MCR3UC - Functions: Grade 11, University Preparation, 1.

0 Credit 
Unit 1: Characteristics of Functions 
Key Questions 
 
2
1. (5x + 3) − (4x + 1) (6 − x)
= (5x + 3) (5x + 3) − (4x + 1) (6 − x)
= (25x2 + 15x + 15x + 9) − (24x − 4x2 + 6 − x)
= (25x2 + 30x + 9) − (− 4x2 + 23x + 6)
= 25x2 + 30x + 9 + 4x2 − 23x − 6
= 29x2 + 7x + 3 4 marks 

2. − 6√80 + 2√75 − 8√245 − 14√108

=− 6√16×5 + 2√25×3 − 8√49×5 − 14√36×3
=− 6 (4√5) + 2 (5√3) − 8 (7√5) − 14(6√3)
=− 24√5 + 10√3 − 56√5 − 84√3
=− 80√5 − 74√3

(2 − √5 − 4√6)(3√3 + 8√2)
= (2√5) (3√3) + (2√5) (8√2) − 4√6 (3√3) − 4√6(8√2)
= (2×3) (√5 × √3) + (2×8) (√5 × √2) − (4×3) (√6 × √3) − (4×8)(√6 × √2)
= 6√15 + 16√10 − 12√18 − 32√12
= 6√15 + 16√10 − 12(3√2) − 32(2√3)
= 6√15 + 16√10 − 36√2 − 64√3

2 2
3. x x−x−6
2 −4 ÷
x −2x+1
x2 −1
-2 marks
(x+2)(x−3) (x+1)(x−1)
= (x+2)(x−2) ÷ (x−1)2
2
(x+2)(x−3) (x−1)
= (x+2)(x−2)
× (x+1)(x−1)
x−3
= x−2
× x−1
x+1
(x−3)(x−1)
= (x−2)(x+1)
x2 +3
= x2 −2

x + 2 = 0 or x − 2 = 0 or x − 1 = 0 or x+1=0
x =− 2 x=2 x=1 x =− 1

The restrictions x are x≠ − 2, x≠ − 1, x≠1, and x≠2 .

2x 8 2x 8
9x2 +15x
− 3x+5
= 3x(3x+5)
− 3x+5
2x 3x(8)
= 3x(3x+5)
− 3x(3x+5)
2x−3x(8)
= 3x(3x+5)
2x−24x
= 3x(3x+5)
−22x
= 3x(3x+5)
 −22
= 3(3x+5)
−22
= 9x+15

3x = 0 or 3x + 5 = 0
x=0 −5
x= 3

The restrictions x are x≠ −5

3
and x≠0 .

6x2 +7x−3
4. f (x) = 2x+3
= (2x+3)(3x−1)
2x+3
= 3x − 1

g (x) = 3x (3x + 1) − (1 + 9x2 )

= 9x2 + 3x − 1 − 9x2
= 3x − 1

Algebraically f (x) and g (x) are equivalent.

Graphically, f (x) and g (x) are equivalent.

5. y = (x + 1)2 − 8 is a quadratic function because it has a degree if 2 ( x is squared).

y = √x − 3 is a square root function because it has a square root.

1
y= x+4
is a reciprocal function because x is the denominator.

6.y = (x + 1)2 − 8
The domain is {x∈R} .
The range is { y≥8} .

y = √x − 3
The domain is {x≥3} .
The range is {y≠0} .
 1
y = x+4
The domain is {x≠4} .
The range is { y≠0} .

7. y = (x + 1)2 − 8
f (3) = (3 + 1)2 − 8
=8

y = √x − 3
f (3) = √3 − 3
=0

1
y = x+4
1
f (3) = 3+4
= 17

8. y = (x + 1)2 − 8 function and mapping notation. -2 marks

Table of Values
x y
-4 1
-3 -4
-2 -7
-1 -8
0 -7
1 -4
2 1
Graph

9. f (x) = √x − 3
The domain is {x≥3} .
The range is { y≥0} .
y = √x − 3
x = √y − 3
x2 = y − 3
y = x2 + 3
f −1 (x) = x2 + 3
The domain is {x≥0} .
The range is { y≥3} .
The inverse is a quadratic function because it has a degree if 2 ( x is squared), therefore it is a
function, with only one y-value corresponding to each x-value.

