CAMEROON’S BAC MATHEMATICS

GENERALITIES OF FUNCTIONS

By Jaff Lawerence

Numerical Functions 4
Given fx : x 3 and g : x 2x  1 ,
x 1
A function f : A  B is a rule which
define each of the following in a similar
maps every element of set A onto exactly manner and state the domain.
one element of set B. Image of x or
value of f at x a) f g b) g f c) g g
f
Ancestor y Solution
x
of y
4
A B a) f : x x  3 and g : x 2x  1
Domain, D f x 1
Codomain
4
 f ( x)  x  3  and g  x   2 x  1
x 1
4
f : A  B is defined by f : x y  f ( x)  y f g  x   f  g  x    g  x   3 
g  x 1
.
y is the image of x under f or the value of f at x. 4 4
 2x  1  3   2x  4 
2x  1 1 2x
The set of all images is called the range.
2
f g  x  2x  4 
 Range  Codomain . x
2
Df  A  Range of f  f  A .  f g : x 2 x  4  , D f g   0
x
Composite Functions b) g f  x   g  f ( x )  2 f ( x )  1
The composition of a function g with a  4  8
 2 x  3   1  2x  7 
function f is given by g f  x   g  f ( x) .  x 1 x 1
8
g f : x 2x  7  , Dg f   1
Df Dg x 1

c) g g  x   g  g  x    2 g  x   1  2  2 x  1  1
x f  x g  f  x 
 4x  3  g g : x 4 x  3, Dg g 

 2x  1
 , x 1
and h  x   6 x  4
g f
2) Givenf ( x )   x  1
3  2 x, x  1

Dg f  x  D f : f ( x )  Dg  OR a) State the domain of f.

Dg f  x  D f : Range of f  Dg 
(b) Find f h and h f
NB:
i. g f  f g  Not commutative  . Solution

ii. g f means perform f first then perform g a) D f   1  1  .

on the result.
Example
  2h  x   1 are images. f is a surjection of an interval A
 , h  x  1
b) f h  x   f  h  x     h  x   1 on f  A iff f is continuous in A.
3  2h  x  , h  x   1
 3. f is bijective iff it is both injective and
 2 6 x  4  1 surjective. f is a bijection of an interval
 , 6x  4  1
  6 x  4  1 A in f  A  iff f is strictly monotonous and continuous in A.
3  2  6 x  4  , 6 x  4  1 A bijective function is a one-to-one mapping.

Thus f is bijective iff
12 x  7 5
 6 x  5 , x  6 b  B, the equation f ( x)  b has exactly
f h  x   , Df h  one solution i.e. the line
11  12, x  5 y  b intersects with C f at exactly one point.
 6
The inverse function
  2x  1 
6    4, x  1
h f  x   6  f ( x)  4    x  1  A function has an inverse iff it is bijective.
6  3  2 x   4, x  1 The inverse of a bijective function,
 f : A  B defined by f : x y is
8x  2 f 1 : B  A defined by f 1 : y
 , x 1 x
 h f  x   x 1 , Dh f 
14  12 x, x  1 f

x y

Injective, surjective and bijective functions f 1

A B
Consider a function
f : A  B defined by f : x y or f ( x)  y
D f  Range of f 1 and D f 1  Range of f
1. f is injective iff
f  x   y  f 1  y   x
x1 , x2  A : f  x1   f  x2   x1  x2 or iff f
f f 1  x   f 1 f  x   x  Identity mapping
is strictly monotonous (increasing or
decreasing) in A. The function f is monotonic C f 1 is the image of C f under a reflection in
increasing iff x1  x2  f  x1   f  x2  .If
the line y  x
f  x1   f  x2  the function is strictly
increasing or strictly monotonic.
How to find the inverse of a function
Similarly if x1  x2  f  x1   f  x2  then f is
monotonic decreasing; while if x1  x2  Let f ( x)  y .
f  x1   f  x2  it is strictly decreasing or Make x the subject of this equation and replace y
strictly monotonic. with x to get f 1  x 

NB: If all the powers of x in Example

f ( x) are even and  x, x  Df then
2x  1
Given f :  3   2 defined by f : x
f cannot be injective because x3
f   x   f  x  but  x  x 1. Show that f is bijective.
2. Express the inverse of f in a similar
2. f is surjective iff Range of f = B. I.e. f is manner.
surjective if all the elements in the codomain 3. State the domain and range of f 1 .
 4. Show that f f 1  x   x . The zero values of f ( x ) are the solutions of
Solution f ( x)  0 .

