Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024

Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS

Department of Mathematics

FUNCTION

A function is usually represented in one of two ways:

(i) f: x → x + 2 which is read, f is such that x is mapped onto x + 2
(ii) f (x) = x + 2 which read, f of x is x + 2
This tells us that the domain will be the values x can take, and the range the values which f(x) or x + 2

Example 1
If f(x) = 3x + 2 and domain of x is ( -1 , 0, 1, 2, 3)
State the range of f(x)

Solution → We need to find the values of f(x) corresponding to the values of x

f (−1) = 3(−1) + 2 = −3 + 2 = −1
f (0) = 3(0) + 2 = 0 + 2 = 2
f (1) = 3(1) + 2 = 1 + 2 = 3
f (2) = 3(2) + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8
f (3) = 3(3) + 2 = 9 + 2 = 11

Range of f(x) is { −1, 2, 5, 8, 11}

This can be done using a table

x −1 0 1 2 3

3x −3 0 3 6 9

+2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2

y −1 2 5 8 11

Example 2
2. If f(x) = x2 −4x + 5 and 0 ≤ x ≤ 5
State the range of f(x)
x 0 1 2 3 4 5

x2 0 1 4 9 16 25

−4x 0 −4 −8 −12 −16 −20

+5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5

f(x) 5 2 1 2 5 10
Range 1 ≤ f(x) ≤ 10
 Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024
Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS
Department of Mathematics

Example 3
3. If f(x) = 5x − 2, find the values of
(i) f(2) (ii) f(−2) (iii) f(0)

Solution
(i) Put x = 2 in f(x)
⇒ f(2) = 5(2) − 2 = 10 − 2 = 8

(ii) Put x = −3 in f(x)

⇒ f(−3) = 5(−3) − 2 = −15 − 2 = −17

(iii) Put x = 0 in f(x)

⇒ f(0) = 5(0) − 2 = 0 − 2 = −2

Example 4
4. Given f(x) = 6x + 5,
find (i) f(2x) (ii) (x + y) (iii) f(3x − 2)

Solution
(i) f(2x) ⇒ we replace x in f(x) with 2x ⇒ f(2x) = 6(2x) + 5 = 12x + 5
(ii) f(x + y) ⇒we replace x in f(x) with (x + y) ⇒ f(x + y) = 6(x + y) + 5 = 6x + 6y + 5
(iii) f(3x − 2) ⇒we replace x in f(x) with (3x − 2) ⇒ f(3x −2) = 6(3x −2) + 5
= 18x − 12 + 5
= 18x − 7

Composite Functions

Composite functions are when the output of one function is used as the input of another.
If f and g are functions, then fg, gf, ff and so on, are composite functions

Example 5:
1. If f(x) = −4x + 9 and g(x) = 2x −7, find fg(x)
fg(x) = −4(2x −7) + 9 Replace each occurrence of x in f(x) with g(x) = 2x − 7
−8x + 28 + 7 Simplify the answer by distributing and combining like terms
−8x + 37

2. If f(x) = −4x + 9 and g(x) = 2x −7, find gf(x)

gf(x) = 2(−4x + 9) −7
−8x + 18 −7
−8x + 11
Example 6:
If f(x) = 4x + 3 and g(x) = x2
Find (i) fg(4)
(ii) gf(−3)
(iii) ff(2)
 Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024
Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS
Department of Mathematics

Solution
(i) To find fg(4), we must replace x in f(x) with g(4, we need to find g(4) first
⇒ g (4) = 42 = 16 [use g function]
⇒ fg(4) = f(16) = 4(16) + 3
= 64 + 3
= 67

(ii) To find gf(−3)

We must replace x in g(x) with f(−3)
⇒f (−3) = 4 (−3) + 3 = −12 + 3 = −9
⇒ gf(−3) = g(−9) = (−9)2
= 81

(iii) To find ff (2); we must replace x in f(x) with f(2)

