Functions

Functions- Edexcel Past Exam Questions

1. The function f is defined by

5x  1 3
f: x  – , x > 1.
x x2
2
x2

2
(a) Show that f(x) = , x > 1. (4)
x 1

(b) Find f –1(x). (3)

The function g is defined by

g: x  x2 + 5, x  ℝ.

1
(c) Solve fg(x) = 4 . (3)
June 05 Q3

2. The functions f and g are defined by

f : x  2x + ln 2, x  ℝ,

g : x  e2x, x  ℝ.

(a) Prove that the composite function gf is

gf : x  4e4x, x  ℝ.
(4)
(b) Sketch the curve with equation y = gf(x), and show the coordinates of the point where the
curve cuts the y-axis. (1)

(c) Write down the range of gf. (1)

Jan 06 Q8(edited)

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 Functions

3. For the constant k, where k > 1, the functions f and g are defined by

f: x  ln (x + k), x > –k,

g: x  2x – k, x  ℝ.

(a) On separate axes, sketch the graph of f and the graph of g.

On each sketch state, in terms of k, the coordinates of points where the graph meets the
coordinate axes. (5)

(b) Write down the range of f. (1)

k
(c) Find fg   in terms of k, giving your answer in its simplest form. (2)
4
June 06 Q7 (edited)

4. The function f is defined by

f : x  ln (4 – 2x), x < 2 and x  ℝ.

(a) Show that the inverse function of f is defined by

f –1 : x  2 – 1
2 ex

and write down the domain of f –1.

(4)
(b) Write down the range of f –1.
(1)
(c) Sketch the graph of y = f –1(x). State the coordinates of the points of intersection with the
x and y axes.
(4)
Jan 07 Q6(edited)

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 Functions

5. The functions f and g are defined by

f :  ln (2x – 1), x  ℝ, x > 1

2 ,

2
g:  , x  ℝ, x  3.
x3

(a) Find the exact value of fg(4). (2)

(b) Find the inverse function f –1(x), stating its domain. (4)

(c) Sketch the graph of y = |g(x)|. Indicate clearly the equation of the vertical asymptote and
the coordinates of the point at which the graph crosses the y-axis. (3)

2
(d) Find the exact values of x for which = 3.     (3)
x3
June 07 Q5

6. The functions f and g are defined by

f:x 1 – 2x3, x  ℝ.

3
g:x  4, x > 0, x  ℝ.
x

(a) Find the inverse function f 1. (2)

(b) Show that the composite function gf is

8x3  1
gf : x  . (4)
1  2 x3
(c) Solve gf (x) = 0. (2)

Jan 08 Q8(edited)

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 Functions

7. The function f is defined by

2( x  1) 1
f: x  – , x > 3.
x  2x  3
2
x3

1
(a) Show that f(x) = , x > 3. (4)
x 1

(b) Find the range of f. (2)

(c) Find f –1 (x). State the domain of this inverse function. (3)

The function g is defined by

g: x  2x2 – 3, x  ℝ.

1
(d) Solve fg(x) = . (3)
8
June 08 Q4

8. The functions f and g are defined by

f : x  3x + ln x, x > 0, x  ℝ,

g : x  e x , x  ℝ.
2

(a) Write down the range of g. (1)

(b) Show that the composite function fg is defined by

fg : x  x2 + 3e x , x  ℝ.
2
(2)

(c) Write down the range of fg. (1)

Jan 09 Q5(edited)

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 Functions

9.

Figure 2

Figure 2 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation y = f(x), x  ℝ.

The curve meets the coordinate axes at the points A(0, 1 – k) and B( 12 ln k, 0), where k is a
constant and k >1, as shown in Figure 2.

On separate diagrams, sketch the curve with equation

(a) y = f(x), (3)

(b) y = f −1(x). (2)

Show on each sketch the coordinates, in terms of k, of each point at which the curve meets or
cuts the axes.

Given that f(x) = e2x − k,

(c) state the range of f, (1)

(d) find f −1(x), (3)

(e) write down the domain of f −1. (1)

June 09 Q5(edited)

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 Functions

10. The functions f and g are defined by

f (x) = e2x + 3, x ∈ ℝ,

g(x) = ln (x – 1), x ∈ ℝ, x > 1.

(a) Find f –1 and state its domain. (4)

(b) Find fg and state its range. (3)

Jan 10 Q9(edited)

11. The function f is defined by

f : x |→ |2x − 5|, x  ℝ.

(a) Sketch the graph with equation y = f(x), showing the coordinates of the points where the
graph cuts or meets the axes. (2)

(b) Solve f(x) =15 + x. (3)

The function g is defined by

g : x |→ x2 – 4x + 1, x  ℝ, 0 ≤ x ≤ 5.

(c) Find fg(2). (2)

(d) Find the range of g. (3)

June 10 Q4

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 Functions

12. The function f is defined by

3  2x
f: x  , x  ℝ, x ≠ 5.
x5

(a) Find f−1(x). (3)

Figure 2
The function g has domain –1  x  8, and is linear from (–1, –9) to (2, 0) and from (2, 0) to
(8, 4). Figure 2 shows a sketch of the graph of y = g(x).

(b) Write down the range of g. (1)

(c) Find gg(2). (2)

(d) Find fg(8). (2)

(e) On separate diagrams, sketch the graph with equation

(i) y = g(x),
(ii) y = g−1(x).

Show on each sketch the coordinates of each point at which the graph meets or cuts the axes.
(4)

(f) State the domain of the inverse function g−1. (1)

Jan 11 Q6

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 Functions

13. The function f is defined by

f : x  4 − ln (x + 2), x  ℝ, x  –1.

(a) Find f −1(x). (3)

(b) Find the domain of f −1. (1)

The function g is defined by

x  ℝ.
2
g : x  e x − 2,

(c) Find fg(x), giving your answer in its simplest form. (3)

(d) Find the range of fg. (1)

June 11 Q4(edited)

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