Chapter 19:

Functions
 An expression such as 4x - 9, in which the variable is x, is called a
“function of x”. Its numerical value depends on the value of x. We
sometimes write f(x) = 4x - 9, or f : x  4x - 9.

Worked Examples:
a.) For the functions f(x) = 3x - 5, evaluate:
i.) f(2) iii.) f(-2)
f(2) = 3 x 2 - 5 f(-2) = 3 x (-2) - 5
f(2) = 6 -5 f(-2) = - 6 -5
f(2) = 1 f(-2) = - 11

ii.) f(0)
f(0) = 3 x 0 - 5
 2x  6
b.) For the functions f : x  evaluate:
3

i.) f(3) iii.) f(1.5)

23  6 2  1.5  6
f (3)  f (1.5) 
3 3
66 36
f (3)  4 f (1.5)  3
3 3
f(3)  4 f(1.5)  3

ii.) f(-1)
2  (-1)  6
f (1) 
3
-2 6 4 4
f (1)   f( 1) 
3 3 3
c.) For the functions g(x) = x2 + 4, evaluate:
i.) g(2) iii.) g(-1)
fg(2) = 22 + 4 g(-1) = (-1)2 + 4
g(2) = 4 + 4 g(-1) = 1 + 4
g(2) = 8 g(-1) = 5

ii.) g(6)
g(6) = 62 + 4
g(6) = 36 + 4
g(6) = 40
* Inverse Function
The inverse of a function is its reverse (example: it “undoes”
the function's effects. The inverse of the function f(x) is
written as f-1(x).
To find the inverse of a function:
a.) rewrite the function replacing f(x) with y
f(x) = x + 2 →y=x+2
b.) interchange x and y
y=x+2 →x=y+2
c.) rearrange the equation to make y the subject.
x=y+2
→y=x-2
So f-1(x) = x - 2
Worked examples:
a.) Find the inverse of each of the following functions:
i.) g(x) = 2x - 3
y = 2x - 3
x = 2y - 3
x 3
y
2
1 x 3
g (x) 
2
 x 3
b.) If f ( x )  calculate:
3
i.) f-1 (2) ii.) f-1 (-3)

First calculate the inverse function f-1 (x):

x -3
y
3
y -3
x
3
y  3x  3

So f-1(x) = 3x + 3
i.) f-1(2) = 3(2) + 3 = 9
ii.) f-1(-3) = 3(-3) + 3 = -6
Exercise 19.5 Find the inverse of each of the following functions:
1. a.) f(x) = x + 3 c.) f(x) = x - 5 e.) h(x) = 2x
y=x+3 y = x -5 y = 2x
x=y-3 x = y -5 x = 2y
y=x+3 y=x+5 y=x/2
So f-1(x) = x + 3 So f-1(x) = x + 5 So h-1(x) = x / 2

x
b.) f(x) = x + 6 d.) g(x) =x f.) p( x) 
3
x
y=x+6 y=x y
3
x=y+6 x=y y
x 3x  y
y=x-6 y=x 3
So f-1(x) = x - 6 So g-1(x) = x So p-1(x) = 3x
�Composite Functions
Worked examples:
a.) If f(x) = x + 2 and g(x) = x + 3, find fg(x).
fg(x) = f ( x + 3 )
=(x +3)+2
=x+5

b.) If f(x) = 2x - 1 and g(x) = x - 2, find fg(x).

fg(x) = f ( x - 2 )
=2(x-2)-1
= 2x - 4 - 1
= 2x - 5
c.) If f(x) = 2x + 3 and g(x) = 2x, find fg(3).
fg(x) = f (2x)
= 2 ( 2x ) + 3
= 4x + 3
fg(3) = 4 x 3 + 3 = 15
Exercise 19.7
1. Write a formula for fg(x) in each of the following:
1. a.) f(x) = x - 3g(x) = x + 5 c) f(x) = x g(x) = 2x
fg(x) = f(x + 5) fg(x) = f(2x)
fg(x) = (x + 5) - 3 fg(x) = 2x
fg(x) = x + 2
x
b.) f(x) = x + 4 g(x) = x - 1 d.) f(x)  g(x)
2 = 2x
fg(x) = f(x -1) fg(x) = f(2x)
fg(x) = (x - 1 ) + 4 fg ( x ) 
2x
2
fg(x) = x + 3 fg(x) = x
2. Write a formula for pq(x) in each of the following:
1. a.) p(x) = 2x q(x) = x + 4
pq(x) = p(x + 4)
pq(x) = 2(x + 4)
pq(x) = 2x + 8

b.) p(x) = 3x + 1 q(x) = 2x

pq(x) = p(2x)
pq(x) = 3(2x) +1
pq(x) = 6x + 1
c) p(x) = 4x + 6 q(x) = 2x -1
pq(x) = p(2x - 1)
pq(x) = 4(2x -1) + 6
pq(x) = 8x - 4 + 6
pq(x) = 8x + 2

d.) p(x) = -x + 4 q(x) = x + 2

pq(x) = p(x + 2)
pq(x) = - (x + 2) + 4
pq(x) = -x - 2 + 4
pq(x) = -x + 2
4.) Evaluate fg(2) in each of the following:

1. a.) f(x) = x - 4 g(x) = x+ 3 b.) f(x) = 2x q(x) = - x + 6

fg(x) = f(x + 3) fg(x) = f(-x + 6)

fg(x) = 2(- x + 6)
fg(x) = ( x + 3) - 4
fg(x) = -2x + 12
fg(x) = x - 1
fg(2) = -2(-2) + 12
fg(2) = 2 - 1
fg(2) = 8
fg(2) = 1
 x
c.) f(x) = 3x g(x) = 6x + 1 d.) f(x)  2 q(x) = - 2x
fg(x) = f(6x + 1) fg(x) = f(-2x)
- 2x
fg(x) = 3(6x + 1) f(x) 
2
fg(x) = 18x + 3 fg(x) = -x
fg(2) = 18(2) + 3 fg(2) = -(2)
fg(2) = 39 fg(2) = - 2
 1 8x  2
e) j(x)  (x  3) k(x) 
4 5
(a) jk(x) (b) kj(x)
1 
 8x  2  kj(x)  k  (x  3) 
jk(x)  j  4 
 5 
1 
1  8x  2  8 (x  3)   2
jk(x)    3  4 
4 5  kj(x) 
5
1  8x  2 3  1 3
jk(x)     8 x    2
4 5 1  4 4
kj(x) 
1  8x  2 15  5
jk(x)     2x  6  2
4 5 5 kj(x) 
5
1  8x  13  8x  13 2x  4
jk(x)    kj(x) 
4 5  20 5
 2x  3 1
f) j(x)  k(x)  x  1
3 2
(a) jk(x) (b) kj(x)
 2x  3 
1  kj(x)  k  
jk(x)  j x  1   3 
2 
1  2x  3 
1  kj(x)    1
2 x  1   3 2 3 
 2 
jk(x)  2x  3
3 kj(x)  1
6
x23 2x  3 1
jk(x)  kj(x)  
3 6 1
x5 2x  3 6 2x  9
jk(x)  kj(x)   
3 6 6 6
Activity: