Solutions to Extra Questions on Functions

1.
g ( x) = x 2 + 2 x , x ∈ℜ, x < −1 fg(x) = f(x 2 + 2 x) , x < −1
= ( x + 1) − 1
2
= ( x + 2 x + 1)( x + 2 x − 12), x < −1
2 2

∴ R g = ( −1, ∞ ) fg(x) = 0
R g = (−1, ∞) ⊆ = Df ⇒ ( x 2 + 2 x + 1)( x 2 + 2 x − 12) = 0
⇒ fg exists ⇒ ( x 2 + 2 x + 1) = 0 or ( x 2 + 2 x − 12) = 0
⇒ ( x + 1) 2 = 0 or [( x + 1) 2 − 13)] = 0
⇒ x = −1 (rejected) or x + 1 = ± 13
x = −1 + 13 (rejected)
or x = −1 − 13 (ans)

2.
(i) From TI GC Screen:
Range of f, R f = [0, 1]
Range of g, R g = [0, ∞)

(ii) To determine whether gf exist:

R f = [0,1]
π
D = [0, )
g 2
Since R f ⊆ D , gf does exist.
g
π
gf ( x) = g (cos x) = tan(cos x), x ∈ [0, ]
2

3.

⎛ 9⎤
(i) From the graph Rf = ⎜ −∞, ⎥ and Rg = ( − 5, 1 ) .
4 ⎝ ⎦
−1
(ii) f does not exist since f is not a one-one function.

(iii) Since Rg = ( − 5, 1 ) ∈ Df = ⇒ fg exist.

fg( x) = 2 + (2 x − 5) − (2 x − 5)2
= 2 + (2 x − 5) − (4 x 2 − 20 x + 25) = −4 x 2 + 22 x − 28

Thus fg : x −4 x 2 + 22 x − 28 , 0 < x < 3

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4. (i) The graph of g(x) is one−one, so g –1 exist.
Let y = 4x2 + 1
y–1
⇒x=– 2 since x < 0
Range of g = (1, ∞)
x–1
So g–1(x) = – 2 ,x>1
Range of g–1 = (− ∞, 0)

(ii) Since Rg = (1, ∞) ⊆ Df = (0, ∞), fg exists

fg(x) = (4x2 + 1)(4x2 + 1 − 1)
= 4x2(4x2 + 1), x < 0
Rfg = (0, ∞)

5.
(i). a = −2 , b = −5

(ii).
Set y = − 5 − 4 x − x
2

y 2 = 5 − 4 x − x2
y 2 + ( x + 2) 2 = 9
x = −2 ± 9 − x 2 ∵ −5 ≤ x ≤ −2, ∴ take −
∴ g −1 : x → −2 − 9 − x 2 , − 3 ≤ x ≤ 0

(iii).

y = g ( x)

y = g −1 ( x )

2
6.
(i)
y

y = f(x)

0 x

Range of f(x) = (0,e]

(ii) Alt 1
The horizontal line y = 1 (must be drawn in the graph to show 2
intersection points) cuts the curve at two distinct points, hence it is not
1-1 and the inverse does not exist.

Alt 2
Every horizontal line y = k, k ∈ (0, e) cuts the curve at two points, so it
is not 1-1 and its inverse does not exist.

Alt 3
f(1) = f(-1)=1. So, f is not 1-1 and its inverse does not exist.

k=0

1− x 2
Let y = e , x ≤ 0 . (using correct k)
ln y = 1 − x 2

x 2 = 1 − ln y
x = − 1 − ln y , since x ≤ 0 we take –ve sq root

−1
therefore g ( x ) = − 1 − ln x , x ∈ (0, e] .

(iii) Since Rf = (0, e] ⊆ Df = , the function ff exists.

3
7.

4
8. (i) y

y=b

y = f(x) 15

(2, 7)

0 2 x Graph of f(x) with minimum point

indicated and y-intercept shown

Any horizontal line y = b (b ∈ ) cuts the graph of f at most once, hence f is one-one.

Let y = ( x − 3) 2 + 6
( x − 3) 2 = y − 6
x −3 = ± y −6
x = 3± y −6

Since x ≤ 2, x = 3− y −6

Df -1 = R f = [7, ∞)
f -1 : x 3 − x − 6, x≥7

(ii)
R f = [7, ∞)
Dg = (3, ∞)
Since R f ⊆ Dg , gf exists.

