Practice Questions on Functions and Graphs

1. [2019/DHS/H2/I/4]
The function f is defined as follows:
1
f(𝑥) = 𝑥 + , 𝑎<𝑥≤𝑏
𝑥−𝑎
where a is a positive constant.
(i) Given that f −1 exist, show that 𝑏 ≤ 𝑎 + 1.
(ii) Given that 𝑎 = 1 and 𝑏 = 2, find f −1 (𝑥) and the domain of f −1 .

2. [2019/DHS/H2/I/5]
(a) Describe a sequence of two transformations that maps the graph of 𝑦 =
𝑥2 2𝑥+1
ln (𝑥+1) onto the graph of 𝑦 = ln ( 4𝑥 2 ).

(b) The diagram below shows the graph of 𝑦 = f(𝑥). It has a maximum point at
1 1
𝐴(−1, −1) and a minimum point at 𝐵 (1, 4). The graph has asymptotes 𝑦 = 2,
𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = −2.

1
𝑦=
2
O x
1
𝐵(1, 4)
𝐴(−1, −1)

𝑥 = −2

Sketch, on separate diagrams, the graphs of

(i) 𝑦 = f(2 − 𝑥),
1
(ii) 𝑦 = f(𝑥),

stating clearly the equations of any asymptotes, coordinates of any points of

intersection with both axes and the points corresponding to A and B.
3. [2019/NJC/H2/I/9]
Functions f and g are defined by
f: 𝑥 ↦ 2|𝑥 − 𝑝| + 1 for 𝑥 ∈ ℝ,  𝑝 > 1,
g: 𝑥 ↦ 𝑥(𝑥 − 𝑞) for 𝑥 ∈ ℝ,  𝑞 < 0.
(i) Explain why f does not have an inverse.
The domain of f is now restricted to 𝑥 ≤ 𝑘.
(ii) Write down the largest value of k for which the function f −1 exists. Hence find
f −1 (𝑥) and state the domain of f −1.
(iii) Sketch on the same diagram the graphs of 𝑦 = f(𝑥) and 𝑦 = f −1(𝑥), giving the
coordinates of the axial intercepts. Hence solve f(𝑥) = f −1 (𝑥).
(iv) Find the range of gf −1 .

4. [2019/NJC/H2/I/7]
𝑥 2 +3𝑥+4−𝑎 3
Let f(𝑥) = , where 0 < 𝑎 < 2.
𝑥+𝑎

Sketch, in the separate diagrams, the graphs of

(i) 𝑦 = f(𝑥),
(ii) 𝑦 = |f(𝑥)|,
stating the equations of the asymptotes and coordinates of the axial intercepts, in terms
of a.
(iii) It is given that |f(𝑥)| = 𝑚 has exactly two distinct roots. Find the range of
values of m in terms of a.

5. [2019/NJC/H2/II/1]
It is given that
𝑎𝑥, for 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 2,
f(𝑥) = {12𝑎
− 4𝑎, for 2 ≤ 𝑥 < 3,
𝑥
where a is a positive constant and that f(𝑥) = f(𝑥 + 3) for all real values of x.
44
(i) Find the exact value of f ( 3 ) in terms of a.

(ii) Sketch the graph of 𝑦 = f(𝑥) for −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3, indicating clearly the coordinates
of the maximum points and axial intercepts.
2
(iii) Find ∫−2 f(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 in terms of a, leaving your answer in the exact form.
6. [2019/EJC/H2/II/4]
The ceiling function maps a real number x to the least integer greater than or equal to
x.
Denote the ceiling function as ⌈𝑥⌉. For example, ⌈2.1⌉ = 3 and ⌈−3.8⌉ = −3.
The function f is defined by
⌈𝑥⌉ for 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, −2 < 𝑥 ≤ 1,
f(𝑥) =
0 for 𝑥 ∈ ℝ 1 < 𝑥 ≤ 2.
(i) Find the value of f(−1.4).
(ii) Sketch the graph of 𝑦 = f(𝑥) for −2 < 𝑥 ≤ 2.
(iii) Does f −1 exist? Justify your answer.
(iv) Find the range of f.
𝑎𝑥−3
The function g is defined as g: 𝑥 ↦ , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 𝑎, where 𝑎 > 0,  𝑎 ≠ 3.
𝑥−𝑎

(v) Find g 2 (𝑥). Hence, or otherwise, evaluate g 2019 (5), leaving your answer in a
if necessary.
(vi) Given that 𝑎 = 3, find the range of gf.

