RAFFLES INSTITUTION

H2 Mathematics 9758
2021 Year 6 Term 3 Revision 10 (Summary and Tutorial)

Topic: Functions

Summary for Functions

Relations and Functions

 The set of inputs of a function is known as the domain while the corresponding set of outputs
is known as the range.
 To define a function completely, both the rule and domain must be specified.
 The range of a function can be obtaining by looking at its graph (y-values).
 If a function is such that no two elements in the given domain have the same output, it is a one-
one function.
 To check if a function is one-one, we use horizontal lines to check.
If function is one-one, such as f : x  x 2 , x  2 , we write since every horizontal line y = k,
k   4,   , cuts the graph of f at one and only one point, f is a one-one function. Note that
 4,   is the range of f.
If function is NOT one-one, such as f : x  x 2 , x   , we choose a specific line y = k where
k is a value in range of f. In this case, we can write since the horizontal line y = 1 cuts the graph
of f at more than one point, f is not a one-one function

Inverse Functions

 Given a function f, the inverse function f 1 exists if and only if f is one-one.

 To define f 1 , you must find the rule and domain.
 To find the rule of f 1 , let y  f ( x ) and make x the subject, i.e x  f -1 ( y ) .
Example to find the rule of inverse of g : x  1  e  x , x  

Let y  1  e x and make x the subject to get x   ln( y  1) .

 To find domain of f 1 , use the result: D f 1  R f

Note also that R f 1  D f .

 The graphs of y  f ( x ) and y  f 1 ( x) are reflections of each other in the line y  x .
Composite Functions

 Given 2 functions f and g, the composite function gf exists if and only if R f  D g .

 To define gf, you must find the rule and domain.

 To find the rule of gf, find f ( x ) first, then find g  f ( x)  .

 To find domain of gf, use the result: D gf  Df

 In general, fg  gf . i.e. composition of functions is not commutative.

 The composite function ff, if it exists, is written as f 2 , i.e. f 2 ( x)  ff ( x)  f  f ( x)  .

o Useful results: (i) ff 1 ( x)  x , where x  D f . 1

1
(ii) f f ( x)  x , where x  D f .

 To find the range of gf, use either

(1) R gf  R g restricted to R f

or (2) sketch the graph of y  gf ( x ) over D gf and find R gf .

Example
Find the range of the composite gf given that the functions f and g are defined as follows:

f : x  x  2, x  3,
g : x  x, x0.

Method 1
Sketch the graphs of the functions f and g on separate diagrams.
For the composite function gf, f is first applied to each x Df to find the image f ( x) , and then
the rule for g is applied to f ( x) to obtain the image g  f ( x)  . i.e. gf ( x)  g  f ( x)  .

y y

Rf 2 Rgf

1 1

x O x
O 1 2 3 4 1 2

Consequently, we can obtain the range of gf as the range of g whose domain is restricted range of
f g
f, i.e [3, )  [1, )  [1, ) .
Thus R gf  1,   .
Method 2
Find the function gf followed by sketching its graph to find the range.
gf ( x)  g  f ( x)   x  2, Dgf  Df  3,  
From sketch, R gf  1,   .

Rgf
Revision Tutorial Questions

Source of Question: EJC/Y5 Promo/2018/Q3

1
1 The function f is defined by f : x  ln 1  2 x , x  , x  .
2
(i) Explain why f does not have an inverse. [1]

The function g is now defined by g : x  ln 1  2 x , x  a where a is a real constant.

(ii) State the minimum value of a such that g 1 exists. [1]
(iii) Using the value of a stated in (ii), define g 1 in a similar form and state the range of g 1 . [4]
1 
[(ii) a 
1
2
(iii) g 1 : x 
2

1 x

e  1 , x   ; R g1   ,   ]
2 
Solution:
1(i)
[1] y y  f ( x)
y 1

O 1 x

From sketch, the line y  1 intersects the graph of y  f ( x) twice.

Hence, f is not one-one and does not have an inverse.

Alternatively,

since f (0)  0  f (1) , f is not one-one and does not have an inverse.

