the same as
the range of f

(b) y x 2 1

y 1 x2
y1 x
Inverse function is f 1( x ) x 1 , x 1
(c)

y = f(x)
y = f-1(x)

(ii) f( x ) ( x 1)2

x 1

(a) Range of function is f( x ) 0

(b) y ( x 1)2

y x 1
y 1 x
Inverse function is f 1( x ) x 1 , x 0
(c)

y = f(x)
y = f-1(x)

(iii) f( x ) x 1

x 1

(a) Range of function is f( x ) 0

4 of 7

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Algebra 1 Exercise

(b) y

x 1

y2 x 1
y2 1 x
Inverse function is f 1( x ) x 2 1 , x 0

(c)

y = f-1(x)
y = f(x)

(iv) f( x ) x 1

x 0

(a) Range of function is f( x ) 1

(b) y

x 1

y1 x
( y 1)2 x
Inverse function is f 1( x ) ( x 1)2 , x 1
(c)

y = f-1(x)

y = f(x)

8. (i)

f( x ) 2 x 1
y 2x 1
y 1 2x
y 1
x
2
x 1
1
f ( x)
2

(ii) g( x )

2x
3

5 of 7

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Algebra 1 Exercise

2x
3
3y 2 x
x 2 3y

g1( x ) 2 3 x
2x
(iii) fg( x ) f

3
2x
2
1
3
4 2x 3

3
7 2x

3
7 2x
3
7 2x
y
3
3y 7 2 x
2 x 7 3y
7 3y
x
2
7 3x
1
(fg) ( x )
2

(iv) fg( x )

(v) gf( x ) g(2 x 1)

2 (2 x 1)
3
1 2x

1 2x
3
1 2x
y
3
3y 1 2 x
2 x 1 3y
1 3y
x
2
1 3x
(gf )1
2

(vi) gf( x )

6 of 7

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Algebra 1 Exercise

(vii) f 1 g1( x ) f 1(2 3 x )

(2 3 x ) 1
2
1 3x

x 1
(viii) g1 f 1( x ) g1

2
x 1
2 3

2
4 3x 3

2
7 3x

2
(fg)1 g1 f 1 and (gf )1 f 1g1
To undo the function fg you must first undo f, then undo g.

7 of 7

15/03/13 MEI