PAST YEAR QUESTION :CHAPTER 1 : FUNCTIONS

1. Functions f, g and h are defined by

x
x2
2
f :x
,g:x
,h : x 3 .
x 1
x
x
a) state the domains of f and g.
[2 marks]
b) find the composite function gof and state its domain and range.
[5 marks]
c) state the domain and range of h.
[2 marks]
d) state whether h = g o f. Give a reason for your answer.
[ 2006, 2 marks]
Ans : a) Df ={ x : xR, x -1}, Dg ={ x : xR, x 0},
b) 3+2/x Dgof ={ x : xR, x -1, x 0}, Rgof ={ y : yR, y 3 },
c) Dh ={ x : xR, x 0}, Rh ={ y : yR, y 3},
d)Both f(x) and gof(x) have the same rule but different domains and ranges,
therefore h gof
2. The functions f and g are defined by
1
,xR
x
f:x
\ {0};
g : x 2 x 1, x R.

g
Find f
and its domain.
1
1
, D fog={ x : x R , x }
Ans :
2 x1
2

[ 2008, 4 marks]

3. Functions f and g are defined by

x
1
f :x
for x ;
2x 1
2
2
g : x ax bx c, where a, b, and c are constants.
a) Find f f , and hence, determine the inverse function of f.
marks]
3x 2 4 x 1
g f
( 2 x 1) 2
b) Find the values of a, b and c if

[4

[4

marks]

x2 2
2
c) Given that p(x) = x 2 2, express h(x) = 2 x 5 in terms of f and p.[2011,2 marks]
x
1
, xR, x
Ans : a) x, f -1:x
b) a=1. B=0, c=-1
c) h=fp
2 x1
2
4. The graph of a function f is follows :

a) state the domain and range of f.

[2

marks]
b) state whether f is one-to-one function or not. Give a reason for your answer.
[ 2010, 2
marks]
Ans : a) Domain = { x: -3 x -1, -1 < x 2, xR } Range ={ y : -1< y < 2, y R }
b) Not one-to-one function. Because by using the horizontal line test, there are
more than one pint of intersection between the horizontal line and the graph of f.

5. Sketch on the same coordinate axes, the graphs of y = 2 - x and y =

1
.
x

[4 marks]
Hence , solve the inequality 2 x >
Ans : x < -0.236

6. Find the solution set of the inequality

marks]
Ans : { x : 0 < x < 1, 1 < x < 1 + 2 }

1
.
x

x2

1
< x , where x 0.

[2004, 4 marks]

[2005, 7

2x 1
Ax B
C

,
2
(
x

1
)(
2

x
)
2

x
x

1
7. Express
in the form
where A, B and C are constants.
[2006, 3
marks]
x
1
+
Ans :
2
x +1 2x
2

8. The polynomial p(x)= x 4 + a x 3 7 x 2 4ax + b has a factor x + 3 and, when divided

by x-3, has remainder 60. Find the values of a and b, and factorise p (x) completely.
[9
marks]
1
,
Using the substitution y = x solve the equation 12 y 4 8 y 3 7 y 2 + 2 y + 1 = 0
[2006, 3
marks]
Ans : a=2, b=12, (x-1)(x+3)(x-2)(x+2) , y= 1, -1/3, , -1/2

9. Find the constants A, B , C and D such that

3x 2 5 x
A
B
C
D

2
2
2
1 x 1 x (1 x )
(1 x )(1 x )
(1 x) 3

[ 2007, 8

marks]
Ans : A =1, B=1, c = -1, D =-1
10. The polynomial p(x ) = 2 x 3 + 4 x 2 + x k has factor ( x + 1 ).
a) find the values of k.
marks]
b) factorise p(x) completely.
marks]
1
Ans : a) 3/2
b) (x+1)(2x+3)(x )
2

[2
[ 2008, 4

11. Find the solution set of the inequality

4
3
3
x 1
x

[2008, 10
marks]
Ans : { x : 0 < x < 3, x 1 }
12. Find all the values of x if y =
Ans : x = -9 or 7

3 x

and 4y ( x 2 -9 ) = -24.

13. . Determine the set of values of x satisfying the inequality

x
1

x 1 x 1
Ans : { x : x < -1 or x 1 }

[ 2009, 9 marks]

[ 2009, 4 marks]

14. The polynomial p(x) = 6x 4-a x 3-b x 2 + 28x + 12, where a and b are real constants,
has factors ( x + 2 ) and ( x 2).
Find the values of a and b, and hence, factorise p(x) completely.
[ 2009, 7
marks]
Ans : a = 7, b = 27, P(x) = (x+2)(x-2)(2x-3)(3x+1)
15. The polynomial p(x)=2x 4-7x 3 +5x2 +ax + b, where a and b are real constants, is
divisible by 2x 2 + x 1.
a) find a and b.
[4
marks]
b) for these values of a and b, determine the set of values of x such that p(x) 0
[ 2010, 4
marks]
1
Ans : a) a = 9, b = -5
b) { x : -1 x , x R }
2

16. Find the set of values of x satisfying the inequality 2x 1

Ans : { x ; x 2 }

x 1

[ 2011, 6 marks]