10. f (x) =
√ (xf (x)+ 1=)
2
3
base function: √x
3
The base function is horizontally stretched by a factor of 2
and horizontally translated 1 unit
left.

f (x) =− 4(3x)2 + 5
base function: f (x) = x2
The base function is reflected in the x-axis, vertically stretched by a factor of 4, horizontally
compressed by a factor of 3, and vertically translated 5 units upwards.

11. f (x) = x2 , y = 7f (− 16 (x − 1)) + 1

The transformed function will be of the form y = af (k (x − d)) + c .
In y = 7f (− 16 (x − 1)) + 1 , the parameters are a = 7, k =− 16 , d = 1, and c = 1 .
The function f (x) = x2 is stretched vertically by a factor of 7, reflected in the y-axis, stretched
horizontally by a factor of 6 , horizontally, translated 1 unit right, and up 1 unit. The
2
transformed equation is f (x) = 7(− 16 (x − 1)) + 1 .

12.​ base function: f (x) = x2

2
In y =− 2(− 13 (x + 2)) − 4 , the paramaters are so a =− 2, k =− 13 , d =− 2, and c =− 4 .
The function f (x) = x2 is vertically stretched by a factor of 2, reflected in in the x-axis,
horizontally stretched by a factor of 13 , reflected in the y-axis, horizontally translated 2 units
left, and vertically translated 4 units downward.
13. For column two, multiply x in column one by − 3.
For column three, multiply y in column two by ​-2.
For column four, use the points in column three subtracting​ 1​ from x​ ​ and subtracting​ 4​ from ​y.
2
y = f (x) y = f (− 13 x) y =− 2(− 13 x) y =− 2(− 13 (x + 2)) − 4

(0,0) (0,0) (0,0) (-2,-4)

(1,1) (-3,1) (-3,-2) (-4,-6)
(2,4) (-6,4) (-6,-8) (-7,-12)
(3,9) (-9,9) (-9,-18) (-10,-22)

The domain is {x∈R} .

The range is {y∈R | y≥ − 4} .
14. f (x) = 3x2 − 5x + 1
a = 3, b =− 5, c = 1
b2 − 4ac
= − 52 − 4 (3) (1)
= 25 − 12
= 13
The discriminant is positive and so produces two real roots. Since the roots are real, they
are the x-intercepts. Therefore, this quadratic function has two x-intercepts.

f (x) = 2x2 + x + 1
a = 2, b = 1, c = 1
b2 − 4ac
= 12 − 4 (2) (1)
=− 7
The discriminant is negative and so produces no real roots. Since there are no real roots,
there are no x-intercepts. Therefore, this quadratic equation has no x-intercepts.
f (x) = 4x2 − 12x + 9
a = 4, b =− 12, c = 9
b2 − 4ac
= − 122 − 4 (4) (9)
= 144 − 144
=0
The discriminant is zero and so produces one real double root. Since the root is real, it is an
x-intercept. Therefore, this quadratic function has one x-intercept.

15. f (x) = 4x2 − 12x + 5

= 4x2 − 2x − 10x + 5
= 2x (2x − 1) − 5 (2x − 1)
= (2x − 5) (2x − 1)
2x − 5 = 0
x = 52
2x − 1 = 0
x = 12
5 1
The x-intercepts are x = 2
and x = 2
.
5+ 1
x= 2 2 2

x = 64 =3/2
y = 4x2 − 12x + 5
2
y = 4( 64 ) − 12 ( 64 ) + 5
36
y = 4 ( 16 ) − 12 ( 64 ) + 5
y = 9 − 18 + 5
y =− 4
The vertex is ( 64 ,− 4) .
This parabola is concave up because a = 4 is positive, so the vertex will be the minimum
point of the graph. The minimum value is y =− 4 .

