CHAPTER 1

FUNCTIONS
PREPARED : SELVARANI NASARATNAM
TUTORIAL 1

1. Determine which of the following are functions

(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ ±√𝑥
(c) ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
1
(d) 𝑙: 𝑥 ↦ (3 + 𝑥 3 )3 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(e) 𝑚: 𝑥 ↦ ±√8 + 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(f) 𝑛: 𝑥 ↦ −√3 − 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≤ 3

2. Sketch the graphs of the following functions and state the range in each case
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 2𝑥 − 6 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 3 − 4𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
2
(c) ℎ: ↦ 3 𝑥 − 5 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 < 3

3. Without using a graph determine the range for each of the following functions.
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 3𝑥 + 4 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −2 < 𝑥 < 3
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 6 − 4𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −1 < 𝑥 ≤ 2
(c) ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 + 7 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ −1

4. Sketch the graphs of the following functions and state the range in each case.
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 2 ≤ 𝑥 < 5
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ (𝑥 + 1)2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3
(c) ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 4 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(d) 𝑙: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 7 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −2 < 𝑥 ≤ 1
(e) 𝑚: 𝑥 ↦ 7 − 3𝑥 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 > 0
(f) 𝑛: 𝑥 ↦ 10 − 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 1

5. Sketch the graphs of the following functins and state the range in each case
1
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥−2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ 2
1
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥+1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ −1
1
(c) ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 2𝑥−4 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ 2
2
(d) 𝑙: 𝑥 ↦ 3−𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
1
(e) 𝑚: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2+2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
1
(f) 𝑛: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 +2𝑥+2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
6. Sketch the graphs of the following functions and state range in each case
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ √𝑥 − 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 1
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ √3 − 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
3
(c) ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ √2𝑥 + 3 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ − 2
(d) 𝑙: 𝑥 ↦ √4 − 2𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −4 < 𝑥 ≤ 2
(e) 𝑚: 𝑥 ↦ 3√𝑥 + 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 1 < 𝑥 < 9
(f) 𝑛: 𝑥 ↦ −√1 + 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ −1
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7. Without using a graph , determine the range for each of the following functions.
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ √2𝑥 + 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4
5
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ −√4𝑥 − 5 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 4 ≤ 𝑥 < 2
(c) ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 2 − √𝑥 − 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 1

8. Sketch the graph of the following function and state its domain and range
ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 4𝑥 − 3
9. Without using the graph, determine the range of the function defined by
𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 4 − 2−𝑥
𝑥
10. A function 𝑓 is defined by 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 +1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
Determine the range of 𝑓 and sketch the graph of 𝑓.

11. A function 𝑓 is defined by

2𝑥 + 1
𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ ,𝑥 ≠ 1
𝑥−1
State the range 𝑓 and sketch the graph of 𝑓

𝑥
12. A function 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 1−𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ ±1
Determine the range of 𝑔 and sketch the graph of 𝑔
13. Sketch the graph of the function 𝑓 defined by
𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ |𝑥 + 2| − |𝑥| , 𝑥∈ℝ
State the range 𝑓.

14. Sketch the graph of each of the following functions and state its range

15. Determine the following functions are one-to-one

(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 2𝑥 − 5 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(b) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 + 4 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(c) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 1
(d) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ √2 − 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≤ 2
2
(e) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥−3 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −1 < 𝑥 < 2
2𝑥+3
(f) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ ,𝑥 ≠ 1
𝑥−1
1
(g) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ 0
(h) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ |𝑥| + 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ

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 (i) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 4 − 3 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6
(j) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1

16. Find the inverse of each of the following functions and state the domain on which
each inverse is defined
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 2𝑥 − 4 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(b) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 − 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 0
(c) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 1 + √1 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
(d) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ −√9 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3
(e) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ (𝑥 + 2)2 + 3 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ −2
(f) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 2
1
(g) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 2+𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 > 0
1
(h) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 − 3 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 2 < 𝑥 < 5
(i) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ −√𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 0
(j) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 3 + 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ

17. A function 𝑓 is defined by 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 5 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ . 𝑥 ≥ −1

