INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Mathematics: analysis and approaches

Math AA

EXERCISES [Math-AA 2.4-2.5]

COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION
Compiled by Christos Nikolaidis

O. Practice questions

1. [Maximum mark: 10] [without GDC]

Let f ( x)  10  2 x and g ( x)  5 x . Calculate
(a) ( f
g )( x) and ( g
f )( x) [2]
(b) f 1 ( x ) [2]
(c) g 1 (10) [2]
(d) ( f 1
g )( x) and ( g
f ) 1 ( x) [2]
(e) ( f
f )( x) and ( g
g )( x) [2]

2. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Complete the following table with the inverse of each function

Original function Inverse function

f ( x)  x  5 f 1 ( x )  x  5

f ( x)  x  5

f ( x)  x  100

f ( x)  3x

x
f ( x) 
5

f ( x)  x3

f ( x)  3x  100

Page 1
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

3. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

Consider the following table of values for f

x 1 2 3 4 5 6

f (x) 3 4 5 6 1 2

(a) Write down the values of

(i) f (1) (ii) f 1 (1) [2]
(b) Given that f ( x )  2 write down the value of x . [1]

(c) Given that f 1 ( x)  2 write down the value of x . [1]

4. [Maximum mark: 8] [without GDC]

The tables below show some values of two functions f and g

x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4
f (x) 2 –3 –1 3 g(x) 5 3 1 –3

(a) Write down the values of g (3) , f 1 (3) . [2]

(b) Calculate ( f
g )(2) [2]
(c) Calculate ( g
g )(3) [2]
(d) Find a solution of the equation ( g
f )( x)  3 . [2]

5. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

x
Find the inverse of the function f ( x) 
x5

6. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

x
Let f ( x)  2 x , and g ( x)  , x  2 . Find
x2
(a) ( g
f )(3) ; [3]

(b) g 1 (5) . [3]

METHOD A [by finding ( g
f )( x) and g 1 ( x) first]

METHOD B [directly by definitions: ( g
f )(3)  g ( f (3)) and g 1 (5)  x  g ( x)  5 ]

Remark: Confirm the result 6(b) by using GDC - Graph – [G-Solv] – [X-CAL]

Page 2
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

7. [Maximum mark: 10] [without GDC]

The function f is given by f ( x)  x 2 , for 0  x  3 .
(a) Sketch the graph of f . [2]
(b) State the domain and the range of f . [2]
(c) Find the inverse function f 1 . [2]
1
(d) On the same axes with f , sketch the graph of f [2]
1
(e) State the domain and the range of f . [2]

8. [Maximum mark: 12] [without GDC]

The graph of the function f is shown below.

Page 3
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

(a) Write down the values of

(i) f (0) (i) f (2) (ii) f (4) [3]
(b) Write down the values of
(i) f 1 (3) (ii) f 1 (8) (iii) f 1 ( 1) (iv) f 1 (0) [4]

(c) Write down the solution of the equation f ( x )  0 [1]

(d) Write down the solution of the equation f ( x )  2 [1]

(e) On the diagram above sketch the graph of f 1 [3]

9*. [Maximum mark: 8] [without GDC]

2x  3
Let f ( x)  . Show that
3x  2
1
(a) f  f (i.e. the function is self-inverse) [4]
(b) ( f
f )( x)  x [4]

10*. [Maximum mark: 7] [without GDC]

The function f is defined by f : x ֏ x3.

(a) Find an expression for f 1 . [2]

(b) Find an expression for g ( x) in terms of x in each of the following cases
(i) ( f
g )( x)  x  1 ;
(ii) ( g
f )( x)  x  1 . [5]

11**. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

(a) Given that f
g  h , express f in terms of g and h . [2]

(b) Given that f
g  h , express g in terms of f and h . [2]

(c) Given that f
g
h  k , express g in terms of f , h and k . [2]

A. Exam style questions (SHORT)

12. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

5x
Let g ( x )  3 x  2 , h( x)  , x  4.
x4
(a) Find an expression for ( h
g )( x ) . Simplify your answer. [3]
(b) Solve the equation ( h
g )( x )  0 . [3]

13. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

The functions f and g are defined by f : ֏ 3x, g : x ֏ x  2 .
(a) Find an expression for ( f
g )( x ) . [2]

