Name:_____________________ CP1 Math 2

Unit 4: Functions
Test Review: functions, composites, and inverses (Ch. 4A & 4B)
Here are the most important ideas to remember for our next assessment.
• Function concept and notation
o A function is a relationship where there is an output value for each input value.
o f(x) notation is useful for expressing function evaluations (example: f(x) = x2, f(3) = 9).
o Useful representations of functions: f(x) formulas, input-output tables, graphs, in words,
machines (pictures on p. 274), mapping diagrams (picture on p. 278).
o You can determine whether a relation is a function based on a description, a table, or a graph
o You will be asked to write an equation in recursive and/or closed form function rules
• Domain and range
o domain = set of possible input values (x values)
o range = set of possible output values (y values or f(x) values)
o Usually we work with functions whose inputs and outputs are numbers ( f : R à R ).
o Sometimes we work with functions not involving numbers (example: birthday function).
o Sometimes we work with multi-input functions (example: SUM(a,b) ).
• Composite functions
o idea: doing one function followed by another function
o g(f(x)) means to do f first, then g.
o g ! f (x) is an alternate symbol for g(f(x)).
o Generally g(f(x)) and f(g(x)) come out different, so pay careful attention to order.
o You can be asked to find a composite value (“Find g(f(2))”) or composite formula (“Find g(f(x))”).
• Inverse functions
o idea: A function’s inverse is a second function that brings you back to the original input.
o f –1(x) is a symbol for the inverse of function f(x). The –1 is not an exponent.
o When you have f(x) and f –1(x), they are inverses of each other: f(f –1(x)) = x and f –1(f(x)) = x.
o Inverse functions can be found by thinking about the function in reverse, or by algebra (see p. 294
example for both methods).
o Some functions do not have inverses (example: x2).
o The functions that do have inverses are one-to-one functions: those where each output comes
from only one input.
o There’s a graphical test for one-to-one involving horizontal lines (see p. 291).
o An inverse’s domain is the range of the original function. An inverse’s range is the domain of the
original function. In other words, the domain and range swap places from the original function to
the inverse.
o You can find a graph’s inverse by reflecting across the line y = x. The result is that if point (a,b) is
on the function, the point (b,a) will be on the graph of the inverse.
Practice Problems:

1. Here are two function tables with some missing numbers. First fill in the grey cells, then find both a
closed-form (explicit) function definition and a recursive function definition that fit the table.
a. x g(x) ∆
0 -2

1 -2

2 -2

3 -2

4 -1

b. x f(x) D D2
0 4

1 2 4

3 16

4 22

5 54

1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = −2
2. Given the recursive function rule: ℎ 𝑥 =
ℎ 𝑥−1 ∙3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > −2

a. Complete the table provided. x h(x)

b. Write a closed-form formula that matches your table.

3. State the domain and range of each function.

a. b(x) = 2x 2 − 6 b. c(x) = 2x − 6

Domain: Domain:
€ €

Range: Range:

4 1+ x
c. d(x) = d. e(x) =
8+ x 1− x

Domain: Domain:
€

Range:
 x y
4. Consider the functions
f(x)=3x+7 h(x) = -3 4

x +1 1 -4
g(x)=
2 2 -1
5 20
€ 13 164
Find each value or expression.

a. f(g(5)) b. g(f(2)) c. h(g(-7))

d. f (2)⋅ g(3) e. f(2) + g(3) f. f(h(2))

g. 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 h. 𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 i. h(f(g(3)))

5. Given the functions

R(x) = x – 2 Q(x)= x 2 + 4 x +1

a. Find a formula for R(Q(x)). Leave in standard form.

€

b. Find a formula for Q(R(x)). Leave in standard form.

6. Consider the function f(x) that gives the ZIP Code of any resident of the United States.
For example, f(Barack Obama) = 20500.
As background information, the ZIP Code for Lexington High School is 02421.
a. What are the domain and the range of this function f(x) ?

b. Which of the following is the best explanation of why f (02421) does not have a value?
I. 02421 is not the name of a person.
II. Nobody lives at Lexington High School.
III. There’s more than one person who lives in ZIP Code 02421.
IV. Lexington has two ZIP Codes: 02420 and 02421.

c. Which of the following is the best explanation of why f –1(02421) does not have a value?
I. 02421 is not the name of a person.
II. Nobody lives at Lexington High School.
III. There’s more than one person who lives in ZIP Code 02421.
IV. Lexington has two ZIP Codes: 02420 and 02421.

d. Is f(x) a one-to-one function? Explain why or why not.

e. Suppose that g(x) is a function that adds the digits of an input number. For example,
g(13568) = 1 + 3 + 5 + 6 + 8 = 23.
Evaluate g ! f (___________________________) with your name filled in the blank.
Show your work.
 Graph A: f(x) Graph B: g(x)

A
# m
of o
u
W n
H t
A
L o
E f
S
P
L
A
N
K
T
O # of Whales
# of People N Note: Each box is 50 units.
Note: Each box is 50 units.

