H2 Mathematics – Functions

Supplementary Questions

1. The function f is defined by f : x 7! 1 + 2x x2 , x 2 R.

1
(i) Show that f does not exists. [2]

(ii) If the domain of f is restricted to the subset of R for which x  , find the greatest value of
for which f 1 exists. [1]
1
(iii) With this domain, define f in a similar form. [4]

1
(i) f(0) = f(2) = 1. Hence f is not a one-one function and f does not exist.

Alternatively,
The horizontal line y = 0 cuts the graph of y = f(x) more than once.
Hence f is not a one-one function and f 1 does not exist.

(ii) f is a one-one function when x  1.

1
Hence the greatest value of for which f exists is 1.

(iii) Let y = f(x) = 1 + 2x x2 , x  1

1
2. The functions f and g are defined by
x2
f : x 7! 3 + e , x  0,
g : x 7! 4 x, x 0.

(i) Sketch the graph of f and state its range. [3]

(ii) Explain why the composite function gf exists. [1]

(iii) Find the range of gf. [2]

(i)

Rf = (3, 4]

(ii) Rf = (3, 4]
Dg = [0, 1)
Rf ✓ D g

x2
(iii) gf(x) = 4 (3 + e )
x2
=1 e

From the graph of y = gf(x), where x  0,

Rgf = [0, 1)

2
3. The function f is defined by

f : x 7! x2 + 6x for x 2 R, x < 6.
1
(i) Sketch the graph of y = f(x) and explain why f exists. [2]
1 1
(ii) Find f (x) and state the domain of f . [3]

The function g is defined by

1
g : x 7! 1 + for x 2 R, x > 2.
x+2
(iii) Show that the composite function gf exists. [1]

(iv) Find gf. [2]

(v) Find the range of gf. [2]

(i) f(x) = x(x + 6), x < 6

Any horizontal line y = k, k 2 R, cuts the graph of y = f(x) at most once.

Hence f is a one-one function and f 1 exists.

3
4. The functions f and g are defined as follows:
2
f : x 7! , x2R
x2 + 1
1
g : x 7! , x 2
x 1
(i) Sketch the graph of y = f(x) and state its range. [2]

(ii) If the domain of f is further restricted to x  k, state the largest value of k for which f 1
exists. [1]
1
(iii) Hence, find f and state its domain. [3]
1
(iv) Show that the composite function f g exists and find its range. [3]

(i) Rf = (0, 2]

(ii) f is a one-one function when x  0.

1
Hence the largest value of k for which f exists is 0.

2
(iii) Let y = f(x) =
x2 + 1
r
2
=) x = ± 1
y
r
1 2
Since x  0, f (x) = 1
x

Df 1 = Rf = (0, 2]

(iv) Rg = (0, 1]
Df 1 = (0, 2]
Rg ✓ D f 1

1
p
f g(x) = 2 (x 1) 1
p
= 2x 3

1
From the graph of y = f g(x), where x 2,

Rf 1g = ( 1, 1]

4
5. The functions f and g are defined by
f : x 7! x2 2x 3, 2 < x < a,
2
g : x 7! ln (x + 1), x 2 R.
1 1
(i) Given that f exists, find the largest value of a. Hence define f in a similar form. [4]
1
(ii) Sketch the graph of y = f(x) and y = f (x) on the same diagram, showing clearly the
relationship between the two graphs.
1
Hence find the exact solution of the equation f(x) = f (x). [5]

(iii) Explain why gf exists and find the exact range of gf. [3]

(i) f is a one-one function when x < 1. Hence the largest value of a is 1.

Let y = f(x) = x2 2x 3, 2<x<1

1
f(x) = f (x) =) f(x) = x =) x2 2x 3 = x =) x2 3x 3=0

p p
3+ 21 3 21
) x= (rejected as 2 < x < 1) or
2 2

(iii) Rf = ( 4, 5) ✓ Dg = R
⇥ 2 ⇤
gf(x) = ln x2 2x 3 +1 , 2<x<1

Rgf = [0, ln 26)

5
6. The function f is defined by
bx b
f : x 7! , x 2 R, x 6= ,
2x b 2
where b is a positive constant.
1 1
(i) Show that f exists and find f (x). Hence find f 2 (x). [5]

The function g is defined by

2
g : x 7! (x a) + 1, x 2 R, x a,

where a is a positive constant.

