1 Functions f and g are defined by

f : x → 2x + 1, x ∈ >, x > 0,
2x − 1
g:x→ x ∈ >, x ≠ −3.
,
x+3
(i) Solve the equation gf(x) = x. [3]

(ii) Express f −1 (x) and g−1 (x) in terms of x. [4]

(iii) Show that the equation g−1 (x) = x has no solutions. [3]

(iv) Sketch in a single diagram the graphs of y = f(x) and y = f −1 (x), making clear the relationship
between the graphs. [3]
9709/11/O/N/09

2 Functions f and g are defined for x ∈ > by

f : x → 2x + 3,
g : x → x2 − 2x.

Express gf (x) in the form a(x + b)2 + c, where a, [5]

b and c are constants.
9709/11/O/N/10

3 The function f is defined by

f (x) = x2 − 4x + 7 for x > 2.

(i) Express f (x) in the form (x − a)2 + [3]

b and hence state the range of f.(ii) Obtain an expression for f −1 (x) [3]

and state the domain of f −1 .

The function g is defined by
g(x) = x − 2 for x > 2.
The function h is such that f = hg and the domain of h is x > 0.
[1]
(iii) Obtain an expression for h(x).
9709/12/O/N/10
4 Functions f and g are defined for x ∈ > by
f : x → 2x + 1,
g : x → x2 − 2.

(i) Find and simplify expressions for fg(x) and gf (x). [2]

(ii) Hence find the value of a for which fg(a) = gf (a). [3]

(iii) Find the value of b (b ≠ a) for which g(b) = b. [2]

(iv) Find and simplify an expression for f −1 g(x). [2]

The function h is defined by

h : x → x2 − 2, for x ≤ 0.

(v) Find an expression for h−1 (x). [2]

9709/11/M/J/11

x+3
The function f is defined by f : x → , x ∈ >, x ≠ 12 .
2x − 1
5

(i) Show that ff (x) = x. [3]

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, obtain an expression for f −1 (x). [2]

9709/12/M/J/11

6 The functions f and g are defined for x ∈ > by

f : x → 3x + a,
g : x → b − 2x,

where a and b are constants. Given that ff (2) = 10 and g−1 (2) = 3,
find [4]
(i) the values of a and b,
[2]
(ii) an expression for fg(x). 9709/12/O/N/11

7 The function f is defined by

f : x → x2 + 1 for x ≥ 0.

(i) Define in a similar way the inverse function f −1 . [3]

(ii) Solve the equation ff x
= 185

16
. [3]
9709/11/O/N/13
8 The function f is defined by f : x → x2 + 4x for x ≥ c, where c is a constant. It is given that f is a
one-one function.

(i) State the range of f in terms of c and find the smallest possible value of c. [3]

The function g is defined by g : x → ax + b for x ≥ 0, where a and b are positive constants. It is given
that, when c = 0, gf 1
= 11 and fg 1
= 21.

(ii) Write down two equations in a and b and solve them to find the values of a and b. [6]

9709/13/O/N/13

9 The functions f and g are defined for x ≥ 0 by

1
f : x →
ax + b 3 , where a and b are positive constants,
g : x → x2 .

Given that fg
1 = 2 and gf
9 = 16,

(i) calculate the values of a and b , [4]

(ii) obtain an expression for f −1
x and state the domain of f −1 . [4]

© UCLES 2014 9709/13/O/N/14

10 Functions f and g are defined by

f : x → 3x + 2, x ∈ >,
g : x → 4x − 12, x ∈ >.

Solve the equation f −1 x
= gf x
. [4]

9709/12/O/N/15

11 The function f is such that f x
= a2 x2 − ax + 3b for x ≤ , where a and b are constants.

2a

(i) For the case where f −2
= 4a2 − b + 8 and f −3
= 7a2 − b + 14, find the possible values of a
and b. [5]

(ii) For the case where a = 1 and b = −1, find an expression for f −1 x
and give the domain of f −1 .
[5]
9709/12/F/M/16
12 Functions f and g are defined by
f : x → 10 − 3x, x ∈ >,
10
g:x→ , x ∈ >, x ≠ 32 .
3 − 2x
Solve the equation ff x
= gf 2
. [3]

9709/12/M/J/16

13 The functions f and g are defined by

4
f x
= − 2 for x > 0,
x
4
g x
= for x ≥ 0.
5x + 2

(i) Find and simplify an expression for fg x
and state the range of fg. [3]

(ii) Find an expression for g−1 x
and find the domain of g−1 . [5]

14 The functions f and g are defined for x ≥ 0 by

f : x → 2x2 + 3,
g : x → 3x + 2.