7. [2019/NYJC/H2/I/6]
The function f is given by f: 𝑥 ↦ 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 𝑘 for −5 ≤ 𝑥 < 𝑎, where a and k are
constants and k > 2.
(i) State the largest value of a for the inverse of f to exist.
For the value of a found in (i),
(ii) find f −1 (𝑥) and the domain of f −1, leaving your answer in terms of k,
(iii) on the same diagram, sketch the graphs of 𝑦 = ff −1 (𝑥) and 𝑦 = f −1 f(𝑥), labelling
your graphs clearly. Determine the number of solutions to ff −1 (𝑥) = f −1 f(𝑥).

8. [2019/TJC/H2/I/3]
The hyperbola C passes through the point (2, 0) and has oblique asymptotes 𝑦 = −2𝑥
and 𝑦 = 2𝑥.
(i) Sketch C, showing the relevant features of the curve.
(ii) Write down the equation of C.
(iii) By adding a suitable curve to your sketch in part (i), solve the inequality
𝑥2
√ − 1 < √𝑥 − 1.
4
9. [2019/TJC/H2/I/1]
The diagram below shows a shape which is symmetrical about the x- and y-axes. The
shape is made up of four curves, A, B, C and D.

B y A

C D

−1 0 1 x

−1

The curve A has equation √𝑥 + √𝑦 = 1 for 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 and 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1.

(i) State the equations and the range of values of x and y for curves B and C.
1
(ii) The curves A and B are scaled by a factor 2 parallel to the x-axis and the curves

C and D are scaled by a factor 2 parallel to the y-axis. Sketch the resulting shape.

10. [2019/VJC/H2/I/4]
The graph for 𝑦 = f(𝑥) is given below, where 𝑦 = 10 − 𝑥, 𝑦 = 6 and 𝑥 = 4 are
asymptotes. The turning points are (−3, 5) and (6,0), and the graph intersects the y-
axis at (0,6).

( 0,6 )

O x

On separate diagrams, sketch the graphs of

(i) 𝑦 = f(|𝑥|),
1
(ii) 𝑦 = f(𝑥).
11. [2019/TJC/H2/II/1]
The function f is defined by
𝑥2
f: 𝑥 ↦ 2−𝑥, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 2 .

(i) Find f −1 (𝑥) and write down the domain of f −1.

It is given that
1
g: 𝑥 ↦ 1+𝑒 −𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≥ 0.

(ii) Show that fg exists.

(iii) Find the range of fg.

12. [2019/ACJC/H2/I/9]
1
(a) The diagram below shows the graph of 𝑦 = f(𝑥) with asymptotes 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 2,

and 𝑦 = 1, and turning point (1, −2).

x
O

(i) Given that f( 0) = f( 2) = 0, sketch the graph of 𝑦 = f( 𝑥), stating

clearly the coordinates of any turning points and points of intersection
with the axes, and the equations of any asymptotes.
(ii) The function f is now defined for 𝑥 > 𝑘 such that f −1 exists.
State the smallest value of k. On the same diagram, sketch the graphs of
𝑦 = f(𝑥) and 𝑦 = f −1 (𝑥), showing clearly the geometrical relationship
between the two graphs.
 (b) The function g is defined for 𝑥 > 0 as
1 1
g: 𝑥 ↦ 2𝑛 𝑥 − 1,   2𝑛 ≤ 𝑥 < 2𝑛−1 , where 𝑛 ∈ ℤ.

(i) Fill in the blanks.

 1 1
 , x
4 2
g( x) = 
 1
,  x 1
 2
1
Hence sketch the graph 𝑦 = g(𝑥) for 4 ≤ 𝑥 < 1.
𝑥
(ii) Show that g(𝑥) = g (2).

(iii) Find the number of solutions of g(𝑥) = 𝑥 for 0.001 < 𝑥 < 1.