1. x1 , x2   3, f  x1   f  x2  Location of roots

2 x1  1 2 x2  1 If f is strictly monotonic in an interval a,b and
 
x1  3 x2  3
f  a  . f b  0
  2 x1  1 x2  3   x1  3 2 x2  1
then the equation f ( x )  0 has exactly one
2 x1 x2  6 x1  x2  3  2 x1 x2  x1  6 x2  3
solution in a,b .
 7 x2  7 x1  x1  x2
 f is injective Example

2x  1 f ( x)  x3  x  1. Show that the equation

Let y  f ( x )  y   yx  3 y  2 x  1
x3 f ( x)  0 has exactly one root   0,1
 yx  2 x  1  3 y .Hence find the neighbourhood of  in two
3y  1 decimal places and approximate
 y  2 x  3 y  1  x 
y2  to the nearest 102 .
x is defined x   2 Solution
Range of f  Codomain  f is surjective
Hence f is bijective f ( x)  x3  x  1 f '( x)  3x 2  1  f '( x)  0

3y  1 x 0 0.5 0.6 0.7 1

2. From above x 
y2
Sign of f ( x) - - - + +
3x  1
f 1 :  2   3 is defined by f 1 : x
x2    0.6,0.7

x 0. 0.6 0.6 0. 0.6 0.6 0.  f is strictly increasing.

6 5 6 6 8 9 7
7 f  0   1, f 1  1  f  0  . f 1  0
Hence f ( x)  0 has exactly one solution   0,1
Sign - - - - - + +
of
f ( x)    0.68, 0.69 or 0.68    0.69 is the

3. D f 1  Range of f   2, neighbourhood of  .

Range of f 1  D f   3 x 0.68 0.684 0.685

4. f f 1
 x  f  f 1
 x   Sign of - + +
 3x  1  f  x
2  f 1
 x    1 2  x  2   1
 
 f 1  x    3 3x  1
3    0.68 to the nearest 102
x2
2  3 x  1  x  2 x2 7x Exercise
   x
x2 3x  1  3  x  2  7
1
 x  x x 1
f f 1. Given that the function f ( x)  has
3x  1
Zero values of a function an inverse.

(a) Find its domain and codomain.

(b) Find the inverse of f. 3. Consider the functions
f ( x)  2 x  6 and g  x   x  5 .
2. f ( x)  2 x3  3x 2  1 Show that the equatio
f ( x)  0 has exactly one solution x0  1.6,1.7 . Find g f independent of the absolute value
sign.
3. Show that the equation
1 3x  4
f  x   0 where f  x    ln x has exactly 4. Given the functions f ( x)  and
x 4 x
one solution,  such that 1    2 .  x 2  4, x  3
g ( x)   i. Find:
Restriction of a function  2 x  1, x  3

Consider a function f : A  B. If A '  A (a) The domain of f. (b) f '  x 

then the function g is the restriction of f on
the subset A ' if x  A ', g( x)  f ( x) . If f is a (c) The inverse of f (d) f (2) and g f (2) .
bijection of A then g is also a bijection of A ' . (e) g (3) (f) g '( x ) .

Example ii. Sketch the curve y  g ( x) showing the

clearly the intercepts.
f ( x)  x 2 . Determine a bijective restriction, g
of f . 5. Given
f  x   x3  3x  1. Show that the equation f  x   0
Solution has a solution in the interval 0,1 and find
f   x   f  x  but  x  x  f is not bijective. the solution in two decimal places.
The restriction of f could be: 6. Given p  x   x3  x 2  4 x  4
g: 
0  
0 defined by g  x   x 2
a) Determine real numbers a, b and c such
or g : 
 
defined by g  x   x 2 etc.
that p  x    x  1  ax 2  bx  c  .
0 0

Exercise
b) Hence, or otherwise, solve in the
 1 5  following: i. p  x   0 (ii) p  x   0
1. A function g :  ,    ,   is defined by
 2 2 
0

g  x   2 x2  2 x  3 iii)  3t 2  2t  4dt  4
x

a) Show that g is bijective.

