Shining UCE Mathematics – Wendi Kassim

8 FUNCTIONS
8.1 Introduction:
Under mapping, we saw that many members are mapped to many
image points. But under this topic, we shall see the relationship that
maps a single object to a single image.

Definition:
A function is a relation which maps a single object onto a single
image. In other words, it is a rule that assigns to each element x in
set A, one element known as f (x) in B.
Suppose set A has elements x1 , x2 , x3  and set B has elements
y1 , y2 , y3  and that each element of A is mapped to one element in set
B as shown below.
X Y
 x1  
  y1 
   
 x2  
  y 2 
x   
 3    y 3 

Set A is called the domain of the function and set B is called the
range of the function. Each member of X has one and only one
corresponding member in Y , f is therefore a function and it is
written as:

f : AB

Meaning that, the input values of f come from A, and the output
values of f are stored in B. The action of a function on an element is
denoted by: A  f (x)

Consider the function: x  3x  4 . This can be represented as

follows;

a) f ( x)  3x  4 , which is read as a function which maps x onto

3x  4

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b) f : x  3x  4

c) f ( x)  3x  4 . We can let y  f ( x). y  3x  4 . In this case,

the value of y can only be obtained when x is known. In other
words, y depends on x and hence it is known as the dependent
variable. x , on the other hand does not depend on y. It is
therefore known as independent variable.

Example
A function f (x) is defined by: f ( x)  3x  3 , find f (5)

Solution
f ( x)  3 x  3
f (5)  f ( x  5)  ?

In order to obtain f (5) , we have to substitute x in the expression 3x  3

with 5 and then simplify it. I.e.

f (5)  3(5)  3  15  3
 f (5)  18

Example
1
Given that f ( x)  .
x
Find:
i. f (a)
ii. f ( x  h)

Solution
1 1
i. f ( x)   f ( x  a) 
x a

1
ii. f ( x  x  h) 
xh

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Example
Given that f ( x)  x 2  3x  9
Find:
i. f (1)
ii. f (  5)

Solution
f ( x)  x 2  3 x  9

i.  f ( x  1)  12  3(1)  9
 1 3  9
 5

ii. f (  5) (  5) 2  3(  5)  9
 1 3  9
 5

Example
A function is defined by the formula f ( x)  3x  1. If f (a)  19 , find
the value of a.

Solution

f ( x)  3 x  1
f (a)  3(a)  1  3a  1, but : f (a)  19
 3a  1  19  3a  18
 a  18  6
3

Example
2
Given that f ( x)  . Find the value of p for which f ( p)  1.
2x  6
2

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Solution
2
f ( x) 
2x  6
2

2
 f ( p)   1  2  2 p2  6
2p  6
2

2 p2  8  p2  4

 p   4   2
 p  2, p   2

Example
Given that g ( x)  ax 2  b, g (  2)  3, and , g (1)  3 . Find the value of a
and b

Solution
g ( x)  ax 2  b
For g (-2):
g (  2)  a(  2) 2  b
 g (  2)  4a  b g (  2)  3
 4a  b  3.............................(1)
For g (1):
g (1)  a(1) 2  b
 g (1)  a  b g (1)  3

 a  b  3.............................(2)
Equation (1)  equation (2)

4a  b  3

 a  b  3 
6
3a  6  a 
3
a  2

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From (2):
2  b  3.
 b  5

Example
Find the unknown values in the arrow diagrams for the mapping.

x  2( x  1)
5 12

p 16

q 22

11 24

13 r

Solution
We know the range and the domain: x is the domain and range  2( x  1)

 f ( x)  2( x  1)

To prove: f (5)  2(5  1)  12

f ( p)  2( p  1), but from the diagram, f ( p)  16
 16  2( p  1)
 2 p  2  16
2 p  14
p7

f (q)  2(q  1), but from the diagram, f (q)  22

 2(q  1)  22
q  1  11
 q  10

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f ( x)  2( x  1)
f (13)  2(13  1)  28, but , f (13)  r
 r  28

x  2( x  1)
5 12

7 16

10 22

11 24

13 28

Example
Given that f ( x)  2  3x2  4 . Express the f (x) in the form
x2 x 4
Px , and hence state the value of P and Q.
f ( x)  2
x Q

Solution
2 3x  4
f ( x)   2
x2 x 4

Factorizing x 2  4  ( x  2)( x  2) from difference of two squares.

2 3x  4
 f ( x)   ,  L.c.m  ( x  2)( x  2)
x  2 ( x  2)( x  2)
2( x  2)  3x  4 2 x  4  3x  4
 f ( x)  
( x  2)( x  2) x2  4
5x
 f ( x)  2
x 4

Px ,by comparing with 5x

Since f ( x)  f ( x)  2
x Q
2
x 4
 P  5, and , Q  4

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8.2 Undefined functions:

A function is undefined if the denominator is equal to zero. This is
because we cannot divide something by zero. Therefore the function
1
f ( x)  is undefined when x  0 i.e. f ( x)  1 which cannot be divided. In
x 0
fact your calculator indicates „‟math error‟‟.

