9758 H2 Mathematics Chapter 4: Functions
4. Graphs and Functions
4.1. Functions
A function is a relationship whereby every input 𝑥 gives a unique output (only one) 𝑦
4.1.1. Domain and Range of a Function
Domain is the set of values that 𝑥 can take, while range is the set of values that 𝑦 can take based on its
domain
Example Example
6
𝑓: 𝑥 ⟼ 𝑥 $ − 𝑥, 𝑥 ≤ 1 ℎ: 𝑥 ⟼ 1 − ,𝑥 ⊆ ℝ
𝑥−5
1 𝑦=1
2
1
−
4
𝑥=5
𝐷! = (∞, 1] inclusive 𝐷" = ℝ ∖ {5}
1 not inclusive 𝑅" = ℝ ∖ {1}
𝑅! = 1− , ∞4 exclude
4
4.2 Composite Functions
Composite function 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)], is equivalent to inputting 𝑔(𝑥) into the function 𝑓(𝑥)
• For 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 to exist, 𝑅# ⊆ 𝐷! . Note that the question may require you to restrict the domain of g
such that the composite function 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 exist
• Domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔, 𝐷!# = Domain of 𝑔, 𝐷#
• Range of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔, 𝑅!# ⊆ Range of 𝑓, 𝑅! . To find the exact range of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔, we can do the mapping
method
Example
𝑔: 𝑥 ⟼ 𝑥 + 1, 𝑥 ≥ 0 𝑓: 𝑥 ⟼ 𝑙𝑛𝑥, 𝑥 > 0
𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
1. 𝑅#
3. range of 𝑓𝑔, 𝑅!#
1 1
To find 𝑅!# : 2. range of g, 𝑅# becomes
domain of 𝑓, 𝐷!
1. Look at 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
2. Use 𝑅# to find 𝐷!
3. Look at the range of values of 𝑦 mapped by 𝐷!
∴ 𝑅!# = [0, ∞)
9758 H2 Mathematics Chapter 4: Functions
By mapping, 𝐷# 𝑅# b𝐷! c 𝑅!#
[0, ∞) [1, ∞] [0, ∞]
4.3. Inverse Functions
A function 𝑓(𝑥) must be a one-one function for its inverse i. e. 𝑓 %& (𝑥) to exist
4.3.1. Horizontal line test for one-one functions
A function is one-one function if no two distinct 𝑥 values are mapped to the same 𝑦 value. If there exists
𝑥& , 𝑥$ where 𝑥& ≠ 𝑥$ such that 𝑓(𝑥& ) = 𝑓(𝑥$ ), then 𝑓 is not one-one.
• If the horizontal line 𝑦 = 𝑏 cuts the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at most once, then 𝑓 is one-one
• If the horizontal line 𝑦 = 𝑏 cuts the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) more than once, then 𝑓 is not one-one
• If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing, then 𝑓 must be one-one
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
The line 𝑦 = 1 intersects the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
more than once ⟹ 𝑓 is not one-one and
𝑦=1 𝑓 %& does not exist
𝑘 Note: 𝑓 %& exist when domain is restricted to
𝑥 ≥ 𝑘 or 𝑥 ≤ 𝑘
•
(𝑘, −ℎ)
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
Any horizontal line 𝑦 = 𝑘 will intersect the graph
𝑦=𝑘 of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at most once ⟹ 𝑓 is one-one and
𝑓 %& exists
Note: If the given function is not one-one, we can restrict the domain of the original function such that
the function is a one-one
9758 H2 Mathematics Chapter 4: Functions
4.3.2. Inverse Functions
Suppose 𝑓 %& exists. Then,
• 𝐷!!" = 𝑅!
• 𝑅!!" = 𝐷!
• 𝑓𝑓 %& (𝑥) = 𝑓 %& 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
Example
Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 $ , 𝑥 ≥ 1 . Find 𝑓 %& .
𝑦 = 2 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 $ Since 𝑥 ≥ 1, 𝑥 = 1 + n3 − 𝑦
= 3 − (𝑥 − 1)$ 𝑓 %& (𝑥) = 1 + √3 − 𝑥 Replace 𝑦 with 𝑥
(𝑥 − 1)$ = 3 − 𝑦 Make 𝒙 the subject 𝐷!!" = 𝑅! = [3, ∞) (Deduce 𝑅! from the graph of y= 𝑓(𝑥))
𝑥 = 1 ± n3 − 𝑦 ∴ 𝑓 %& (𝑥) = 1 + √3 − 𝑥, 𝑥 ≥ 3
Self-inverse functions (𝒇 = 𝒇%𝟏 )
⟹ 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 %& (𝑥) 𝑓(𝑥), for odd 𝑛
∴ 𝑓 ) (𝑥) = s
%& (𝑥) 𝑥, for even 𝑛
⟹ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓𝑓
⟹ 𝑓 $ (𝑥) = 𝑥
⟹ 𝑓 * (𝑥) = 𝑓 ∘ 𝑓 $ (𝑥)
= 𝑓(𝑥)
4.3.3. Graph of 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒚 = 𝒇%𝟏 (𝒙)
• The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓 %& (𝑥) is the reflection of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) about the line 𝑦 = 𝑥
• If the point (𝑎, 𝑏) lies on the 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), then the point (𝑏, 𝑎) will lie on 𝑦 = 𝑓 %& (𝑥)
• 𝑦 = 𝑘 is an asymptote of the graph of 𝑓 if and only if 𝑥 = 𝑘 is an asymptote of the graph of 𝑓 %&
Example
𝑦=𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑓 %& (𝑥)
(𝑏, 𝑎)
(𝑎, 𝑏)
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
• If 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓 %& (𝑥) intersects at 𝑦 = 𝑥, then solving 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 %& (𝑥) is equivalent to solving
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