(b) Calculate g 1  x  and  g 1  '  x  Image of an Interval

2. Given a function The image of an interval 𝐼 = [𝑎, 𝑏] under a

10 x  1 continuous function f is an interval
f:  1   5 defined by f ( x) 
2x  2 𝑓(𝐼) = 𝑓([𝑎, 𝑏]) = [𝑚, 𝑛]
a) Show that f is bijective. (b) Find f 1 where 𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 are obtained as follows:
c) Express f in canonical form. 1. If f is strictly increasing function:
x
d) Find f g  x  where g  x   and 𝑓([𝑎, 𝑏]) = [𝑚, 𝑛]
3x  1
state the domain of f g. ⇒ 𝑚 = 𝑓(𝑎) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 = 𝑓(𝑛)
2. If f is strictly decreasing function: f  2   2 f  1  19 / 4

𝑓([𝑎, 𝑏]) = [𝑚, 𝑛] Pts.  2, 2  ,  1,19 / 4 

⇒ 𝑛 = 𝑓(𝑎) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚 = 𝑓(𝑏)

3. If 𝑓 is both increasing and decreasing in

[𝑎, 𝑏] then 𝑓([𝑎, 𝑏]) = [𝑚, 𝑛]

Where: 𝑚 = 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓 𝑖𝑛 [𝑎, 𝑏]

𝑛 = 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓 𝑖𝑛 [𝑎, 𝑏]

4. If an interval is open or has infinite

boundaries, limits are used and the image

is obtained as seen above.

Example 1

A real valued function f is defined by Example 2

1 3
f  x   x3  x 2  3x  3
2 4
a) Study the variations of f .
b) State the range of f .
A real valued function f is defined by
1 3
f  x   x3  x 2  3x  3
2 4
a) Study the variations of f .

c) Find the image of each of the following b) State the range of f .

intervals under f
c) Find the image of each of the following
 i  3,10  ii  0,1 iii 2,3 intervals under f
 iv   2,3  v  , 2  vi  o,10
 i  3,10  ii  0,1 iii 2,3
Solution  iv   2,3  v  , 2  vi  o,10
1 3 3 2
a) f  x   x  x  3x  3 Solution
2 4
1 3 3 2
a) f  x   x  x  3x  3
Df   ,  2 4
1 
lim f  x   lim  x 3    Df   , 
x 

x  2

1 
1  lim f  x   lim  x 3   
lim f  x   lim  x 3    x 

x  2

x 

x  2

1 
lim f  x   lim  x 3   
f ' x 
3 2 3
x  x3
x 

x  2

2 2
3 2 3
3 3
f '  x   0  x2  x  3  0 f ' x  x  x 3
2 2 2 2
3 3
f '  x   0  x2  x  3  0
x 2  x  2  0   x  2  x  1  0 2 2
x  2 or x  1 x  x  2  0   x  2  x  1  0
2
x  2 or x  1 (v) f  , 2  , 2
f  2   2 f  1  19 / 4
Pts.  2, 2  ,  1,19 / 4  (vi) f  0,10   2,398
x  -1 2 
f '( x) + 0  0 +
Graphical study of functions
f ( x) 
19
Example 1
4
 2 A numeric function f of a real variable x is
b) Range of   ,  defined on 0,6 by the curve C f shown
below.
3
c) (i) f  3  , f 10   398
4

f 3,10   34 ,398
  Cf
1
(ii) f  0   3, lim f  x   
x 1 4

f 0,1     14 ,3
 

3
(iii) lim f  x   2, lim f  x   
x 2 x 3 4

f  2,3    2, 194 

  a) Find f  0 , f 1 and f  3 .
3
(iv) f  2   2, f  3   b) Solve each of the following:
4
f  x   0, f  x   0, f  x   0 and f  x   3  0
 19 
f  2,3   2, 
 4
 y  f  x