Example

Given that f ( x)  1
1 x
i. Find f (2)
ii. Find the value of x for which f (x) is not defined.

Solution
1
i. f ( x) 
1 x
1 1
 f (2)     1
1 2 1

ii. f (x) is undefined if 1  x  0

 1 x  0
x 1

Example

Find the value of x for which f ( x)  5 x  62 is not defined.

4x

Solution
5x  6
f ( x) 
4  x2
f (x) is undefined if, 4  x 2  0

 x 2  4  x   4   2
 x  2, or , x   2

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8.3 Inverse of a function

8.3.1 Introduction:
If a function f maps elements of A onto elements of B i.e.
f : A B
A B
 a1  
  1 
   
 a2  
  2 
a    
 3    3 

Then the function that maps elements of B back onto elements of A

i.e.
A B
 a1  
  1 
   
 a2  
  2 
a   
 3    3 

Is known as the inverse function of f and it is denoted as f 1 .

8.3.2 Obtaining the inverse function:

The following examples will illustrate how to obtain the inverse of a
function.

Example
Given that f ( x)  4 x  8 .

Find:
a) f 1 ( x)
b) f 1 (1)

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Solution
a) Step 1: let f ( x)  y  y  4 x  8
Step 2: make x the subject
y  8  4x
y 8
x 
4
Step 3: replace x with f 1 ( x) and y with x. i.e.
1 x 8
f ( x)  This is the inverse function of f (x)
4
1 (1)  8  7
b) f (1)  
4 4

Example
Given that g ( x)  2 x  17 .

Find:
a) g 1 ( x)
b) g 1 (3)
c) g 1 (  4)

Solution
a) g ( x)  2 x  17
Let y  g ( x)  y  2 x  17
y  17  2 x
y  17
x 
2
x  g 1 ( x), y  x
x  17
 g 1 ( x) 
2

3  17
b) g 1 (3)   10
2
17  4 13
c) g 1 (  4)    6.5
2 2

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Example
Obtain the inverse of the function f ( x)  x  1 , hence find f 1 (  2)
x 1
Solution
x 1
f ( x) 
x 1
x 1
Let y  f ( x)  y 
x 1
y ( x  1)  ( x  1)
yx  y  x  1
yx  x  y  1
x( y  1)  y  1
x( y  1)  1  y
y 1
x 
y 1

1
Replacing x with f ( x) and y with x
x 1
f 1 ( x) 
x 1

 
1 2 1 1 1
Hence f ( x   2)  
 

2 1 3 3

8.4 Composite Functions

8.4.1 Introduction:
A composite function is a function, which is composed of a sequence
of simple functions.

For example, the function fg (x) where f and g are functions is

known as a composite function. The result is image of x under g first
followed by f .

Example
If f ( x)  x 2 , and , g ( x)  x  1 , find:
a) i) gf (x)
ii) gf (x) , when x  3
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b) i) fg (x)
ii) fg (x) , when x  3

Solution
a) i) gf ( x)  g  f ( x), but f ( x)  x 2
 g ( x 2 ), and , g ( x)  x  1
 ( x) 2  1

 gf ( x)  x 2  1

ii) When x  3 :

Method 1:
gf ( x  3)  (3) 2  1  10

Method 2:
f ( x)  x 2
 f (3)  (3) 2  9
 gf (3)  g (9), but : g ( x)  x  1
 9 1
 10

b) i) fg ( x)  f g ( x), but : g ( x)  x  1
 f ( x  1), and : f ( x)  x 2
 ( x  1) 2
 fg ( x)  x 2  2 x  1

ii) If x  3 :

Method 1:
fg ( x  3)  (3) 2  2(3)  1
 9  6 1
 16

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Method 2:
g ( x)  x  1
 g (3)  3  1  4
 fg (3)  f (4), but : f ( x)  x 2
 ( 4) 2
 16

8.5 Composite function linked with matrices

In the above example, we saw that:
gf ( x)  x 2  1, and , gf (3)  10,
fg ( x)  x 2  2 x  1, and , fg (3)  16.

