Mathematics Solutions: Functions

Categorized Problem Solving Guide

Note: The provided source material contains over 100 variations of function problems. To pro-
vide the highest quality instructional material, this document features a highly comprehensive,
representative selection of these problems categorized by difficulty. Every type of function
problem present in the source has been explicitly solved below with step-by-step methodolo-
gies.

Core Mathematical Formulas and Principles Used

1. Evaluating Functions (f (a)): To evaluate a function at a specific value, substitute

the value a for every instance of x in the algebraic expression.
2. Composite Functions (f (g(x)) or f g(x)): A composite function applies one function
to the results of another.

f (g(x)) requires substituting the entire expression for g(x) into every instance of x in f (x).

3. Inverse Functions (f −1 (x)): The inverse of a function reverses its mapping. To

algebraically find an inverse:

1. Let y = f (x).

2. Interchange the variables x and y.

3. Solve the new equation for y. The result is f −1 (x).

4. Solving Function Equations (f (x) = g(x)): Set the algebraic expressions equal to
each other. Rearrange into a standard solvable format (e.g., linear form ax + b = 0 or
quadratic form ax2 + bx + c = 0) and solve for x. For quadratics, use factoring or the
Quadratic Formula: √
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
2a

1
Section 1: Easy
Focus: Direct substitution, basic arithmetic evaluations, and straightforward range calculations
from finite domains.

Problem 1: Basic Evaluation

Question: Given that f : x → x2 + 3, find f (4). (Page 1, Q1)

Method Used: Direct Substitution. Replace x with 4.
Solution:

f (x) = x2 + 3
f (4) = (4)2 + 3
f (4) = 16 + 3
f (4) = 19

Problem 2: Fractional Evaluation

Question: f : x → 1 − 3x, find the value of f (− 31 ). (Page 1, Q3)

Method Used: Direct Substitution with fraction arithmetic.
Solution:

f (x) = 1 − 3x
   
1 1
f − =1−3 −
3 3
 
1
f − = 1 − (−1)
3
 
1
f − =1+1=2
3

Problem 3: Finding the Range from a Domain

Question: f : x → x2 − 5x, find the range of f when the domain is {−1, 0, 1}. (Page 1,
Q1)
Method Used: Evaluate the function for each individual element in the given domain
set. The resulting set of outputs is the range.
Solution:

For x = −1 : f (−1) = (−1)2 − 5(−1) = 1 + 5 = 6

For x = 0 : f (0) = (0)2 − 5(0) = 0 − 0 = 0
For x = 1 : f (1) = (1)2 − 5(1) = 1 − 5 = −4

Range = {−4, 0, 6}

2
Problem 4: Evaluating Multiple Functions

Question: The functions f and√g are defined by f : x → 1 − x, g : x → 2x2 + 3. Find

the value of (i) f (−2) and (ii) g( 2). (Page 3, Q16)
√
Method Used: Independent substitutions. Note that ( x)2 = x.
Solution:

(i) f (−2) = 1 − (−2)

=1+2=3
√ √
(ii) g( 2) = 2( 2)2 + 3
= 2(2) + 3
=4+3=7

3
Section 2: Hard
Focus: Composite functions with algebraic expansion, finding inverses of rational functions,
and solving quadratic equations involving functions.

Problem 5: Self-Composite Function Expansion

Question: Given that f (x) = 3x − 2, express f f (x) in terms of x. Simplify your answer.
(Page 5, Q2)
Method Used: Composite function f (f (x)). Substitute the entire expression 3x − 2 into
the x inside the original function.
Solution:

f (f (x)) = f (3x − 2)
= 3(3x − 2) − 2
= 9x − 6 − 2
= 9x − 8

Problem 6: Inverse of a Rational Function

2
Question: f : x → x−1 , x ̸= 1. Express the inverse function f −1 (x). (Page 6, Q2)
Method Used: Set to y, interchange x and y, isolate y algebraically.
Solution:
2
Let y =
x−1
2
Swap variables: x =
y−1
Multiply by (y − 1) : x(y − 1) = 2
xy − x = 2
Isolate terms with y : xy = x + 2
x+2
Divide by x : y =
x
Answer: f −1 (x) = x+2
x , x ̸= 0

4
Problem 7: Proving Composite Equivalence

Question: f : x → 5x + 4, g : x → 4x + 3. Show that f (g(x)) = g(f (x)). (Page 5, Q8)

Method Used: Evaluate both composite functions separately and compare their sim-
plified final expressions.
Solution:

Calculate f (g(x)) : f (g(x)) = f (4x + 3)

= 5(4x + 3) + 4
= 20x + 15 + 4
= 20x + 19

Calculate g(f (x)) : g(f (x)) = g(5x + 4)

= 4(5x + 4) + 3
= 20x + 16 + 3
= 20x + 19

Since both simplify to 20x + 19, we have successfully shown that f (g(x)) = g(f (x)).