2
c) Solve in the system 
NB: The curve of this function is shown below  y  3


d) Show that C f admits an axis of symmetry

whose equation should be stated.

e) State the coordinates of the minimum

turning point and the equation of the
tangent to C f at this point.

f) Study the sense of variations of 𝑓.

g) Find f  2, 4 
h) Show that the restriction
f : 3,6   4,5 is bijective.

i) Construct the table of variations for f .

j) Deduce the and sketch the curve C g y  4
of g  x   f  x  .
f) 𝑓 is strictly decreasing in 0,3 and strictly
k) Discuss the number of solutions of the decreasing in 3,6 .
equation g  x   m where 𝑚 is a real
parameter. g) f  2, 4    4, 3
Solution h) a 3,6 and b 4,5 , the equation
a) f  0  5, f 1  0 and f  3  4 f  a   b has exactly one solution.

b) The solutions of f  x   0 are the  the given restriction of f is bijective.

x  coordinates of the points where the curve
OR
intersects with the x  axis .
f is strictly increasing in 3,6  the
f  x   0  S  1,5
restriction of f is injective.
The solution of f  x   0 is the range of
f 3, 6   4,5  the restriction is
values of x for which the curve C f is above
surjective.
the line y  0  the x  axis  .
Hence, it is bijective.
f  x   0  S  0,1 5, 6 OR

Similarly: f  x   0  S  1,5 . From the graph, 𝑓 is strictly monotonous in

3,6 and f 3, 6   4,5  the restriction
The solution of f  x   3  0  f  x   3 is is bijective.i)
the set of values of the x  coordinates of the x 0 3 6
points where the curve intersects with the f '( x)  0 +
line y  3 .
f ( x) 5 5
f  x   3  S  2, 4
4
 y  f  x  j) g  x   f  x   Cg is the same as C f
c) The solution of  is the set of
 y  3 with the portion below the x  axis reflected
points where the curve and the line intersect. in the x  axis .

 y  f  x

  S   2, 3 ,  4, 3
 y  3


d) x 0,6 , f  3  x   f 3  x   x  3

is an axis of symmetry.

e) Minimum turning point   3, 4  .

The tangent at a turning point is the

horizontal line obtained using the y-
coordinate of the turning point. Thus:
k ) m  , 0 5,   No solution Solution
m  0 4,5  Two solutions i. Df   1,3  ,1 1,3 3, 
m  0,4  Four solutions
m  4  Three solutions lim f  x   0, lim f  x   0
x  x 

lim f  x   , lim f  x   

Example 2 x 1 x 1

lim f  x   , lim f  x   

The graph of a real valued function is shown x 3 x 3

on the orthonormal reference frame

ii. Vertical asymptotes: x  1, x  3
O, i, j  with i  j  1cm .
Horizontal asymptote: y  0

iii. a) Axis of symmetry: x  2

Cf
b) f '  x   0  S  2

iv. Tangent at x  2 is y  2 .

v. f is strictly increasing in ,1 1, 2

and strictly decreasing in  2,3 3,  .

vi.

x  1 2 3 
f '( x)   0 − 
i. State the domain of f and the limits at
domain boundaries. f ( x)  2 
ii. State equations of the asymptotes to C f . 0 0
 
iii. a) State the equation of the axis of
vii. Vertical asymptotes: x  1, x  3
symmetry if any.
b  c  b  1, c  3
b) Solve in the equation f '  x   0
a
f  x  and f  2   2
iv. State the equation of the tangent to C f
 x  1 x  3
at the point with abscissa 2 .
a
  2  a  2
v. Study the sense of variation of 𝑓.  2  1 2  3
a  2, b  1, c  3
vi. Construct the variation table of 𝑓.