⇒f(2) = 4(2) + 3 = 8 + 3 = 11
⇒ff(2) = f(11) = 4(11) + 3
= 44 + 3
= 47

Example 7:

1. If f(x) = 3x + 2, g(x) = 4x −1
Evaluate the composite functions:
(i) fg(x) (ii) gf(x) (iii) ff(x) (iv) gg(x)

Solution
(i) fg(x) means we replace x in f(x) by (4x − 1)
⇒ fg(x) = f(4x −1)
⇒ fg(x) = 3(4x − 1) + 2
= 12x − 3 + 2
= 12x − 1

(ii) gf(x) means we replace x in g(x) by (3x + 2)

⇒ gf(x) = g(3x + 2)
⇒ gf(x) = 4(3x + 2) − 1
= 12x + 8 − 1
= 12x + 7

In general fg(x) ≠ gf(x), unless f is the inverse of g

(iii) For ff(x), we replace x in f(x) with (3x + 2)

⇒ ff(x) = f(3x + 2)
⇒ ff(x) = 3 (3x + 2) + 2
= 9x + 6 + 2
= 9x + 8
 Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024
Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS
Department of Mathematics
(iv) For gg(x), we replace x in g(x) by (4x − 1)
⇒ gg(x) = g(4x − 1)
⇒ gg(x) = 4(4x −1) −1
= 16x − 4−1
= 16x − 5
Note: ff(x) may also be written as f2(x) and gg(x) as g2(x)

Undefined Functions
Example 8:

If f(x) = ; find (i) f( 2 ) (ii) f(3)

4𝑥 − 2 1
𝑥−3

(i) f(½) =
4 ( )− 2
1
2
=
2 −2
=
0
=0
1 5 5
2
− 3 −2 −2

⇒ f(x) = 0 when x =
1
2

Recall : 0 divide by any number is equal to 0

(ii) f(3) = NO SOLUTION

4(3) − 2 12−2 10
3−3
= 0
= 0

It is impossible to divide by zero

When x= 3, the value of f(x) cannot be found, and f(x) is said to be undefined

Example 9:

1
If g(x) = ; find (i) f(0)
𝑥
1
NO SOLUTION
0

If we are given a function, then the function will be undefined when the denominator is zero;
this will be so if the denominator is an algebraic expression.

Inverse Functions

We can find the inverse of the function of f. We can write f inverse x using the notation f-1(x). The symbol f-1 is read
“f inverse” or “the inverse of f.”
Note that -1 is not an exponent.

The inverse of a function can be found by exchanging the domain and range of a function. To find the inverse of f(x),
the steps are:
➔ Change f(x) to y
➔ Interchange x for y and y for x in the function
➔ Solve for y
➔ Replace y with f-1(x); this is the inverse of f(x)
 Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024
Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS
Department of Mathematics

Example 10:
If f(x) = x + 2
y=x+2 Change f(x) to y
x = y+ 2 Interchange x for y and y for x in the function
x–2=y Solve for y
f-1(x) = x – 2 Replace y with f-1(x)

Example 11:
If f(x) = 5x + 2, find f-1(x)
y = 5x + 2
x = 5y + 2
x −2 = 5y
=
𝑥−2 5𝑦
5 5
-1
⇒ f (x) = 5
𝑥−2

Example 12:
3𝑥 − 5
f (x ) = 𝑥+2
3𝑥 − 5
Change f(x) to y : y= 𝑥+2

3𝑦 − 5
Interchange x for y and y for x in the function x = 𝑦+2
Solve for y
3𝑦 − 5
multiply both sides by (y + 2) x ( y + 2) = 𝑦+2
× ( y + 2)
expand the brackets xy + 2x = 3y − 5
bring all terms with y to one side 2x = 3y - xy - 5
add 5 from both sides 2x + 5 = 3y - xy
factor out y and the right hand 2x + 5 = y (3 - x)
2𝑥 + 5 𝑦 (3 − 𝑥)
divide both sides by (3 - x) =
3−𝑥 3− 𝑥
2𝑥 + 5
=y
3−𝑥
2𝑥 + 5
Replace y with f-1(x); this is the inverse of f(x) f-1(x) = 3 − 𝑥