13. [2019/DHS/H2/I/11]
The department of statistics of a country has developed two mathematical functions to
analyse the foreign worker policy. The first function f models the amount of strain to
the country’s infrastructure (housing, transportation, utilities and access to medical care
etc.) based on the number of foreign workers allowed into the country and is defined as
follows:
f(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 5)3 + 200, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 15
where x denotes the number of foreign workers, in ten thousands, allowed into the
country and f(x) denotes the amount strain to the country’s infrastructure.
The second function g models the happiness index, from 0 (least happy) to 1 (most
happy), of the country’s local population based on the amount of strain to the country’s
infrastructure and is defined as follows:
𝑤
g(𝑤) = ln (𝑒 − ), 0 ≤ 𝑤 ≤ 1000(𝑒 − 1)
1000
where w denotes the amount of strain to the country’s infrastructure and g(w) denotes
the happiness index of the country’s local population.
(i) The composite function gf models the happiness index based on the number of
foreign workers, show that this function exists.
(ii) Find range of values for the happiness index of the country’s local population
if its government plans to allow 70,000 to 110,000 foreign workers into the
country.
(iii) Determine whether the happiness index increases or decreases as x increases.
 A third function h models the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country based on
the number of foreign workers (in ten thousands), x, allowed into the country and is
defined as follows:
h(𝑥) = 400 − (𝑥 − 10)2 , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 15
where h(x) denotes the GDP in billions of dollars.
(iv) Find the range of values for the GDP if the government plans to have a
happiness index from 0.7 to 0.9 in order to secure an electoral win for the
coming elections.

14. [2015/NJC/H2/I/5]

The diagram shows a sketch of the curve 𝑦 = f(𝑥). The curve cuts the x-axis at (–2, 0)
and it has a stationary point at (4, 0). The equations of the asymptotes are 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 2
and 𝑦 = 2 − 𝑥.
Sketch, in separate diagrams, the graphs of
1
(i) 𝑦 = f(𝑥),

(ii) 𝑦 = f ′ (𝑥),
stating the equations of any asymptotes and coordinates of axial intercepts.
In the curve 𝑦 = f(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏), there exists an oblique asymptote 𝑦 = 4 − 2𝑥, find the
values of a and b.

15. [2019/RVHS/H2/I/3]
The curve C has equation
2𝑥 − 𝑎
𝑦=
2𝑥 2 − 𝑏
where a and b are positive integers.
 9
𝐶 passes through the point (2 , 0) and the equation of an asymptote of 𝐶 is 𝑥 = 3.

(i) Show that 𝑎 = 9 and 𝑏 = 18.

(ii) Sketch C, stating clearly the equations of asymptotes, the x-coordinates of
turning points and axial intercepts.
(iii) Hence, giving your reasons, deduce the range of values of h such that the graph
(𝑥−8)2 𝑦2
of + 100 = 1, where h is a positive integer, intersects C at exactly 6
ℎ2

distinct points.

16. [2019/VJC/H2/I/6]
A curve C has equation 𝑦 = f(𝑥), where the function f is defined by
12 − 3𝑥
f: 𝑥 ↦ , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ −5, 𝑥 ≠ 1.
𝑥2 + 4𝑥 − 5
(i) Find algebraically the range of f.
(ii) Sketch C, indicating all essential features.
(iii) Describe a pair of transformations which transforms the graph of C on to the
9−𝑥
graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 −6𝑥.

17. [2019/DHS/H2/I/7]
A curve C has parametric equations 𝑥 = 4 sin 2 𝜃 − 2, 𝑦 = 3 − 4 cos 2 𝜃 for 0 ≤ 𝜃 <
𝜋.
(i) Find a cartesian equation of C. Give the geometrical interpretation of C.
3
(ii) P is a point on C where 𝜃 = 8 π. The tangent at P meets the y-axis at the point

T and the normal at P meets the y-axis at the point N. Find the exact area of
triangle NPT.

18. [2019/NYJC/H2/I/1]
The curve with equation 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 + 9 is transformed by a stretch with scale factor 2
parallel to the x-axis, followed by a translation of 4 units in the negative x-direction,
1
followed by a translation of 2 units in the positive y-direction.

Find the equation of the new curve and state the equations of any asymptote(s).
Sketch the new curve, indicating the coordinates of any turning points.