Dg
Rf
•

3 7
gf ( x) = g ( ( x − 3) 2 + 6 )
= ln ( ( x − 3) 2 + 6 − 2 )
= ln ( ( x − 3) 2 + 4 )

y
y = g(x)

0 3 x
3

5
 f g
(−∞, 2] → [7, ∞) → [ln 5, ∞)

R gf = [ln 5, ∞)

9.
−1
(a) Let y = f ( x). Then x = f ( y) .
y = − x2 − x + 6
− x 2 − x + (6 − y ) = 0
−(−1) ± (−1) 2 − 4(−1)(6 − y )
x=
2(−1)
1 ± 25 − 4 y
=
−2
1 25 − 4 y
=− ±
2 2
1
Since x ≤ − ,
2
1 25 − 4 y
therefore x = − + is rejected.
2 2
Hence,
1 25 − 4 x 25
f −1 : x − − , x≤
2 2 4
25
since Df -1 = Rf = (−∞, ] .
4

(b)(i) Range of g = (−2, ∞) .

(ii) Since Rg = (−2, ∞) ⊆ Dh = (1, ∞) ,

therefore the composite function hg does not
exist.

(iii) The smallest value of α such that the condition

Rg ⊆ Dh is satisfied occurs when
1 = eα − 2 ⇒ eα = 3 ⇒ α = ln 3 .
Hence, smallest value of α = ln 3 .
hg( x) = h[g( x)] = h(e x − 2)
= ln(ln(e x − 2)), x > ln 3
(iv) From GC,
the solution of hg( x) = ln 2 is 2.24 (3 s.f)

Alternative Solution:
ln(ln(e x − 2)) = ln 2 ⇒ ln(e x − 2) = 2
⇒ e2 = e x − 2
⇒ x = ln(e 2 + 2)

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10.

11. (i) f(x) = (x + 1)(x – 3) = x2 – 2x – 3

= (x – 1)2 – 4, x < 1

f –1f : x x, x < 1

(ii) y = f ( x) = ( x − 1) 2 − 4 ⇒ ( x − 1) 2 = y + 4
⇒ x −1 = − y + 4 (∵ x < 1)
⇒ x = 1− y + 4
Rf = (–4, ∞) = Df –1

f −1 : x 1 − x + 4 , x ∈ ℜ, x > −4

(iii) Rf = (–4, ∞) = Dg Hence function gf exists.

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 gf (x) = g ((x – 1)2 – 4) = ln[(x – 1)2 = 2ln x − 1
= 2ln(1 – x) since x < 1
i.e. (B) is the correct expression.

gf : x 2 ln(1 − x), x ∈ ℜ, x < 1

12.
f(x) = ( x − a )( x − b), x>b
y

b x

From the graph, Rf is (0, ∞)

−1
g is a one-one function ∴ g exists.
D = R g = (0, ∞)
g −1
−1
Since R ⊆ D , ∴g f exists.
f g −1

g(x) = e x , x ∈ .
x
Let y = g( x) ⇒ y = e ⇒ x = ln x
−1
∴ g ( x) = ln x, x > 0
g −1f ( x ) = ln[( x − a )( x − b)], x > b

R =R when x ∈ R f
g −1f g −1
=R when x ∈ (0, ∞) =
g −1

13.
(i)
(ii)
x+2
y=
x−2 Rg = ( 2,3)
Rg ⊂ D f = \ {2}
⇒ fg exists

-2 2

8
 Rf = +
∪ {0} = [ 0, ∞ )

S = {x ∈ : −2 ≤ x < 2}
iii)
x+2 x+2
f1 ( x ) = =− , x∈S
x−2 x−2
x+2
y=−
x−2
y ( x − 2) = − x − 2
x ( y + 1) = 2 y − 2
2y − 2
x=
y +1
2x − 2
∴ f1−1 ( x ) = , x≥0
x +1

14.
(i)
g( x) = ln( x + 1)
Let y = ln( x + 1)
ey = x +1
x = e y −1
g −1 ( x) = e x − 1, x ∈

(ii) When k = −2 ,
From Graph, Rf = (−∞, 2)
For gf to exist, Rf ⊆ Dg
Rf = ( −∞, 2 ) ⊄ Dg = ( −1, ∞ )
Hence, gf does not exist.
(iii) For gf to exist, Rf ⊆ Dg
Rf > −1
1
+ 2 > −1
x+2
1
+3> 0
x+2
3x + 7
>0
x+2

−
7 −2
3

7
∴ x<− or x > −2
3
7
Since it is given that x < k , we take x < −
3

9
 7
∴ Greatest value of k is − .
3

15.
(i) Give a counter-example.
1
E.g: The line y = cuts the graph of y = f ( x) at two points, so f is not one-one.
2
Hence, the inverse function f −1 does not exist.
(ii)(a) From the graph, S = ( −∞, 0] . Hence, p = 0 .

y
(b)

y = f −1 ( x )

x
0

x=1

⎛ 2+ x⎞
(c) gf −1 ( x) = ln ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 1− x ⎠

⎛ 2+ x⎞
ln ( 2 − f −1 ( x) ) = ln ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 1− x ⎠
2+ x
f −1 ( x) = 2 −
1− x
3x
=
x −1

3x
Let y=
x −1
x( y − 3) = y
y
x=
y −3
x
∴ f ( x) =
x−3

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