INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Mathematics: analysis and approaches

MAA SL

EXERCISES MAA SL 2.3-2.5

FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

Compiled by Christos Nikolaidis

FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS - USE OF GDC

A. Practice questions

1. [Maximum mark: 6] [with / without GDC]

(a) On the same set of axes, sketch the graphs of the following two functions
f ( x) = 2 x , −3≤ x ≤ 3
g ( x) = 2 x + 2 , −3≤ x ≤ 3

y
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7

[3]
(b) Write down the range of each function (for the given domain).

Function f ( x) = 2 x g ( x) = 2 x + 2

Range
[3]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

2. [Maximum mark: 8] [with GDC]

(a) On the same set of axes, sketch the graphs of the following two functions
f ( x) = x 2 , −3≤ x ≤ 3
g ( x) = x 2 − 2 , −3≤ x ≤ 3 [3]

For each function, write down

(b) the range (for the given domain); [3]
(c) the intersection points with the line y = x . [2]
y
10

1
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1

-2

-3

-4

Points of
Function Range intersection with
y=x

y = x2

y = x2 − 2

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

3. [Maximum mark: 5] [with GDC]

(a) Sketch the graph of the function f ( x) = x , 0 ≤ x ≤ 9.

y
4

1
x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-1

-2
[2]

(b) Complete the following table

Range of f

Point of intersection with the line y=1

Point of Intersection with the line y=2

[3]

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

(a) Sketch the graph of the function f ( x) = 3x − 3 x , 0 ≤ x ≤ 4 .

y
6

1
x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-1

-2
[3]

(b) Complete the following table

Coordinates of end points

Coordinates of minimum point

Range

[3]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

5. [Maximum mark: 10] [with GDC]

(a) Sketch the graphs of the following two functions. Write down the largest possible
domain and the corresponding range.

f ( x) = x 3 f ( x) = x 4

Df: Rf: Df: Rf:

[6]
(b) Write down the range of these functions under the following restrictions
f ( x) = x 3 f ( x) = x 4

Df: 1≤ x ≤ 2 Rf: Df: 1≤ x ≤ 2 Rf:

Df: − 1 ≤ x ≤ 2 Rf: Df: − 1 ≤ x ≤ 2 Rf:

[4]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

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

Find the largest possible domain for the following functions
7
f ( x) = 3 − 6 x g ( x) = h( x ) = 3 − 6 x k ( x) = log(3 − 6 x)
3 − 6x

7. [Maximum mark: 8] [with GDC]

Find the largest possible domain for the following functions
7
f ( x) = x 2 − 4 g ( x) = 2
h( x ) = x 2 − 4 k ( x) = log( x 2 − 4)
x −4

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

2
The function f is given by f ( x) = x−4 + + log(10 − x) .
x−5
Find the largest possible domain of the function.

9. [Maximum mark: 5] [with GDC]

The function f is given by f ( x) = x+7 +5
(a) Write down the domain of the function. [2]

(b) Sketch the graph of the function (by using the GDC) to obtain the range of the
function [3]

B. Past paper questions (SHORT)

10. [Maximum mark: 8] [with GDC]

Let f (x) = 2 + cos (2x) – 2sin (0.5x) for 0 ≤ x ≤ 3, where x is in radians.

(a) On the grid below, sketch the curve of y = f (x), indicating clearly the point P on the
curve where the function has a max or min value. [4]
y
4
3
2
1
0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 x
–1
–2
–3
–4

(b) Write down the solutions of f (x) = 0. [2]

(c) Write down the range of f. [2]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

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

(a) On the following diagram, sketch the graphs of y = 2x and y = cos x for –2 ≤ x ≤ 1.
y
2

x
–2 –1 0 1
–1

–2
[3]
(b) The equation 2x = cos x has a solution between –2 and –1. Find this solution. [2]
(c) Write down the x-intercept of the function g(x)=2x – cos x, between –2 and –1. [1]

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

Let f (x) = sin(2x + 1), 0 ≤ x ≤ π.
(a) Sketch the curve of y = f (x) on the grid below. [2]
y
2

1.5

0.5

0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 x

–0.5

–1

–1.5

–2

(b) Find the x-coordinates of the maximum and minimum points of f(x), giving your
answers correct to one decimal place. [4]

13. [Maximum mark: 10] [with GDC]

Note: Radians are used throughout this question.
Let f (x) = sin (1 + sin x).
(a) Sketch the graph of y = f (x), for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6. [4]
(b) Write down the x-coordinates of all minimum and maximum points, for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6. [4]
(c) Write down the range of y = f (x), for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6. [2]

Give your answers correct to four significant figures.

