Additional Mathematics Chapter1 Functions

Chapter 1 Functions

f
x f (x)

Figure 1.1

Notation of a function
1. Function can be written in two ways:
(a) Function’s name (Object) = Image
Example, given f ( x) = 2 x , Find f (1) and f (2) .

Solutions: f (1) = 2(1) = 2

f (2) = 2(2) = 4


( Notes: f (x ) is the image of function f where x is the object of the function.)
From the example, the work done by the function is double the value of the object, x to
produce the image, 2 x .

(b) Function’s name: Object a Image

is mapped to
For example, f : x a 2x

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 Additional Mathematics Chapter1 Functions

2. Composite functions

f g gf ( x ) =
x f (x) g[ f ( x )]

gf
Figure 1.2

Secondary function[Primary function(Object)] = Image

Example, g[ f ( x)] = Image

2. Based on Figure 1.2, function f maps the object x to image f (x ) .

Then, function g maps the secondary object f ( x) to secondary image gf ( x ) .

3. The objective to find composite function gf (x ) is combining the two mapping processes
that performs function f followed by function g to a single function, gf .

Example, Explanation of substitution steps

Given f ( x) = 2 x and g ( x) = x + 1 , f ( x) = 2 x
( i ) Find the composite function fg . ∴ f ( x + 1 ) = 2( x + 1 )
Solutions: fg ( x ) = f [ g ( x )]
= f ( x + 1) (Step 1 Substitute g ( x ) with x + 1 )
= 2( x + 1)
= 2x + 2

( ii ) Find the composite function fg .

Solutions: g[ f ( x)] = g (2 x)
= (2 x) + 1
= 2x + 1
More examples,
( iii ) Find f 2 ( x) , and g 2 ( x) .
Solutions:
f 2 ( x) = f [ f ( x)] = f (2 x) g 2 ( x) = g[ g ( x)]
= g ( x + 1)
= 2(2 x) = ( x + 1) + 1
= x+2
= 4x

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 Additional Mathematics Chapter1 Functions

Inverse Function

Domain Codomain
Object f Image

y x
−1
New
image f New
object

Figure 1.3

4. Based on figure 1.3, the inverse function of f , f −1 is a function that doing the
reverse process of function f . It maps the image of f ,which is x back to the original
object of f , which is y .

Step 1:
Example, f ( x) = 2 x + 1
Let Step 1:
f ( x) = y −
−1
1 ⇒ x = f ( y) Let f ( x) = y
−1

⇒ f ( y) = x ⇒ f ( y) = x
Step 2:
Step 2:
f ( y) = 2 y + 1
Express f ( y ) in terms of y and then equalize
⇒ 2y +1 = x
f ( y ) with x
Step 3:
f ( y ) = ... ⇒ 2y = x −1
... = x ,
x −1
⇒y= = f −1 ( x)
Step 3: 2
The goal here is to find the inverse function Step 4:
of f which is y because y = f −1 ( x ) from x −1
∴ f −1 ( x) =
equation 1 . 2

(  Note: Express y in terms of x )

Hence, y itself is on the left, and others are on
the right.

y = ??? = f −1 ( x)
Step 4:
−1
Substitute y with f ( x ) from equation (1).

∴ f −1 ( x) = ???

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 Additional Mathematics Chapter1 Functions

Finding functions
5. A composite function will be given. Also, one of the function is given and you are
required to find another function.

(a) To find the function f when given the functions g and gf .

Example, given gf ( x) = 2 x + 2 and g ( x) = x + 1 , find f (x) .

Step 1:
Substitute x by f ( x) as object for function g into equation g ( x) = x + 1 .
Also, the image of g ( x) contains terms x will be substituted by f ( x) as following:
g ( x) = x + 1
⇒ g[ f ( x )] = [ f ( x )] + 1

Step 2:
Equalize the current image of g[ f ( x)] with given composite function fg (x) .
g[ f ( x )] = gf ( x )
⇒ [ f ( x )] + 1 = 2 x + 2

Step 3:
Put f (x) on one side and the rest of the expressions on the other side.
[ f ( x)] + 1 = 2 x + 2
⇒ f ( x) = 2 x + 2 − 1
⇒ f ( x) = 2 x + 1

(b) To find the function g when given the functions f and gf

Example, given gf ( x) = 2 x + 2 and f ( x ) = 4 x − 1 , find g ( x ) .

Step 1:
Let f ( x) as y , the object for function g and substitute into equation f ( x ) = 4 x − 1 .

Let f (x) = y ,
f ( x) = 4 x − 1 ⇒ y = 4 x − 1

Step 2:
Express x in terms of y :

y = 4x − 1
⇒ y + 1 = 4x
y +1 y +1
⇒ =x⇒x=
4 4

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 Additional Mathematics Chapter1 Functions

Step 3:
Substitute f ( x) by y and also x in terms of y into equation gf ( x) = 2 x + 2 .

gf ( x) = 2 x + 2
⇒ g[ f ( x)] = 2 x + 2
y +1
⇒ g ( y ) = 2( )+2
4
y +1 y +1+ 4
⇒ g ( y) = +2=
2 2
y+5
⇒ g ( y) =
2

Step 4:
Substitute y with x to obtain g (x) from g ( y ) .
y+5
g ( y) =
2
x+5
⇒ g ( x) =
2

Additional notes
6. Mapping to itself or self-mapping
If function f maps x to itself,

7. Meaning, f ( x ) = x (This is a special case which occurs when the values the object
and image are the same)

Example,
Find the value of x when function f maps x to itself where f ( x) = 2 x + 4 .

Solutions:
When f ( x) = x
⇒ 2x + 4 = x
⇒ 2 x − x = −4
⇒ x = −4
Meaning, when x = −4 , f (−4) = −4 .

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