16. f (x) = − 5x2 + 20x + 2

y = − 5(x2 − 4x) + 2
2
1
2
b = 12 (− 4) =− 2, ( 12 b) = (− 2)2 = 4
y = − 5(x2 − 4x) + 2
=− 5(x2 − 4x + 4 − 4) + 2
=− 5[x2 − 4x + 4) − 4] + 2
=− 5(x2 − 4x + 4) + 20 + 2
= − 5(x − 2)2 + 22
The vertex is (2, 22), and since the parabola is concave down the maximum value is y=22.
a =− 5, b = 20, c = 2
b2 − 4ac
= 202 − 4 (− 5) (2)
= 400 + 40
= 440
The discriminant is positive and so produces two real roots. Since the roots are real, they
are the x-intercepts. Therefore, this quadratic function has two x-intercepts.
x = −b±√b −4ac
2

2a
 −20±√440
x= 2(−5)
−20+√440
x= −10
, x = −20−√440
−10
x≅4.1, x≅ − 0.1
The x-intercepts are x≅4.1 and x≅ − 0.1 .

17. P = − 5x2 + 550x − 5000

0 = − 5x2 + 550x − 5000
= − 5(x2 − 110x + 1000)
= − 5(x2 − 10x − 100x + 1000)
=− 5 [x (x − 10) − 100 (x − 10)]
=− 5 (x − 10) (x − 100)
x − 10 = 0 or x − 100 = 0
x = 10 x = 100
In order for the company to make a profit of $0 or breakeven, they must spend 10 thousand
or 100 thousand on advertising.

The corresponding graph shows the company’s profit in relation to the amount spent on
advertising. The x​ ​-intercepts, or zeroes, show where the company would make a profit of
$0, or breakeven.

18. Tokyo → Bangkok

distance: 4800 km
time: 4800 km
x km/h
= 4800
x
h
speed: ​x​ km/h

Bangkok → Tokyo
distance: 4800 km
4800 km 4800
time: x−200 km/h
= x−200 h
speed​: x-200 km/h
4800
x−200
h – 4800
x
h=2h
4800 4800
x−200
− x = 2x(x − 200)
4800x − 4800x + 960000 = 2x(x − 200)
960000 = 2x2 − 400x
2x2 − 400x − 960000 = 0
2 (x2 − 200x − 440000) = 0
2 (x − 800) (x + 600) = 0
x = 800 km/h
19. f (x) = a[x − (2 − √5)x − (2 + √5)]
= a(x2 − 2x + x√5 − 2x − 4 − 2√5 − x√5 + 2√5) − 5
= a (x2 − 4x − 4) − 5
= a(x − 2)2 − 5
10 = a(2 − 2)2 − 5
10 =− 5a
10
−5
= −5
−5
a
a =− 2
f (x) = a (x2 − 4x − 4) − 5
f (x) = a(x2 − 4x − 1)
f (x) =− 2 (x2 − 4x − 1)
f (x) =− 2x2 + 8x + 2

x = 13
3x = 1
3x − 1
f (x) = a (3x − 1) (x + 4)
5 = a [(3 (1) − 1) (1 + 4)]
5 = 10a
5 10
10
= 10 a
1
a= 2
f (x) = 12 (3x − 1) (x + 4)
(
= 12 3x2 + 11 − 4 )
3 2 11
= 2
x + 2
x −2

20.
y = 3x + 5→h (x) = 3x + 5
f (x) = 3x2 − 2x − 4
Let h(x) = f (x) and solve for x .
3x + 5 = 3x2 − 2x − 4
3x + 2x + 5 + 4 − 3x2 = 0
− 3x2 + 5x + 9 = 0
b2 − 4ac
= 52 − 4 (− 3) (9)
= 25 + 108
= 133
b2 − 4ac > 0 , therefore there are two solutions or two points of intersection.

3x + 2x + 5 + 4 − 3x2 = 0
x = −b±√b −4ac
2

2a
x = −5±√133
−6
x≈ − 1.1 or x≈2.8
y = 3x + 5
y = 3 (− 1.1) + 5
y = 1.7
y = 3 (2.8) + 5
y = 13.4
The points of intersection are (-1.1, 1.7) and (2.8, 13.4).