Define the inverse function 𝑓 −1
18. A function 𝑓 is defined by 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 − 6 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 > 0
Find the inverse function 𝑓 −1 . Sketch the graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑓 −1 on the same axes.
Calculate the value of x for which 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥)
1
19. A function h is defined by ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 2 − 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 > 0 . Sketch the graph of h and
state its range. Define the inverse function ℎ−1 and sketch its graph on the same
diagram.
20. Determine which of the following functions are increasing or deceasing functions
2
(a) 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ √2 − 3𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≤ 3
(b) 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3) , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 2
(c) ℎ: 𝑥 ↦ 3 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
(d) 𝑙: 𝑥 ↦ |𝑥| + 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 0
21. The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined by 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ √4 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , −2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2 and
𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ √3 − 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≤ 3 .
Find the composite function 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 and state its domain and range.

22. The function 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined by

𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ √9 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥∈ℝ , −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3
and 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ √𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 0 . Find 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 and its domain.

23. The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined by

𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 + 1, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≥ 5
𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ √𝑥, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≥ 0
Determine the existence of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 and find the domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 for it to exist.

24. The function g is defined by 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 2𝑥 + 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ

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 Find the function 𝑓 if
(a) (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1
(b) (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1

25. The function 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined by

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4 .Find the composite function
𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 and state the range of this function.

26. The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔are defined by

2 1
𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥−4 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 4 and 𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥+3 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ −3
Find the composite function 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓. Find an expression for (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)−1 (𝑥).

27. The function 𝑔 and the composite function 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 are defined by

𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 + 1 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ 0 and 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≤ 1 .
Define the function 𝑓

28. The function 𝑓 is defined by

1
𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ −
2
Find the inverse function 𝑓 −1
Sketch the graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑓 −1 on the same axes. Determine the coordinates of the
point of intersection of the graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑓 −1

29. The function g is defined by

1
𝑔: 𝑥 ↦ 3 − 2𝑥 − 4𝑥 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≤ −
4
Find the inverse function 𝑓 −1
Calculate the value of x for which 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑔−1 (𝑥)
30. The function 𝑓 is defined by
𝑓: 𝑥 ↦ 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑥∈ℝ , 𝑥≥2
Find the inverse function 𝑓 −1

Sketch the graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑓 −1 on the same axes. Calculate the value of x for which
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 −1 (𝑥)

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 TUTORIAL 2

1. Find the degree of each of the polynomials

(a) 3𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 1
(b) 5𝑥 3 + 8
(c) 𝑥15 − 1
(d) 4𝑥 + 7𝑥 4
(e) 𝑥 7 − 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 − 9
(f) 2 + 6𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 5

2. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 1
𝑔(𝑥) = 4𝑥 5 − 3𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 + 1
ℎ(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 1
evaluate
(a) 𝑓(2)
(b) 𝑔(0)
1
(c) ℎ (2)
(d) 𝑓(−1) + 𝑔(2)
(e) 𝑔(4) − 2ℎ(1)
(f) 𝑓(−3) + 3𝑔(−1) − 5ℎ(5)

3. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 − 7
ℎ(𝑥) = 3𝑥 5 + 7𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 4
find
(a) 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
(b) 𝑔(𝑥) − 2ℎ(𝑥)
(c) 3𝑓(𝑥) − 2𝑔(𝑥)
(d) 2𝑔(𝑥) + 3ℎ(𝑥)
(e) 3𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥)
(f) 𝑓(𝑥) + 2𝑔(𝑥) − 3ℎ(𝑥)

4. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 + 2 . Expand and simplify ach of the

following .
(a) 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)
(b) 𝑥𝑓(𝑥) − 2𝑔(𝑥)
(c) 3𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑥 2 𝑔(𝑥)
(d) 4𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑥 3 𝑔(𝑥)
(e) [𝑓(𝑥)]2 + 2𝑥𝑔(𝑥)
(f) [𝑔(𝑥)]2 − [𝑓(𝑥)]2