1(ii) 1
Minimum value of a 
[1] 2

1(iii) Let y  ln 1  2 x
[4] 1
For x  , y  ln(2 x  1)
2
2x  1  e y


1
x  ey 1
2

1
 
g 1 ( y )  e y  1 , Dg1  R g  
2
1 
1
 
 g 1 : x  e x  1 , x   and R g1  Dg   ,  
2 2 
Source of Question: NJC/Y5 Promo/2018/Q10

2 The functions g and h are defined by

8x
g:x  , xk,
x 2 2

1
h : x   x  2 ,
2
0  x  4.
4

(i) Find the smallest exact value of k such that g 1 exists. [2]

Use k  2 for the remainder of this question.

(ii) Find the exact range of g. [1]

(iii) Sketch the graphs of

y  g  x  , y  g 1 ( x) and y  gg 1 ( x )

on the same diagram.

Hence find the exact solution of g 1 ( x)  g  x  . [6]

(iv) Show that hg exists and determine the range of hg. [3]
 8
[(i) k  2 (ii)  0,  (iii) x  6 (iv)  0, 1 ]
 3
Solution:
2(i)
[2]

8x
g  x 
x 2
2

8  x2  2   8x  2 x  16  8 x 2
g  x   
x  2 x  2
2 2 2 2

For maximum point of y  g  x  , g  x   0 .

16  8 x 2  0
x 2

From the graph, it is a one-one function if x  2 , so the smallest exact value of k is

2.
2(ii) 16 8  8
[1] g  2  2  , so the range of g is  0,  as observed from the graph in (i).
2 2 3  3
2(iii) y
[6]

y  gg 1 ( x)

x
From the diagram, we may
solve g  x   x instead of g ( x )  g  x  .
1

8x
x
x 2
2

8 x  x3  2 x
x3  6 x  0
x  x2  6  0


x x 6  x  6   0
x  0 or x   6 or x  6

From the diagram in (ii), x  6 .

2(iv)  8
[3] Since R g   0,    0, 4  D h , hg exists.
 3

Graph of h

O x

 8 h
  0, 1
 0,  
 3
Source of Question: MI/Promo/PU2/2017/Q6
A function f is defined by f  x   4   3  x  for x  .
2
3

(i) Show that f 1 does not exist. [1]

(ii) If the domain of f is restricted to x  k , state the largest exact value of k for which the
function f 1 exists. [1]

(iii) Using the domain defined in part (ii), find f 1 and its range. [3]

(iv) Solve the equation f  x   f 1  x  exactly. [3]

5 5
[(ii) k  3 (iii) f 1  x   3  4  x , x   , 4 ; R f 1   ,3 (iv) x  ]
2

Solution:
3(i)
[1]

y 1

Since the horizontal line y  1 intersects the graph of y  f  x  more than once, f is not
one-one. Hence, f −1 does not exist.

Alternatively, since f (1)  0  f (4) , f is not one-one and does not have an inverse.

3(ii) k  3
[1]
3(iii) Let y  4   3  x 2
[3]
3 x   4 y
x  3 4 y
Since x  3 , x  3  4  y

Hence, f 1  x   3  4  x , x   , 4.

So R f 1  D f   ,3
3(iv) We may solve f  x   x instead of f  x   f 1  x  .
[3]
4  3  x   x
2

x2  5x  5  0
5  25  4(5) 5  5 5 5
x  or (rejected  x  3)
2 2 2
Source of Question: NYJC/Prelim/2017/01/Q7
4 The functions f and g are defined by

2
f : x  e x , x  , x  0 ,

1
g: x  , x   , x  3 .
x3

(i) Show that g1 exists, and define g1 in a similar form. [2]

(ii) State the solution set for g g 1  x   x . [1]

(iii) Explain why fg 1 does not exist. [1]

Let the function h be defined by

h : x  g  x  , x  , x  k ,

where k is a real constant.