(i) Show that gf x
= 6x2 + 11 and obtain an unsimplified expression for fg x
. [2]

(ii) Find an expression for fg
−1 x
and determine the domain of fg
−1 . [5]

(iii) Solve the equation gf 2x
= fg x
. [3]

9709/12/F/M/17

15 Functions f and g are defined for x > 3 by

1
f:x→ 2
,
x −9
g : x → 2x − 3.

(i) Find and simplify an expression for gg x
. [2]

(ii) Find an expression for f −1 x
and state the domain of f −1 . [4]

(iii) Solve the equation fg x
= 17 . [4]

9709/11/O/N/17
16 A function f is defined by f : x → 4 − 5x for x ∈ >.

(i) Find an expression for f −1 x
and find the point of intersection of the graphs of y = f x
and
y = f −1 x
. [3]

(ii) Sketch, on the same diagram, the graphs of y = f x
and y = f −1 x
, making clear the relationship
between the graphs. [3]

9709/12/O/N/17

17 The functions f and g are defined by

2
f x
= 2
for x < −1,
x −1
g x
= x2 + 1 for x > 0.

(i) Find an expression for f −1 x
. [3]

(ii) Solve the equation gf x
= 5. [4]

9709/13/O/N/17

18 Functions f and g are defined by

8
f x
= +2 for x > 2,
x−2
8
g x
= + 2 for 2 < x < 4.
x−2

(i) (a) State the range of the function f. [1]

(b) State the range of the function g. [1]
(c) State the range of the function fg. [1]

(ii) Explain why the function gf cannot be formed. [1]

(iii) Find the set of values of x satisfying the inequality 6f ′ x
+ 2f −1 x
− 5 < 0. [6]
9709/12/F/M/18

19 The one-one function f is defined by f x
= x − 2
2 + 2 for x ≥ c, where c is a constant.

(i) State the smallest possible value of c. [1]

In parts (ii) and (iii) the value of c is 4.

(ii) Find an expression for f −1 x
and state the domain of f −1 . [3]

(iii) Solve the equation ff x
= 51, giving your answer in the form a + ïb. [5]
9709/13/M/J/18
20 Functions f and g are defined by
f : x → 3x − 2, x ∈ >,
2x + 3
g:x→ , x ∈ >, x ≠ 1.
x−1

(i) Obtain expressions for f −1 x
and g−1 x
, stating the value of x for which g−1 x
is not defined.
[4]

(ii) Solve the equation fg x
= 7 . [3]

3
9709/12/M/J/19

48
21 The function f is defined by f x
= for 3 ≤ x ≤ 7. The function g is defined by g x
= 2x − 4 for
x−1
a ≤ x ≤ b, where a and b are constants.

(i) Find the greatest value of a and the least value of b which will permit the formation of the
composite function gf. [2]

It is now given that the conditions for the formation of gf are satisfied.

(ii) Find an expression for gf x
. [1]

(iii) Find an expression for gf
−1 x
. [2]

9709/13/M/J/19

22 Functions f and g are defined by

3
f:x→ for x > 0,
2x + 1
1
g : x → + 2 for x > 0.
x

(i) Find the range of f and the range of g. [3]

ax
(ii) Find an expression for fg x
, giving your answer in the form , where a, b and c are integers.
bx + c
[2]
1
(iii) Find an expression for fg
− x
, giving your answer in the same form as for part (ii). [3]
9709/11/O/N/19

23 Functions f and g are defined for x ∈ > by

f : x → 12 x − a,
g : x → 3x + b,

where a and b are constants.

(a) Given that gg 2
= 10 and f −1 2
= 14, find the values of a and b. [4]

(b) Using these values of a and b, find an expression for gf x
in the form cx + d , where c and d are
constants. [2]
9709/11/M/J/20
24 The function f is defined for x ∈ > by
f : x → a − 2x,
where a is a constant.