Example 13:
f(x) =
2
𝑥+3
y= Replace f(x) by y
2
𝑥+3
x= Swap roles of x and y
2
𝑦+3
(y + 3) ⎡𝑥 = 𝑦 +3 ⎤(y + 3) Multiply both sides by (y + 3)
2
⎣ ⎦
x(y + 3) = 2 ← Distribute x into the ( )
xy + 3x = 2
xy = −3x + 2
y=
−3𝑥 + 2
𝑥
-1
f x= { Domain: x ≠ 0, Range: y ≠ −3}
−3𝑥 + 2
𝑥
 Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024
Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS
Department of Mathematics

Example 14:
If f(x) = ; Find f-1(x)
𝑥+5
𝑥 −5

y= Replace f(x) by y
𝑥+5
𝑥 −5
x= Swap roles of x and y
𝑦+5
𝑦 −5
x(y −5) = y + 5 Multiply both sides by (y −5)
xy − 5x = y + 5 ← Distribute x into the ( )
xy −y = 5x + 5 Keep term with y on the LEFT
y(x −1) = 5x + 5
y=
5𝑥 + 5
𝑥−1
fx = { Domain: x ≠ 1, Range: y ≠ 5}
5𝑥 + 5
𝑥−1

Example 15:
If f(x) = 5x + 3,
Find (i) f-1(x)
(ii) the composite functions (a) ff-1(x)
(b) f-1f(x)
Solution

(i) f(x) = 5x + 3
y = 5x + 3
x = 5y + 3
x−3 = 5y
𝑥−3
5
=y

𝑥−3
f-1(x) = 5

(ii) ff-1(x) = f ( 𝑥−3

5 )
= 5( )+ 3
𝑥−3
5
=x−3+3
=x

(iii) f-1f(x) = f-1(5x + 3)

(5𝑥 + 3) −3
=
5
5𝑥 + 3 −3
=
5
= 5
5𝑥

=x
This result will always hold
The composite function of a function and its inverse will always give x
 Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024
Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS
Department of Mathematics
Example 16:
Given f(x) = 2x − 1 and g(x) = x + 4 , Find the following :
1
2

a. f-1(x)
b. g-1(x)
c. (fg)-1(x)
d. (g-1f-1)(x)

Solution
First, I need to find f −1(x), g−1(x), and (fg)(x). Then I can find (fg)−1(x) and g−1f −1(x).

Inverting f (x):
f(x) = 2x − 1
y = 2x − 1
y + 1 = 2x
=x
𝑦+1
2

=y
𝑥+1
2

f-1(x) =
𝑥+1
2

Inverting g(x):
g(x) = x+4
1
2

y=2x+4
1

y −4 = x
1
2

2(y −4) = x
2y −8 = x
2x − 8 = y
2x−8 = g-1(x)

Finding the composed function:

(fg)(x) = f(g(x)) = f( 2 x + 4)
1

= 2( 2 x + 4) −1
1

= (x + 8)−1
=x+7

Inverting the composed function:

(fg)(x) = x + 7
y=x+7
y −7 = x
x −7 = y
x −7 = (fg)-1(x)
 Campion College: Term 2: Year 2023/2024
Grade 10: Lesson Plan: FUNCTIONS
Department of Mathematics

Now I'll compose the inverses of f (x) and g(x) to find the formula for (g−1f −1)(x):
(g-1f-1)(x) = g-1(f-1(x))
= g-1.(
𝑥+1
2
)

=2( ) −8
𝑥+1
2

= (x + 1) − 8
= x −7
g-1(f-1(x)) = x −7
Note that the inverse of the composition (( fg)−1(x)) gives the same result as does the
composition of the inverses g-1(f-1(x)). So I would conclude that: f g−1(x) = g−1 f −1(x)