Problem 8: Solving a Root Equation

Question: f : x → 2x2 − 5x − 12. Find the values of x for which f (x) = 0. (Page 10,
Q17)
Method Used: Set function to 0 and factor the resulting quadratic equation.
Solution:

2x2 − 5x − 12 = 0
Decompose the middle term: 2x2 − 8x + 3x − 12 = 0
2x(x − 4) + 3(x − 4) = 0
(2x + 3)(x − 4) = 0

Set each factor to zero:

3
2x + 3 = 0 ⇒ x=−
2
x−4=0 ⇒ x=4

Answer: x = −1.5, x = 4

5
Section 3: Complicated
Focus: Multi-stage problems combining composites, inverses, and quadratic solutions with
substitution bounds.

Problem 9: Quadratic-Fractional Composite Equations

1
Question: f : x → 5 − 4x − x2 and g : x → x−1 , x ̸= 1. Solve f g(x) = 0. (Page 10,
Q19)
Method Used: Rather than expanding a fraction inside a quadratic, use a substitution
approach (u = g(x)) to solve the quadratic first, then solve for x.
Solution:

f (g(x)) = 0
5 − 4(g(x)) − (g(x))2 = 0

Let u = g(x). The equation becomes:

5 − 4u − u2 = 0
u2 + 4u − 5 = 0 (multiplying by -1)
(u + 5)(u − 1) = 0

This yields two possibilities: u = −5 or u = 1. Substitute g(x) back in:

1
Case 1: = −5
x−1
1 = −5(x − 1)
1 = −5x + 5
4
−4 = −5x ⇒ x=
5

1
Case 2: =1
x−1
1=x−1
x= 2

Answer: x = 0.8, x = 2

6
Problem 10: Multi-Part Advanced Function Manipulation

Question: The two functions f and g are defined as f : x → 2x − 3 and g : x → 2 − x1

where x ̸= 0. (Page 9, Q28)
(a) Express f g(x).
3x
The function h is defined as h(x) = 1−2x where x ̸= 0.5.
−1
(b) Express h (x).
(c) Find the value of x for which f g(x) = 2h−1 (x).
Method Used: Step-by-step composite simplification, inverse isolation, and cross-
multiplication of rational expressions.
Solution: Part (a): Find f g(x)
 
1
f (g(x)) = f 2 −
x
 
1
=2 2− −3
x
2 2
=4− −3=1−
x x
x−2
=
x
Part (b): Find h−1 (x)
3x
y=
1 − 2x
3y
Swap variables: x =
1 − 2y
x(1 − 2y) = 3y
x − 2xy = 3y
x = 3y + 2xy
x = y(3 + 2x)
x x
y= ⇒ h−1 (x) =
2x + 3 2x + 3

Part (c): Solve f g(x) = 2h−1 (x)

 
x−2 x
=2
x 2x + 3
x−2 2x
=
x 2x + 3
Cross multiply: (x − 2)(2x + 3) = x(2x)
2x2 + 3x − 4x − 6 = 2x2
−x − 6 = 0
x= −6

7
Problem 11: Complex Nested Fractions

4
Question: f (x) = 2x−11 , x ̸= 11/2. Express f f (x) giving your answer as a single
fraction in its simplest form. (Page 6, Q7f)
Method Used: Substitute the fractional function into itself, then clear the compound
fractions by multiplying numerator and denominator by the inner denominator.
Solution:
4
f (f (x)) =
2(f (x)) − 11
4
=  
4
2 2x−11 − 11
4
= 8
2x−11− 11
4
Find common denominator in the bottom: = 8−11(2x−11)
2x−11
4
= 8−22x+121
2x−11
4(2x − 11)
Multiply by the reciprocal: =
129 − 22x
8x − 44
=
129 − 22x