17. The polynomial p(x) = ax3 +bx2-4x+3, where a and b are constants, has a factor (x+1).
When p(x) is divided by (x-2), it leaves a reminder of -9.
a) find the values of a and b, and hence, factorise p(x) completely.
[ 6 marks]
p ( x)
0
b) find the set of values of x which satisfies x 3
[ 4 marks]
p( x)
, x 3,
c) by completing the square, find the minimum value of x 3
and the value
of x at which it occurs.
[ 2011, 4 marks]
1
Ans : a) a= 2, b=-5, b) { x : x 1, x , x 3} c) min value 0s -9/8 when x = -1/4
2
x
) 3 log a 2 log a ( x 2a),
a2
18. If
express x in terms of a.
Ans : x = 4a
log a (

19. Given that

log a (3 x 4a) log a 3 x

[ 2007, 6 marks]

2
1
log a (1 2a ), where 0 a ,
log 2 a
2 find x.
[ 2009, 7 marks]

Ans : x = 2/3
20. Solve the following simultaneous equations :
x2
log 3 ( xy) 5 and log 9 ( ) 2
y
Ans : x = 27, y = 9
21. Solve the equation lnx + ln (x+2) = 1
Ans : x = 1+ e1

[ 2010, 4 marks]
[ 2011, 4 marks]

22. Sketch, on the same coordinate axes, the curves y = 6- e x and y = 5 e x, and find the
coordinates of the points of intersection.
[ 2008, 7 marks]
Ans : ( ln5, 1 )
23. Given that 2 -x x 2is a factor of P(x) = ax3-x2+bx -2. Find the values of a and b.
Hence, find the set of values of x for which P(x) is negative.
[ 2012, 6 marks]
1
, x >1 }
Ans : a = -2, b=5,
{ x : -2 < x <
2
24. Functions f and gof are defined by f(x)= e x+2 and (gof)(x) = x. For all x 0.
a) find the function g, and state its domain,
[5
marks]
b) determine the value of (fog)(e3)
[ 2012, 2
marks]
Ans : a) g(x) = lnx2
Dg={ x : x e2 }
b) e 3

x
y
25. Solve the simultaneous equations
)=
log 9

x=

Ans :

3
4

and ( log 3 x ( lo g 3 y ) =1
[2012, 8
marks]

1
1
, y= , x=9, y= 3
9
3

26. The function f is defined by f : x2-x, for x

1
.
2

a) find f -1, state its domain,

[4
marks]
b) find the coordinates of the point of intersection of graphs f and f -1.
[ 3 marks]
c) sketch, on the same coordinates axes, the graphs of f and f -1.
[ 2012, 3 marks]
1
1
1
1
Ans : a) f ( x )= + x+
, D f ={x : x }
b) (2,2)
2
4
4

27. The function f is defined by f(x) =

1 x x
( e e ) , where x R .
2

a) show that f has an inverse.

b) find the inverse function of f, and state its domain.
x+ x 2 +1
D f ={x ; x R }
Ans : b) 1
f ( x )=ln

[ 3 marks]
[ 2013, 7 marks]

28. Determine the set of values of x satisfying the inequality

Ans : { x : x -2-

3
x.
[ STPM 2014, 6 marks]

x+ 4

7 or 0 x 2+ 7 }

29. Functions f and g are defined by

f(x) = x2 + 4x + 2, x R,
3
, x 3, x R .
g(x) =
3+ x
a) Sketch the graph of f, and find its range.
[4
marks]
b) Sketch the graph of g, and show that g is a one-to-one function.
[3 marks]
c) Give a reason why g -1 exists. Find g-1 and state its domain.
[4
marks]
d) Give a reason why gof exists. Find gf, and state its domain.[STPM 2014,4 marks]
Ans : a) Rf = { y : y 2 }
b) g is one-to-one because the line y=k, k 0 cuts the graph at one point only.
c) g-1 exists because g is one-to-one function. g-1(x)=
d)

Rf D g ,

D gof is R

3
3, Dg ={x : x 0}
x
1

30. A continuous function f is defined by

1 x<2,
1
(x-3 2 +c ,2 x 8,
2
x3-1,

f(x)

where c is a constant.
a) Determine the value of c.
[4 marks]
b) Find the values of x such that f(x) = 0.
[3
marks]
c) Sketch the graph of f.
[3
marks]
d) Find the maximum and minimum values of f.
[3
marks]
e) State whether f is a one-to-one function or not. Give a reason for your answer.
[ STPM 2014,2 marks]
Ans : a) 15/2
b) 3 + 15 , x =1
d) max: 15/2, min: -5
e) f is one-to-one since f(1)=f(3+15)=0
31. The polynomial p(x) = axA + x3 + bx2 10x - 4, where a and b are constants, has a
factor (2X + 1). When p(x) is divided by (x- 1), the remainder is -15.
a) Determine the values of a and b.

[ 4 marks]

b) Factorise p(x) completely.

[ 3 marks]

c) Find the set of values of x which satisfies the inequality p(x) < 0.
[ STPM 2015, 4 marks]
Ans : a) a=2, b=-4
32. Express

b) (x-2)(2x+1)(x2+2x+2)

1
2 x 7 x+ 6
2

in partial fractions.

marks]
Ans :

1
2

x2 2 x3

c) { x :-

1
2

< x < 2}
[ STPM 2015, 3