(b) Show that f –1(18) + g–1(18) = 22. [4]

Page 4
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

14. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Let f ( x )  2 x  1 and g ( x )  3x 2  4 . Find

(a) f 1 ( x ) ; [2]

(b) ( g
f )( 2) ; [2]

(c) ( f
g )( x) . [2]

15. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

3
The function f is defined by f: x ֏ 3  2x , x 
2
Evaluate f 1 (5) .

16. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Let f ( x)  x  4 x  4 and g ( x)  x 2 , x .
(a) Find ( g
f )(3) [2]
1
(b) Find f ( x) [3]
1
(c) Write down the domain of f . [1]

17. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Let f ( x )  x 3  4 and g ( x )  2 x .
(a) Find ( g
f )( 2) . [2]

(b) Find f 1 ( x) [3]

18. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

1
Consider the functions f ( x)  2 x and g ( x)  , x  3.
x 3
(a) Calculate ( f
g )( 4) . [2]
1
(b) Find g ( x ) [3]
(c) Write down the domain of g 1 . [1]

19. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

Two functions f , g are defined as follows:

f : x ֏ 3x + 5 g : x ֏ 2(1 – x)
Find
(a) f 1 (2) ; [2]
(b) ( g
f )( 4) . [2]

Page 5
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

20. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Two functions f and g are defined as follows:

f ( x)  cos x , g ( x)  2 x  1
(a) Find ( g
f )( x ) . [2]
(b) Find ( f
g )( x ) . [2]
(c) Find ( g 1
g )( x ) and ( g
g 1 )( x ) . [2]

21. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

6–x
Consider the functions f : x ֏ 4(x – 1) and g : x ֏ .
2
(a) Find g 1 . [2]

(b) Solve the equation ( f
g 1 )( x )  4 . [4]

22. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Let f ( x )  x 2 and g ( x )  2 x  3 .
(a) Find g 1 ( x ) . [2]

(b) Find ( f
g )(4) . [3]

23. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Let f ( x )  7  2 x and g ( x )  x  3 .
(a) Find ( g
f )( x ) . [2]
1
(b) Write down g ( x ) . [1]
(c) Find ( f
g 1 )(5) . [2]

24. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Let f (x) = 3x, g(x) = 2x – 5 and h( x )  ( f
g )( x ) .

(a) Find h(x). [2]

(b) Find h–1(x). [3]

25. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

Let f (x) = x , and g (x) = 2x.

(a) Find (f –1
g)(x) [4]

(b) Solve the equation (f –1
g)(x) = 16 [2]

26. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Consider the functions f and g where f (x) = 3x – 5 and g (x) = x – 2.

Solve the equation (f −1 ◦ g) (x) = (g–1 ◦ f) (x).

Page 6
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

27. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

4
Let f ( x)  , x  2 and g ( x)  x  1 . If h  g
f , find
x2
(a) h(x) [2]

(b) h 1 ( x) [4]

28. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

3 1
Given functions f : x ֏ x  1 and g : x ֏ x , find the function ( f
g )

29. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

x
If f ( x)  , for x  1 and g ( x)  ( f
f )( x) , find
x 1
(a) g ( x) . [3]
(b)  g
g  (2) . [2]

30. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

3x  4
The function f is defined as f ( x)  , x  2 .
x2
(a) Find an expression for f 1 ( x ) . [4]
1
(b) Write down the domain of f . [1]

31*. [Maximum mark: 9] [with / without GDC]

The function f is given by f (x) = x2 – 6x + 13, for x ≥ 3.

(a) Show that f may also be written in the form f (x) = (x – 3)2 + 4. [2]
(b) Hence find the inverse function f 1 . [3]
(c) State the domain and the range of f . [2]

(d) State the domain and the range of f 1 . [2]

32*. [Maximum mark: 7] [without GDC]

The functions f and g are both defined in the interval [-4,4] and g is invertible.
Some values of the functions are given below.

x 1 3 4 x 1 3 4
f (x) 3 2 1 g(x) 4 1 -3

(a) Calculate ( f
f )(1) . [2]

1
(b) Calculate ( g
f )( 4) . [2]
(c) Find a solution of the equation ( f
g )( x )  1 . [2]
(d) Calculate ( g 1
g )( 2) . [1]

Page 7
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

33. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

The graph of the function f is shown below. On the same diagram sketch the graph of
the function f 1 .