(ii) Show that the composite function gf does not exist. [2]

1 3
(iii) Given that the graphs of y = g(x) and y = g (x) intersect, show that a 4. [3]

6
(i)

Any horizontal line y = k, k 2 R, cuts the graph of y = f(x) at most once.

Hence f is a one-one function and f 1 exists.

bx
Let y = f(x) =
2x b
by
=) x =
2y b
bx
) f 1
(x) =
2x b

1
f(x) = f (x)
1
↵(x) = ↵ (x)
2
f (x) = x

7
7. The function f is defined by f : x 7! 1 2x x2 , x 2 R, x 1.
1 1
(i) Sketch the graphs of y = f(x), y = f (x) and y = f f(x) on the same diagram. [3]
1
(ii) Hence or otherwise solve the equation f (x) = f(x), giving your answer in exact form. [2]

The function g is defined by g : x 7! ex 2, x 2 R.

(iii) Only one of the two composite functions fg and gf exists. Give a definition (including the
domain) of the composite function that exists, and explain why the other composite function
does not exist. [3]

8
8. The functions f and g are defined by
3x 4
f : x 7! , x 2 R, x 6= 2,
x+2
g : x 7! ex , x 2 R.
(i) Sketch the graph of y = f(x). [1]
1 1
(ii) Show that f exists and define f in a similar form. [4]

(iii) Show that the function fg exists. Find fg(x) and the range of fg. [4]
1
(iv) On a clearly labelled diagram, sketch the graph of y = gg (x). [2]

9
9. The function f is defined by f : x 7! 1 + 4x x2 , x 2 R, x 2.
1
(i) Find an expression for f (x), stating its domain. [3]

(ii) Sketch the graphs of y = f(x), y = f 1 (x) and y = f 1 f(x) on the same axes and show the
geometrical relationship between the graphs and the line y = x. [2]
1 1
(iii) State the set of values of x such that f f(x) = ↵ (x). [1]

Note: Df = [2, 1) and Df 1 = ( 1, 5]

10
10. The functions f and g are defined by

f : x 7! e|x| + 1, x2R
2
g : x 7! x 6x + 10, x2R

(i) Find the range of f and explain why the composite function gf exists. [2]

(ii) Sketch the graph of y = g(x). Hence find the range of gf. [2]
1
(iii) Using a non-graphical method, give a reason why f does not exist. [1]

(iv) Given that the inverse function of f exists if its domain is restricted to x  k, state the greatest
value of k. Find f 1 (x) corresponding to this domain. [3]

(i) Rf = [2, 1)
Dg = R
Rf ✓ D g

(ii)

From the graph of y = g(x), when the domain is restricted to the range of f, the range is
[1, 1). Hence Rgf = [1, 1).

(iii) f( 1) = f(1) = e + 1
1
Hence f is not a one-one function and f does not exist.

(iv) f is a one-one function when x  0.

1
Hence the greatest value of k for which f exists is 0.

x
f(x) = e + 1 for x  0

x
Let y = e + 1 =) x = ln (y 1)

) f 1
(x) = ln (x 1)

11
11. The functions f and g are defined as follows:
f : x 7! 5x 3x2 , x > 0,
g : x 7! ln (3 x), x < 3.
(i) State the range of f in exact form and hence show that the composite function gf exists. [1]

(ii) Define gf in a similar form and find its range in exact form. [3]
1
(iii) State the least value of a such that the inverse function f exists for x a. Hence find an
expression for f 1 (x). [3]
1
(iv) Solve f(x) = f (x), showing your working clearly. [2]

⇤
(i) Rf = 1, 25
12

Dg = ( 1, 3)
Rf ✓ D g

(ii) gf(x) = ln (3 5x + 3x2 ), x > 0

5
(iii) From the graph of y = f(x), f is a one-one function when x 6.
Hence the least value of a is 56 .

Let y = f(x)

1
(iv) f(x) = f (x) =) f(x) = x =) 5x 3x2 = x =) 3x2 4x = 0

) x= 4
3 or 0 (rejected as x 5
6)

12