7. Graph A, f(x), above shows the relationship between the number of whales in nearby coastal water is a
function of the number of people living on the coast. Graph B, g(x), above shows that the relationship
between the amount of plankton is a function of the number of whales in the water.

a. Which composite function would make sense based on the meanings of the variables ( f ! g )( x) or
( g ! f )( x) ? Explain your choice.

b. Determine the amount of plankton when there are 1000 people living on the coast.

c. How many people can live on the coast to maintain the plankton level in the water above 250?
8. State the domain and range of each function. The functions do NOT extend beyond the graphs
shown. Graph the inverse of each function. Determine whether the inverse is a function.

a. b.
6 10

8
4
6

2 4

–5 5
–5 5 10

–2 –2

–4
–4
–6

–6 –8

Domain: Domain:
Range: Range:
Is the inverse a function? If yes, sketch it. Is the inverse a function? If yes, sketch it.

c. 10
d.
6
8

6 4

4 2

–5 5
– 10 –5 5 10
–2
–2

–4 –4

–6
–6

–8 Domain:
Domain:
– 10

Range:
Range:
Is the inverse a function? If yes, sketch it.
Is the inverse a function? If yes, sketch it.
9. Find the inverse of each function below. Show your work.
!
a. f(x)=− ! + 3 b. g(x)= 8𝑥 − 4

!!!!!
c. h(x)= d. j(x)=𝑥 ! − 8
!

10. Two functions are inverses of each other if 𝑓 𝑓 !! 𝑥 = 𝑥. Use the definition to determine whether
each pair of functions represent inverses.

! ! !
a. 𝑓 𝑥 = ! 𝑥 − 4 and 𝑔 𝑥 = ! 𝑥 + 4 b. ℎ 𝑥 = ! 𝑥 + 2 and 𝑗 𝑥 = 3(𝑥 − 2)
ANSWERS:

1. a. x g(x) ∆

0 7 -2

1 5 -2

2 3 -2

3 1 -2

4 -1

⎧⎪ 7 if x = 0
Closed form: g(x) = –2x + 7 Recursive: g(x) = ⎨
⎩⎪ g(x −1) − 2 if x > 0

b. x f(x) D D2
0 4 –2 6

1 2 4 6

2 6 10 6

3 16 16 6

4 32 22

5 54
⎧⎪ 4 if x = 0
Closed form: f(x) = 3x2 – 5x + 4 Recursive: f (x) = ⎨
⎪⎩ f (x −1) + 6(x −1) − 2 if x > 0

2. a. x h(x)
-2 1
-1 3
0 9
1 27

2 81

b. ℎ 𝑥 = 9 ∙ 3!
3. a. Domain: x ∈ ℜ Range: b(x) ≥ −6 b. Domain: x ≥ 3 Range: c(x) ≥ 0
c. Domain: x ≠ −8 Range: d(x) ≠ 0 d. Domain: x ≥ 0, x ≠ 1

4. a. 16 b. 7 c. 4 d. 26 e. 15 f. 4
!
!" !
g. 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 = !𝑥 + ! h. 𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 = !𝑥 +4 i. 164

5. a. R(Q(x)) = x 2 + 4x −1 2 2
b. Q(R(x)) = (x − 2) + 4(x − 2) +1 = x − 3

6. a. domain: U.S. residents; range: five-digit numbers b. I c. III

d. No because there are outputs that have more than one input. For example, f(Michelle Obama)
is also 20500.
e. answer is whatever is the sum of the five digits in your ZIP Code

7. a. g( f (x)) . Output of f(x) is whales, which becomes input of g(x).

b. 300 plankton
c. 500 people or more

−4 < x ≤ 4
8. a. Domain/Range: Inverse is a function.
−3 < f (x) ≤ 1
0≤x≤ 7
b. Domain/Range: Inverse is not a function.
−6 ≤ f (x) ≤ 10
0<x≤9
c. Domain/Range: Inverse is a function.
0 < f (x) ≤ 6
−7 < x ≤ 7
d. Domain/Range: Inverse is not a function.
−3 ≤ f (x) ≤ 6

9. a. 𝑓 !! 𝑥 = −2(𝑥 − 3)
!
b. 𝑔!! 𝑥 = ! (𝑥 + 4)
!
c. ℎ!! 𝑥 = − ! 5𝑥 − 3
!
d. 𝑗 !! 𝑥 = 𝑥+8

10. a. Not inverses. b. Inverses