We can now conclude that for any two functions f and g :

fg ( x)  gf ( x)

This is similar to what we saw with matrices. For instance, if A and

B are two matrices, then: AB  BA

Example
The functions f and g are given by:

8 ,where x  1 and
f ( x)  g ( x)  2 x  1
x 1

Find:
a) fg
b) g 2
c) ( fg ) 1
d) ( gf ) 1
e) f 1 ( x) g 1 ( x)

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Solution
a) fg ( x)  f g ( x), but : g ( x)  2 x  1
8
 f ( 2 x  1), and : f ( x ) 
x 1
8

( 2 x  1)  1
8

2x
4
 fg ( x) 
x

b) g 2 ( x)  gg ( x)  g g ( x), but : g ( x)  2 x  1
 g ( 2 x  1)
 2( 2 x  )  1
 4x  2  1
 4x  3

4
c)  fg ( x)1  ? but fg ( x) 
x
4 4
Let y  fg ( x)  y  x
x y
Replacing x with  fg ( x)  and y with x, we obtain:
1

 fg ( x) 1  4
x
In this case, the composite function fg and its inverse ( fg ) 1 are
the same.

d) ( gf ) 1  ? Find gf first.

gf ( x)  g  f ( x), f ( x) 
8
x 1
 8 
 g , and : g ( x)  2 x  1
 x  1

 8 
 2  1
 x 1 

16
 gf ( x)  1
x 1
16
y  gf ( x)  y  1
x 1
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Making x the subject,

16
y 1   ( y  1)( x  1)  16
x 1
16
 x 1 
y 1
16
x 1
y 1

Replacing x with ( gf ) 1 and y with x, we obtain:

gf ( x) 1  16
1
x 1

1
e) f ( x) g 1 ( x)  ? first find f 1
( x), and , g 1 ( x)
1
For f ( x) :
8
f ( x)  .let , y  f ( x )
x 1
8
 y
x 1
8
 x  1
y
8
 f 1 ( x )   1
x

For g 1 ( x) :

g ( x)  2 x  1 : let , y  g ( x )
 y  2x  1
y 1
x 
2
1 x 1
 g ( x) 
2
 f g ( x)  f 1 g 1 ( x)
1 1
 

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 x 1
1
 f  
 2 
8
 1
 1
x
 
 2 
8 2
 1
x 1
1 16
f g 1 ( x)  1
x 1

Now compare gf 1 with , f 1

g 1 , they are the same, aren’t
they?

8.6 Conclusion:
If g (x) and f (x) two functions, then:

gf 1  f 1
g 1

Example
If g ( x)  2 x, and , f ( x)  x  3 . Find gf (x) and hence, evaluate gf (2)

Solution
g ( x)  2 x, f ( x)  x  3
gf ( x)  g  f ( x)
 g ( x  3)
 2( x  3)
 2x  6

Hence gf (2)  2(2)  6  4  6  10

Example
Given that f ( x)  x 3  3 and g ( x)  x  1 .
Find the value of a such that:

fg (a)  gf (a)

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Solution
f ( x)  x 3  3, g ( x)  x  1
fg ( x)  f g ( x)
 f ( x  1)
 ( x  1) 2  3
 x 2  2x  1  3
 fg ( x)  x 2  2 x  4
 fg (a)  a 2  2a  4...........................(1)

Also: gf ( x)  g  f ( x)

 g ( x 2  3)
 ( x 2  3)  1

 gf ( x)  x 2  2
 gf (a)  a 2  2...............................(2)

Since fg (a)  gf (a)

 a 2  2a  4  a 2  2
 2a  4  2
 4  2  2a  2  2a
a  1

8.7 Miscellaneous exercise

1. Given that: f ( x)  x 2  3x  9, g ( x)  x 2  4 x  2, and , h( x)  3x 2  3x  5

Find:

i. f (2)
ii. g (  1)
iii. h(  3)

2. i) If f ( x)  x 2  5x  c, and , f (  6)  0, find c.

ii) Given that g ( x)  x 2  bx , find the value of b if g (3)  3

iii) g ( x)  ax 2  5x  3 . If g (1)  9 , find a.
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3. a) Given that f ( x)  ax  7 and f (8)  17, find the value of:

i. a
ii. f (4)

b) Given that f ( x)  ax 2  bx , f (1)  5 and f (2)  14 . Find the

values of a and b.

4. Find the unknown value in the arrow diagram below

x  3( x 2  3)
3 b

p 150

r 366

13 510

15 m

5. Given that f ( x)  1 (3x  5) . Find f 1 ( x) and hence evaluate

2
1
f (10).

6. Given that f ( x)  2 x 2  9, and , g ( x)  x  1.

Find:
a) fg (x)

b) fg (  1)

c) gf (5)

d) fgf (x)

e) g 1 f (3)

x3 1  2x
7. Given the functions f ( x)  and g ( x)  . Determine the
2 5
value of x for which fg ( x)  9  24 x  8 x
2

10

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8. Two functions f and g are defined as: f ( x)  x 2 and , g ( x)  5x  4 .

Find the value of x for which fg ( x)  5 gf ( x) .

9. For the following functions, find the value of x for which f (x) is
undefined.
x2
a)
2x  4

1
b)
1 x2

5x  6
c)
9  x2

3x  1
d)
x  3x  40
2

4x  9
e)
20 x 2  x  1

qx  c
10. Given that f ( x)  2  4
. Express f (x) in the form 2
x3 x 9 2
x r
and hence, find the value of x for which f (x) is not defined.

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