vii. Determine the values of the real 2

viii. Hence f  x  
constants 𝑎, 𝑏 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐 where b  c if  x  1 x  3
a
f  x 
 x  b  x  c  mx 2  4mx  4m  2  0
m  x2  4x  4  2
viii. Hence or otherwise, discuss the number
of solutions of the equation 2
 m  f  x  m
mx 2  4mx  4m  2  0 where m is a real x  4x  4
2

parameter.
m  , 2 0,   2 solution  f  0  2 c  2
 
m  2  1 solution  f 1  0  a  b  2  0
m  2, 0  No solution  4a  2b  2  0
 f  2   0 
Example 3 a  1, b  1, c  2

Probatoire IH 2011 Problem 9.5mks iii. The solution is the set of the x coordinates
of the points of intersection of
The graph C f of a function f defined in the 1 3
y  f  x  the line y   x 
interval  3,3 is shown in the figure below 2 2
which has a scale of 2cm =1unit.

i. Using the graph of f above, find the  S  1,0.5,1.75

values of
f  3 , f  2 , f  1 , f  0.5 , f  0 and f 3 Example 4 Probatoire de BT 2008

In an orthonormal reference system

 x  k , x   3, 2
   
ii. f  x   ax 2  bx  c, x   2, 1  O, i , j  , a function f defined within the
 

 x   , x  1,3 interval  1,5 has the representative curve
C f as shown in the figure below.
a) Determine the values of  and k
b) Determine the values of  and 
c) Determine the values of a, b and c
iii. Solve in  3,3 the equation
1 3
f  x   x 
2 2

Solution

x -3 -2 -1 0.5 0 3
f  x 3 0 2 1 2 1.5
 f  3  3 3  k  3
ii.  
 f  2   0 2  k  0
  3, k  6
i. a) Determine the solution of the equation
 f 1  0     0 f ' x  0 .

b)   3
 f  3  1.5 3   
 2 b) Determine the sense of variations of f
3
  ,  
3 within the intervals  1, 2 and  2,5 .
4 4
c) Determine the range of values of x within 9 9
v) y   f  x 
the interval  1,5 for which f '  x   0 4 4

ii. Draw up a table of variations of f within  1,5 . 3 9

 x 2  3 x   3 x 2  12 x  9  0
4 4
iii. From the graph determine the solutions of the x  4 x  3  0   x  1 x  3  0
2

equation f  x   0 within the interval  1,5 .  x  1 or x  3

 9  9
iv. a) Determine f  0 , f  2 f '  2 Pts. 1,  ,  3, 
 4  4
b) f  x  is of the form ax 2  bx  c , 3
determine the real numbers a, b, c and f '  x    x2  3
2
write f  x  completely. 3 21
f ' 1  , f '  3  
2 2
v. Determine the equations of the tangents to
9 Tangent at x  1
the curve of f at the point with ordinate y  .
4
9 3 3 3
y    x  1  y  x 
Solution 4 2 2 4

i.a) f '  x   0  S  2 Tangent at x  3

9 21 21 135
b) In  1, 2 f is strictly increasing. y    x  3  y   x 
4 2 2 4
In  2,5 f is strictly decreasing.
Example 5
c) f '  x   0  x   2,5 The curve C f of a real valued function is
shown on the orthonormal reference frame
ii.
O, i, j  with i  j  1cm below.
x -1 2 5
f ' x  0 +
f  x 3

3.75 3.75

iii. f  x   0  S  0, 4

iv. a) f  0  0, f  2  3 f '  2  0

 f  0  0  c  0

b)  f  4   0  16a  4b  0  4a  b  0

 f  2   3  4a  2b  3 i. State the domain of definition of 𝑓 and the
limits at its boundaries.
 4a  b  0 3
  b  3, a   ii. State the equation of the vertical
4a  2b  3 4
asymptote.
3
f  x    x 2  3x
4
iii. Determine the equation of the oblique (or iv. f '  x   0  S  1,3
slant) asymptote.
c
iv. State the solution set f '  x   0 in . v. From the asymptotes f  x   x  3 
x2
v. Determine real numbers a, b, c and d such c
c f  3  1  3  3  1 c 1
that f  x   ax  b  . 3 2
xd 1
f  x  x  3 
vi. State the point I of intersection of the x2
c
asymptotes . Hence, show that this point is a f  x   ax  b 
centre of symmetry. xd
 a  1, b  3, c  1, d  2
vii. a) Find the length of the line segment AB
where A and B are the points where the
oblique asymptote intersects with the x- and vi. The asymptotes intersect at I  2, 1 .
y-axis respectively.
g  x  f  x  a  b
b) Determine the nature of triangle OAB and g  x   f  x  2  1
find the angle OAB .

