MATH1051— Problem sheet 1

Problem 1.1. True or false?

(a) 3  (3,6).
(b) {x  R| - 2≤ x < 4}= [−2, 4).
(c)   (0, 3)  (2, 4).
(d)   (0, 3)  (2, 4).
(e) (−  , 0]  (0,  ) =R.

Problem 1.2. Find distance from point (1,5) to point (-2,3).

Problem 1.3. Give the (natural) domain and codomain (range) of the following
functions.
(a) f(x) = (x − 1)2.
(b) f(x) = x2 − 1.
1
(c) f(x) =
( x  1) 2
(d) f(x) = sin(2x + 1).
(e) f(x) = 2 sin(x) + 1.
(f) f(x) = x 2  3
Problem 1.4. Match the following functions to their graphs (the axes shown in
the graphs are x = 0 and y = 0).
(a) f : x  x4 + 1;
(b) f : x  (x + 1)4;
(c) f : x  |x3 − x|;
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(d) f : x 
x 12

1
(e) f : x 
( x  1) 2
 Problem 1.5. Sketch the graphs of each of the following polynomials on
separate axes, marking the places where they cross the axes. (These can be
sketched by shifting and scaling standard graphs.)
(a) p(x) = −2x + 1;
(b) p(x) = 3(x − 1)2 + 2;
(c) p(x) = (x + 2)3 − 2.
Problem 1.6. In each case below sketch the graph of the given rational function
by first sketching the graph of each of the summands and then the graph of the
function itself on the same axes. You should determine where the graphs cross
the axes.
1
p(x) = x 2 
x
Problem 1.7.. For each pair of functions f and g below compute the sum f + g,
the product fg and the composites f  g and g  f.
(a) f(x) = x2 + 3, g(x) = x2;
 x 1 x
(b) f(x) = , g(x) =
x3 x2
Problem 1.8..Find the inverses of the following rational functions. State the
domain and codomain of each inverse.
x2
(a) f(x) = ;
x3
3x  1
(b) f(x) = .
2x  4
Problem 1.9.. In each case below decide whether the graph is that of a function
with an inverse. (The domain and codomain of the functions should be taken as
the closed intervals indicated by the extent of the axes.)
Problem 1.10.Using the method of partial fractions write the following rational
expressions as sums of rational expressions in which the numerators have
lowest possible degree. (Check that you recover the original expression when
you put your answer over a common denominator.)
1 x
(a) ;
x  7 x  12
2

3x  5
(b) 2 ;
x  2x  1
x 2  3x  4
(c) ;
x2 1
x 2  3x  4
(d) .
x2 1