34*. [Maximum mark: 6] [with / without GDC]

The functions f ( x ) and g ( x ) are given by f ( x )  x – 2 and g ( x )  x 2  x .

The function ( f
g )( x ) is defined for x  ℝ , except for the interval ] a, b [

(a) Calculate the value of a and of b . [5]

(b) Find the range of f
g . [1]

35**. [Maximum mark: 5] [with GDC]

Consider the functions
f ( x)  3 x 2  12 x  7 , x  a and g ( x)  3 x 2  12 x  7 , x  b .

(a) Given that f 1 , g 1 exist, find

(i) the smallest possible value of a . (ii) the largest possible value of b . [3]
(b) Within the domains determined in (a), find
(i) f 1 (7) . (ii) g 1 (7) [2]

36*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

3
The function f is defined by f : x ֏ x  1
(a) Find g ( x ) given that ( f
g )( x )  2 x  1 ; [3]
(b) Find g ( x ) given that ( g
f )( x )  2 x  1 . [3]

Page 8
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

37**. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

x 1
Let f and g be two functions. Given that ( f
g )( x)  and g ( x )  2 x  1 ,
2
find f ( x  3) .

38*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

x2 – 1
The function f is defined for x  0 by f ( x )  2
. Find an expression for f 1 ( x ) .
x 1

39**. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

The following diagram shows part of the graph of f ( x )  x 3  x  1

(a) Find (i) f 1 (1) (ii) f 1 (0) (iii) f 1 (2) . [3]

(b) Solve f ( x )  f 1 ( x ) . [3]

B. Exam style questions (LONG)

40. [Maximum mark: 12] [with / without GDC]

The function f is given by f ( x )  2 x 2  8 x  1 for x  2 .
(a) Find ( f
f )(0) . [2]

(b) Express the function in the form f ( x )  a ( x  h ) 2  k . [3]

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

(d) Find the inverse function f 1 . [4]

(e) State the domain and the range of f 1 . [2]

Page 9
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

41. [Maximum mark: 10] [without GDC]

3x  1
The function f (x) is defined by f ( x )  , x  3.
x 3
(a) Show that f is a self-inverse function, that is f 1  f [4]

(b) Hence find, in terms of k, the value of ( f
f )(k ) , where k  3 . [1]

The figure below shows a sketch of a one-to-one function g (x) defined over the

domain  2  x  2 . The graph of y  g (x) consists of two straight line segments and

the range of g (x ) is  5  g ( x)  6 .

(c) Find the value of ( f
g )(2) . [2]

(d) On the same diagram above, sketch the graph of the inverse function y  g 1 ( x )
and state its domain. [3]

42**. [Maximum mark: 13] [without GDC]

(a) The function f is defined by f ( x )  ( x  2) 2  3 .

The function g is defined by g ( x )  ax  b , where a and b are constants.

Find the value of a , a  0 and the corresponding value of b , such that

3
f  g ( x)   4 x 2  6 x  . [8]
4

(b) The functions h and k are defined by h( x )  5 x  2 and k ( x )  cx 2  x  2

respectively. Find the value of c are such that h  k ( x)  has equal roots. [5]

Page 10
 [Math-AA 2.4-2.5] COMPOSITION – INVERSE FUNCTION

43**. [Maximum mark: 10] [without GDC]

Let f ( x)  x  1  1 and g ( x)  x 2 .
(a) Solve the equation ( g
f )( x )  1 . [3]

(b) Find f 1 in a simplified form. [3]

(c) Find the function h ( x ) given that h
f  g . [2]

(d) Find the function k ( x ) given that f
k  g . [2]

44**. [Maximum mark: 11] [without GDC]

The following diagram shows part of the graph of the function f is defined by
f ( x )  1  x , for x  0

1
(a) Find an expression for f ( x) . [3]
1
(b) State the domain and the range of f ( x) . [2]
1
(c) On the same diagram above sketch the graph of f ( x) . [2]
1
(d) Find the exact value of the solution of the equation f ( x )  f ( x) . [4]

Page 11