(iv) Given that f h 1 exists, state the maximum value of k . [1]

(v) For the value of k found in (iv),
(a) find the exact range of f h 1 , [2]
(b) solve h  x   h 1  x  . [2]

[(i) g  1 : x  1  3, x   , x  0 (ii)  x   | x  0 (iv) k  3

x
(v)(a) R fh 1   0, e 9  (v)(b) x   3.30 ]

Solution:

4(i) (i)
[2]

Every horizontal line y  k cuts the graph at most once. This implies g is one-one.
Therefore g1exists
 1
g 1 : x   3, x   , x  0
x

4(ii)  x   | x  0
[1]
4(iii) R g 1  D g   \ 3 , Df   .
[1]
Since R g1  Df , fg1 does not exist.
4(iv) k  3
[1]
4(v)(a)
[2]

 0, e 
9

h f
  0, e9 
1
From sketch, we have (0, ) (,  3) 
R fh 1   0, e 9 

4(v)(b) h  x   h 1  x 
[2]
h  x  x
1
x
x3
x 2  3x  1  0
Since x  3 , x  3.30 (3sf)
Source of Question: ACJC/Y5 Promo/2017/Q11

5 (a) The function f is defined by

2
f : x  e x  2 , x  .

If the domain of f is restricted to k  x  0 ,

(i) state the least value of k for which the function f 1 exists, [1]
(ii) find f 1  x  , stating the domain of f 1 . [3]

(b) The functions g and h are defined by

 sin 1 x for  1  x  1,

g:x    x
  1  2  for 1  x  3,
  
3
h : x  2 x, for   x  1.
4
(i) Show that the composite function gh exists and find its range, giving all values
in terms of  . [3]
It is given that g  x  4  g  x  for all real values of x.

(ii) Evaluate g 17  . [2]

(iii) Sketch the graph of y  g  x  for 1  x  5.5 . [3]

[(a)(i) k   ln 2 (a)(ii) f 1  x    ln  2  x  ; D   0,1

f 1

   
(b)(i) R gh    ,  (b)(ii) ]
 3 2 2
Solution:

5(a)(i)
[1]

f 1 exists if least value of k is  ln 2 .

5(a)(ii) If the domain of f is restricted to  ln 2  x  0 ,

[3]

let y   e x  2
2

2
ex  2  y
x 2  ln  2  y 
x   ln  2  y 
Since  ln 2  x  0,
 x   ln  2  y 
f 1  x    ln  2  x  , 0  x  1.
Note: D  R f   0,1
f 1

5(b)(i)
[3]

 3 
R h   , 2 , Dg  (1,3]
 2 

  
Since R h  D g ,  gh exist. So R gh    ,  .
 3 2

5(b)(ii) Since g  x  4  g  x  ,
[2]
 g 17   g(13) i.e. when x  13
 g  9
 g  5

 g 1  sin 1 1 
2
5(b)(iii)
[3]
Source of Question: TPJC/Prelim/2017/01/Q3
6 A function f is defined by f : x   x  k 2 , x  k where k  5 .

(i) Find f 1 ( x) and state the domain of f 1 . [3]

The diagram above shows the curve with equation y  g  x  , where 2  x  2. The curve
crosses the x–axis at x  2, x  1, x  1 and x  2, and has turning points at
 1.5, 1 , (0, 4) and 1.5, 1 .

(ii) Explain why the composite function fg exists. [2]

(iii) Find in terms of k,

(a) the value of fg  1 , [1]
(b) range of fg. [2]

  0,1 (iii)(b)  4  k  , 1  k   ]
2 2
[(i) f 1 ( x)   x  k , D (iii)(a) k 2
f 1  

Solution:

6(i) Let y   x  k 
2

[3]
xk   y
x  y k  x  k 
f 1 ( x)   x  k
D f 1   0,  

6(ii) R g   1, 4 , Df   , k 

[2]
Since k  5 , R g  D f . Thus fg exists.

6(iii)(a) fg( 1)  f (0)  k 2

[1]
6(iii)(b) Using R g   1, 4 , and the fact that f is a strictly decreasing function in the
[2]
given domain,

R fg   4  k  ,  1  k  
2 2
 
  4  k  , 1  k  
2 2
 

Source of Question: HCI/Promo/2018/Q6

7 The function f is defined by

x 1 1
f :x , for x  ,   x  ,
ax  1 a a
where a is a positive constant.
(i) Sketch the curve y  f ( x) , stating the equation of the asymptote and the coordinates
of the end-point. [2]

(ii) Find f 1 ( x) and state the domain of f 1 . [3]

(iii) Sketch the curve y  f 1 ( x) on the same diagram as the curve y  f ( x) in part (i).
Hence obtain the range of values of x for which f ( x)  f 1 ( x) in terms of a. [2]

The function g is defined by

2
 1  1 1
g : x   x    2 for x   , x  .
 3a  9a a

(iv) Show that the composite function gf exists, and find the range of gf in terms of a.