(a) Express ff x
and f −1 x
in terms of a and x. [4]

(b) Given that ff x
= f −1 x
, find x in terms of a. [2]

9709/12/M/J/20

25 The functions f and g are defined by

f x
= x2 + 3 for x > 0,
g x
= 2x + 1 for x > − 12 .

(a) Find an expression for fg x
. [1]

(b) Find an expression for fg
−1 x
and state the domain of fg
−1 . [4]

(c) Solve the equation fg x
− 3 = gf x
. [4]

9709/11/O/N/20

26 Functions f and g are defined by

f x
= 4x − 2, for x ∈ >,
4
g x
= , for x ∈ >, x ≠ −1.
x+1

(a) Find the value of fg 7
. [1]

(b) Find the values of x for which f −1 x
= g−1 x
. [5]

9709/12/O/N/20

The function f is defined by f x
= for x > 13 .

2x
3x − 1
27

(a) Find an expression for f −1 x
. [3]

+
2 2 2x
3 3 3x − 1
3x − 1
(b) Show that can be expressed as [2]

(c) State the range of f. [1]

9709/13/O/N/20
28 The function f is defined by f x
= 2x2 + 3 for x ≥ 0.

(a) Find and simplify an expression for ff x
. [2]

(b) Solve the equation ff x
= 34x2 + 19. [4]

9709/12/M/J/21

29 Functions f and g are defined as follows:

f : x → x2 − 1 for x < 0,
1
g:x→ for x < − 12 .
2x + 1

(a) Solve the equation fg x
= 3. [4]

(b) Find an expression for fg
−1 x
. [3]

9709/13/M/J/21

30 The function f is defined as follows:

x+3
f x
= for x > 1.
x−1
(a) Find the value of ff 5
. [2]

(b) Find an expression for f −1 x
. [3]

9709/12/O/N/21

31 The function f is defined as follows:

x2 − 4
f x
= for x > 2.
x2 + 4

(a) Find an expression for f −1 x
. [3]

8 x2 − 4
(b) Show that 1 − 2 can be expre and hence state the range of f. [4]
ssed as x +4 x2 + 4
(c) Explain why the composite function ff cannot be formed. [1]
9709/11/M/J/22
32 Functions f and g are defined as follows:
2x + 1
f x
= for x ≠ 12 ,
2x − 1
g x
= x2 + 4 for x ∈ >.

y
(a)

x
−6 −4 −2 0 2 4 6

−2

The diagram shows part of the graph of y = f x
.

State the domain of f −1 . [1]

(b) Find an expression for f −1 x
. [3]

(c) Find gf −1 3
. [2]

(d) Explain why g−1 x
cannot be found. [1]

2 2x + 1
(e) Show that 1 + can be expressed as . Hence find the area of the triangle enclosed
2x − 1 2x − 1
by the tangent to the curve y = f x
at the point where x = 1 and the x- and y-axes. [6]
9709/12/M/J/22

33 The line y = 2x + 5 intersects the circle with equation x2 + y2 = 20 at A and B.

(a) Find the coordinates of A and B in surd form and hence find the exact length of the chord AB.
[7]
A straight line through the point 10, 0
with gradient m is a tangent to the circle.

(b) Find the two possible values of m. [5]

9709/13/O/N/21
34 The functions f and g are defined as follows, where a and b are constants.
2a
f x
= 1 + for x > a
x−a
g x
= bx − 2 for x ∈ >

(a) Given that f 7
= 52 and gf 5
= 4, find the values of a and b. [4]

For the rest of this question, you should use the value of a which you found in (a).

(b) Find the domain of f −1 . [1]

(c) Find an expression for f −1 x
. [3]

9709/11/M/J/23

5
35 The function f is defined by f x
= 2 − for x > −2.
x+2
(a) State the range of f. [1]

(b) Obtain an expression for f −1 x
and state the domain of f −1 . [4]

The function g is defined by g x
= x + 3 for x > 0.

ax + b
(c) Obtain an expression for fg x
giving your answer in the form , where a, b, c and d are
cx + d
integers. [3]
9709/13/M/J/23