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

14. [Maximum mark: 4] [with GDC]

x
The diagram below shows the graph of y = x sin , for 0 ≤ x < m, and 0 ≤ y < n, where x
3
is in radians and m and n are integers.
y
n

n–1

0 m–1 m x

Find the value of m and the value of n.

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

Let ƒ (x) = 3 sin 2x, for 1 ≤ x ≤ 4 and g (x) = −5x2 + 27x − 35 for 1 ≤ x ≤ 4. The graph of ƒ is
shown below.

(a) On the same diagram, sketch the graph of g. [2]

(b) One solution of ƒ (x) = g (x) is 1.89. Write down the other solution. [2]
(c) Let h (x) = g (x) − ƒ (x). Given that h (x) ≤ 0 for p ≤ x ≤ q, write down the value of p
and of q. [2]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS – INVERSE FUNCTIONS

A. Practice questions

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

Let f (x) = 10-2x and g(x) = 5x. 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]

17. [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]

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

x
Find the inverse of the function f ( x) =
x+5

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

2x − 3
Let f ( x) = . Show that
3x − 2
−1
(a) f = f (i.e. the functions is self-inverse) [4]
(b) ( f o f )( x) = x [4]

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

The function f is given by f (x) = x2, 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]
(d) On the same axes with f, sketch the graph of f –1 [2]
(e) State the domain and the range of f –1. [2]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

B. Past paper questions (SHORT)

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

5x
Let g (x) = 3x – 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]

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

The functions f and g are defined by f : a 3 x, g : x a x + 2 .
(a) Find an expression for (f ◦ g) (x). [2]
(b) Show that f –1(18) + g–1(18) = 22. [4]

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

Let f (x) = 2x + 1 and g (x) = 3x2 – 4. Find
(a) f –1(x); [2]
(b) (g ◦ f ) (–2); [2]
(c) ( f ◦ g) (x). [2]

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

3
The function f is defined by f: x a 3 − 2x , x ≤
2
Evaluate f –1(5).

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

Let f ( x) = x + 4 x ≥ −4 and g ( x) = x 2 , x∈ .
(a) Find ( g o f )(3) [2]
−1
(b) Find f ( x) [3]
−1
(c) Write down the domain of f . [1]

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

Let f (x) = x3 − 4 and g (x) = 2x.
(a) Find (g ◦ f ) (−2). [2]
(b) Find f −1 (x). [3]

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

1
Consider the functions f ( x) = 2 x and g ( x ) = , x ≠ 3.
x−3
(a) Calculate ( f o g )( 4) . [2]
(b) Find g −1 ( x ) [3]
(c) Write down the domain of g −1 . [1]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

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

Two functions f, g are defined as follows: f : x a 3x + 5 and g : x a 2(1 – x). Find
(a) f –1(2); [2]
(b) (g o f )(–4). [2]

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

Two functions f and g are defined as follows: f (x) = cos x, g (x) = 2x + 1
(a) Find (g o f) (x) and (f o g) (x) [4]
(b) Solve the equation (g o f )(x) = 0 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π; [by using your GDC] [2]

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

6–x
Consider the functions f : x a 4(x – 1) and g : x a .
2
(a) Find g–1. [2]
(b) Solve the equation ( f ° g–1) (x) = 4. [4]

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

2
Let f (x) = x and g(x) = 2x – 3.
(a) Find g–1(x). [2]
(b) Find (f ° g)(4). [3]

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

Let f (x) = 7-2x and g(x) = x+3.
(a) Find (g ° f)(x). [2]

(b) Write down g–1(x). [1]

(c) Find (f ° g–1)(5). [2]

33. [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]

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

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

(a) Find (f –1 o g)(x) [4]

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

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

x
Let f (x) = 2x, and g (x) = , (x ≠ 2). Find
x–2
(a) (g o f ) (3); [3]
(b) g–1 (5). [3]

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 MAA SL 2.3-2.5 FUNCTIONS – COMPOSITION – INVERSE

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

The function f is defined by f : x a x3.
Find an expression for g(x) in terms of x in each of the following cases
(a) (f ◦ g )(x) = x + 1; [3]
(b) (g ◦ f )(x) = x + 1. [3]

37. [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).

38. [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]
–1
(b) Hence find the inverse function f . [3]
(c) State the domain and the range of f . [2]
(d) State the domain and the range of f–1. [2]

39. [Maximum mark: 7] [with GDC]

Consider the function f (x) = px3 + qx2 + rx. Part of the graph is shown below.

The graph passes through the origin O and the points A(–2, –8), B(1, –2) and C(2, 0).

(a) Find three linear equations in p, q and r. [4]

(b) Hence find the value of p, of q and of r. [3]

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