[2]
x  1  1 1  1 
[(ii) f 1 ( x)  ; D f 1    ,  (iii)  x (iv)   2 ,   ]
ax  1  2 a a 2 a  9 a 
Solution:

7(i) y
[2]

7(ii) x
Let y 
[3] ax  1

 axy  y  x
 x  ay  1  y
y
x
ay  1

x  1 
Therefore f 1 ( x)  , D f 1    , 
ax  1  2a 

7(iii)
[2] y

From graph, the range of values of x for which f ( x)  f 1 ( x) is

1 1
 x .
a 2a
7(iv) 1 1  1  1
Since  , Rf   ,  is a subset of Dg   ,  .
[2] 2a a  2a   a
Therefore gf exists.

From the given expression of g( x) , the graph of y  g( x ) is a

 1 1 
quadratic graph with minimum point  ,  2 
 3a 9a 

 1 g  1   1 
R f   ,  
  2 ,    R gf    2 ,  
 2a   9a   9a 

Source of Question: SRJC JC2 Mid-Year CT 9758/2018/01/Q2

8 The functions f and g are defined by
 
f : x  2cos  x   ,    x   ,
 4

g : x  ( x  1) 2  a,  3  x  2 and 1  a  0 .
(i) Explain why f does not have an inverse. [1]
(ii) Explain why the composite function fg does not exist. Given that the composite
function gf exists, find gf in similar form and find its range in terms of a. [4]
(iii) The function f has an inverse if the domain is restricted to   x  p . State
the largest possible exact value of p. [1]
2
    
[(ii) gf : x   2 cos  x    1  a,    x   ; R gf  [ a, 9  a ] (iii) p   ]
  4  4
Solution:

8(i)  3   
Since f     f    0 , f is not 1‒1 and hence f does not
[1]  4  4
have an inverse.

Alternatively, y

Since the line y = 0 cuts the curve twice, so f is not a 1-1

function and so f – 1 does not exist.

8(ii) Since Rg = [a,16  a)    ,   = Df, fg does not exist.

[4]
(  1  a  0 , 15  16  a  16 )

Dgf = Df = [ ,  ]

2
   
gf : x   2 cos  x    1  a,    x  
  4 

Range of gf = [a,9  a]

8(iii) 
p
[1] 4
Source of Question: SAJC/Prelim/2017/01/Q3
9 It is given that
 x2
b 1  2 for  a  x  a
 a
f ( x)  
 ( x  2a ) 2
  a 1  for a  x  3a
 a2
and that f ( x  4a )  f ( x) for all real values of x, where a and b are real constants and
0  a  b.

(i) Sketch the graph of y  f ( x ) for a  x  8a. [3]

4a
(ii) Use the substitution x  a cos  to find the exact value of 3a
f ( x) dx in terms of a,
b and  . [5]


[(ii) ab ]
4

Solution:
9(i)
[3]
9(ii) 4a

[5]
3a
f ( x) dx

0 x2
 b 1 dx
a a2

a 2 cos 2 
=b  2 1  (  asin ) d
 a2

=ab  sin 2 d
2
 1  cos 2
 ab  d
2 2

ab  sin 2θ 
= θ
2  2  
2

ab  
  
2  2

 ab
4
Source of Question: HCI/Prelim/2017/01/Q1
10 The floor function, denoted by  x  , is the greatest integer less than or equal to x . For

example,  2.1  3 and 3.5  3 .

The function f is defined by

  x  for x   ,  1  x  2,
f ( x)    
 0 for x   , 2  x  3,

where  x  denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x .

It is given that f ( x )  f ( x  4) .
(i) Find the values of f ( 1.2) and f (3.6) . [2]
(ii) Sketch the graph of y  f ( x) for 2  x  4 . [2]
4
(iii) Hence evaluate  2
f ( x ) dx . [1]

[(i) f (  1.2)  0 , f (3.6)   1 (iii) 1 ]

Solution:

10(i) f (  1.2)  f (2.8)  0

[2]
f (3.6)  f (  0.4)   1

10(ii) y
[2]
1

x
O
–2 –1 1 2 3 4
–1

10(iii) 4

[1]
 2
f ( x )dx  1  1  1  1