viii. Given that s  x   f ( x)  3 , using the

1
 x  23 1
x22
curve C f of f sketch on the same diagram,
1
the curve Cs of g. g  x  x 
x
1  1
ix. State the image of y  f  x  under a g x  x     x    g  x
x  x
reflection in the y  axis . Sketch this image
g is odd  I  2, 1 is the centre
in a separate diagram.

iv. Deduce and sketch the curve of symmetry.

Ch of h  x   f  x  . A  3, 0  B  0, 3

vii. AB   xB  x A    y B  y A 
2 2
Solution

i. Df   2  , 2 2,  AB   0  3   3  0   18  3 2

2 2

lim f  x    lim f  x    OA  OB  3 and OA  OB

x  x 

lim f  x    lim f  x     ABC is an isosceles right-angled triangle

x  2 x  2
OAB  45
ii. Vertical asymptote: x  2 viii. g  x   f ( x)  3 is y  f  x  shifted 3
units parallel to the y-axis in the negative y
iii. The tangents passes through the points
direction.
A  3,0 and B  0, 3 . Using of the formula
for the equation of a line through two points

y2  y1
y  y1   x  x1 
x 2  x1
3  0
y0   x  3
03
y  x 3
 EXERCISE

1. The curve C f of a real valued function

f  x   x3  ax2  11x  b where a and b are
real numbers is shown on the orthonormal
 
reference frame O, i, j with i  j  1cm
below.

ix. The image of y  f  x  under a reflection

in the y-axis is y  f   x  and its curve is
shown below

a) Find the domain of definition of f .

b) Solve each of the following:

f  x   0, f  x  <0 and f  x   0 in

c) Find the values of a and b .

x. d) Find the first order derivative of f and
h  x  f  x solve the equation f '  x   0 .

e) Study the sense of variations of 𝑓.

f) Find f  2, 4 
g) Find f  5, 0 
h) Construct the table of variations for f .

i. Discuss the number of solutions of the

equation f  x    where  is a real
parameter.

2. The curve C f of a real valued function

f  x   ax4  bx  c where a, b and c are real
numbers is shown on the orthonormal
  
reference frame O, i, j with i  j  1cm
below.

ym

Cf

i. Determine the domain of definition of f

a) Find the domain of definition of f .
ii. Write the equation of the vertical
b) State the value of:
asymptotes and the horizontal asymptote.
i  xlim f  x ii  lim f  x  a b
 x 
Given that f  x   
c) Solve each of the following: xc xd
f  x   0, and f  x   0 in
iii. Find f '  x  .
d) Show that the curve admits an axis of
symmetry. iv. a) Use the graph to find the values of
c and d given that c  d .
d) Find the values of a b and c .
b) Deduce the exact values of a and b such
e) Find the first order derivative of f and 1 1
that f  x   
solve the equation f '  x   0 . x  2 x 1

f) Study the sense of variations of 𝑓. v. Find the limits of f at the bounds of its
domain of definition.
g) Find f  0,1 
vi. Draw the table of variations of f .
h) Find f  5, 1  1
vii. Show that the line of equation x   is
2
i) Construct the table of variations for f .
the axis of symmetry.
j. Discuss the number of solutions of the viii. Calculate the area of the plane region
equation f  x   m where 𝑚 is a real bounded by the x-axis, the curve, and the
parameter. straight lines of equations x  2 and x  3 .

3. BAC G2 2011 Problem 9mks

The graph besides is the curve  C f  of a

numerical function f in an orthonormal

reference system  O, i , j  with unit 2cm .

 

 