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Functions

Details of function
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© © All Rights Reserved
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
23 views

Functions

Details of function
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Functions

A function is a rule which maps one number (sometimes called the input or 𝑥) onto another number
(sometimes called the output or 𝑦).
A function can written as an equation, for example: 𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 2

Changing the value of 𝑥 changes the value of 𝑦

Function notation:
We can use different notations to refer to this function:

• For example, it can be expressed as: 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2


This function is called 𝑓, and it takes 𝑥, multiplies it by 3 and then adds 2.

• This function can also be written with a mapping arrow, for example: 𝑓: 𝑥 → 3𝑥 + 2
This means 𝑓 is a function that takes each 𝑥-value and maps it onto 3𝑥 + 2.
Examples

𝑥 2 +1
1. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = . Find:
2
a) 𝑓(0) b) 𝑓(3)

2. ℎ: 𝑥 → 2𝑥 . Find:
a) ℎ(2) b) ℎ(5)

𝑥+1
3. 𝑔(𝑥 ) = . Find:
𝑥−1
a) 𝑔(2) b) 𝑔(3)

4. 𝑓: → 2𝑥 + 5.
a) If 𝑓(𝑎) = 0, what is the value of 𝑎? b) If 𝑓(𝑏) = 𝑏, what is the value of 𝑏?
The domain and range of a function
The domain of a function is the set of all acceptable inputs.
The range is the set of resulting outputs.
For example, given the rule 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2 and the domain {−1, 0, 1, 2} we can find the range:

It is more common for a function to be defined over a continuous interval, rather than a set of discrete
values.
Example:
The function 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 7 is defined over the domain −2 ≤ 𝑥 < 5. Find the range of this function.

More examples
1. What values of 𝑥 must be excluded from the domains of the following functions?
a) 𝑔: 𝑥 → √𝑥 b) 𝑓: 𝑥 → √𝑥 + 1

1 1
c) ℎ: 𝑥 → d) 𝑗: 𝑥 →
𝑥+1 2𝑥+1

2. Suppose the domain is {1, 2, 3, 4}, find the range of the following functions:
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)2 b) 𝑔(𝑥) =
1
𝑥
Inverse functions
If the function itself is considered a "DO" action, then the inverse is the "UNDO".
Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2
We can write this function using a flow diagram as follows:
×𝟑 +𝟐
𝒙→ 𝟑𝒙 → 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
To find the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2, we start with 𝑥 and perform the inverse operations in reverse
order.

𝒙−𝟐 ÷𝟑 −𝟐
← 𝒙 − 𝟐← 𝒙
𝟑
𝑥−2
The inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) is written as 𝑓 −1 (𝑥), so if 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2, 𝑓 −1 (𝑥 ) = .
3

How to find an inverse function algebraically


Find the inverse of the following function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2

Examples
1. Find 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) for the following functions:
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 4(𝑥 − 5) 𝑥+4
b) 𝑓(𝑥 ) =
5
2𝑥+5
2. 𝑔(𝑥) = . Find 𝑔−1 (2)
3

𝑥+5
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = . Solve the equation 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥)
2
Composite functions
Suppose you are given these two functions: 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1
The composition of these two functions means combining them in a manner where the output from one
function becomes the input for the next function.

𝑔(𝑓(𝑥)) means the output for 𝑓(𝑥) becomes the input for 𝑔(𝑥)

This can be written as 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥)) = (3𝑥)2 + 1 = 9𝑥 2 + 1

Examples

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 2.


a) Find an expression for 𝑔𝑓(𝑥). Write your answer as simply as possible.
b) Find 𝑓𝑔(𝑥). Write your answer as simply as possible.
2. In the following cases find 𝑓𝑔(𝑥). Write your answer as simply as possible.
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 4 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 4

𝑥
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = + 3. Find:
2
a) 𝑓𝑔(4) b) 𝑔𝑓(4)
𝑥+4
4. ℎ(𝑥) = and 𝑘(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 5. Find:
2

a) ℎ−1 𝑘(𝑥) b) ℎℎ(𝑥)

5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3. Find:
a) 𝑓 −1 𝑓(𝑥) b) 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥)

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