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5. Find the coefficients of the term indicated in square brackets in the expansions of the
polynomials below.
(a) (𝑥 − 3)(3𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 4) [𝑥 2 ]
(b) (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 3) [𝑥 3 ]
(c) (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 + 1) [𝑥 4 ]
(d) (2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 1)(4𝑥 3 + 𝑥 + 3) [𝑥 4 ]
(e) (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5)2 [𝑥 2 ]
(f) 𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1)(𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 1) [𝑥 4 ]

6. Find the quotient and the remainder when

(a) 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 5 is divided by 𝑥 + 1
(b) 2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 4 is divided by 2𝑥 − 1
(c) 4𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 is divided by 𝑥 − 2
(d) 𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 − 2 is divided by 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1
(e) 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 − 1 is divided by 𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 1)2
(f) 4𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 is divided by (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)

7. Find the numerical values of the constants a,b ,c and d such that 𝑥 4 + 𝑎𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 +
𝑥 + 3 ≡ (𝑥 2 + 4)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 𝑏) + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑
Hence , with these values of a,b,c and d , write down the quotient and the remainder
when the polynomial 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 = (𝑥 2 + 𝐴)(𝑥 2 − 1) + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶, determine the
numerical values of A,B and C . Hence , deduce the remainder when 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 +
1 is divided by (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1).

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TUTORIAL 3

1. Use the remainder theorem to find the remainder when

(a) 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 2 is divided by 𝑥 − 1
(b) 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1 is divided by 𝑥 + 3
(c) 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 + 4 is divided by 2𝑥 − 1
(d) 3𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 + 1 is divided by 3𝑥 + 1
(e) 4𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 is divided by 2𝑥 + 3
(f) 2𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 39𝑥 + 18 is divided by 𝑥 + 6

2. The expression 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 − 24 gives a remainder of -10 when divided by 𝑥 +

1. Find the value of the constant a.
3. If 2𝑥 3 + 7𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 𝑘 leaves a remainder of 3 when divided by 2𝑥 + 1, find the
value of the constant k.
4. The expression 2𝑥 3 + 𝑝𝑥 2 + 𝑞𝑥 + 5 leaves a remainder of -3 when divided by
𝑥 − 1 and a remainder of 7 when divided by 𝑥 − 2. Find the values of the
constant p and q.
5. When 𝑥 4 + 𝑝𝑥 3 + 𝑞𝑥 2 + 𝑟𝑥 + 6 is divided by 𝑥 + 1, 𝑥 − 1 and 𝑥 + 2 , the
remainders are 6,12 and 54 respectively . Find the values of p,q and r.
6. When a polynomial 𝑓(𝑥) is divided by 𝑥 − 2 the remainder is 7 and when divided
by 𝑥 − 1 the remainder is 5. Given that 𝑓(𝑥) may written in the form (𝑥 −
1)(𝑥 − 2)𝑄(𝑥) + 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑄(𝑥) is a polynomial and a and b are constants.
Find the remainder when 𝑓(𝑥) is divided by
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2).
7. By using the factor theorem , show that 3𝑥 − 4 is factor of 𝑓(𝑥) . where 12𝑥 3 −
4𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 − 4 . Hence, factorise 𝑓(𝑥) completely.
8. If 𝑝(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 − 4 show that 𝑥 − 2 is a factor of 𝑝(𝑥).Hence
factorise 𝑝(𝑥) into its linear factors.
9. By using the remainder theorem, find one of the factors of the polynomial 𝑔(𝑥) ≡
2𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 6 .Hence, factorise 𝑔(𝑥) completely.
10. When polynomial 𝑓(𝑥) ≡ 𝑥 3 + 𝑎𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 + 24 is divided by 𝑥 − 1, the
remainder is 7. Find the value of a. With this value of a, find the three linear
factors of 𝑓(𝑥).
11. Polynomials 𝑝(𝑥) and 𝑞(𝑥) are given by relationship
𝑞(𝑥) = 𝑝(𝑥)(𝑥 5 − 2𝑥 + 2)
(a) If 𝑥 − 2 is a factor of 𝑝(𝑥) − 5, find the remainder when 𝑞(𝑥) is divided
by 𝑥 − 2.
(b) If 𝑝(𝑥) is of the form 𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 and 𝑥 − 1 is a factor of 𝑝(𝑥) − 5, find the
values of a and b.

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