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CIE A Level Maths: Pure 1 Your notes

1.3 Functions
Contents
1.3.1 Language of Functions
1.3.2 Composite Functions
1.3.3 Inverse Functions

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1.3.1 Language of Functions

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Language of Functions
Language of functions
The language of functions has many keywords associated with it that need to be understood

What are mappings?

A mapping takes an ‘input’ from one set of values to an ‘output’ in another

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Mappings can be
‘many-to-one’ (many ‘input’ values go to one ‘output’ value)
‘one-to-many’
‘many-to-many’
‘one-to-one’

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What is the difference between a mapping and a function?

A function is a mapping where every ‘input’ value maps to a single ‘output’
Many-to-one and one-to-one mappings are functions
Mappings which have many possible outputs are not functions

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Notation
Functions are denoted by the notation f(x), g(x), etc
eg. f(x) = x2 - 3x + 2
Or the alternative notation
eg. f : x ↦ x2 – 3x + 2
Sets of numbers
Functions often involve domains and ranges for specific sets of numbers
All numbers can be organised into different sets ℕ, ℤ, ℚ, ℝ

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So ℕ is a subset of ℤ etc Your notes

ℤ- would be the set of negative integers only

Domain
The domain of a function is the set of values that are allowed to be the ‘input’

A function is only fully defined once its domain has been stated
Restrictions on a domain can turn many-to-one functions into one-to-one functions

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Range
The range of a function is the set of values of all possible ‘outputs’ Your notes

The type of values in the range depend on the domain

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Worked example
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1.3.2 Composite Functions

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Composite Functions
What is a composite function?
A composite function is where one function is applied after another function

The ‘output’ of one function will be the ‘input’ of the next one
Sometimes called function-of-a-function
A composite function can be denoted
fg (x )
f (g (x ))
f ⎡⎢⎣ g (x ) ⎤⎥⎦
( f ∘ g ) (x )
All of these mean “f of g (x ) ”

How do I work with composite functions?

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Recognise the notation

fg(x) means “f of g of x”
The order matters
First apply g to x to get g (x )
Then apply f to the previous output to get f (g (x ))
Always start with the function closest to the variable
fg (x ) is not usually equal to gf (x )
Special cases

fg(x) and gf(x) are generally different but can sometimes be the same
ff(x) is written as f2(x)
Inverse functions ff-1(x) = f-1f(x) = x

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Examiner Tip
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Domain and range are important.In fg(x), the ‘output’ (range) of g must be in the domain of f(x), so
fg(x) could exist, but gf(x) may not (or not for some values of x).

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Worked example
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1.3.3 Inverse Functions

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Inverse Functions
Inverse functions
An inverse function is the opposite to the original function
It is denoted by f-1(x)
An inverse only exists for one-to-one functions

Graphs of inverse functions

The graphs of a function and its inverse are reflections in the line y = x

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Domain and range of inverse functions

The range of a function will be the domain of its inverse function

The domain of a function will be the range of its inverse function
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How do I work out an inverse function? Your notes

Set y = f(x) and make x the subject

Then rewrite in function notation
Domain is needed to fully define a function
The range of f is the domain of f-1 (and vice versa)

... and finally …

A function (f) followed by its inverse (f-1) will return the input (x)
ff-1(x) = f-1f(x) = x (for all values of x)

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Worked example
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