The functions ff and gg are defined by f:x↦16−4x,  x∈R,  x≤4,f : x \mapsto \sqrt{16 - 4x},\; x \in \mathbb{R},\; x \le 4, g:x↦x2,  x∈R.g : x \mapsto x^{2},\; x \in \mathbb{R}.

  1. (i)

    Sketch on the same diagram, the graphs of ff and f−1f^{-1}, giving the coordinates of all points of intersection.

  2. (ii)

    Explain why the composite function fgfg does not exist.

  3. (iii)

    Find gfgf in similar form and state its range.

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Worked solution

3(i)

1. Find the point of intersection that lies on the line of symmetry $y = x$.

f(x)=x  ⟹  16−4x=xf(x) = x \implies \sqrt{16 - 4x} = x
Squaring both sides:
16−4x=x2  ⟹  x2+4x−16=016 - 4x = x^2 \implies x^2 + 4x - 16 = 0
Using the quadratic formula:
x=−4±16−4(1)(−16)2=−4±802=−2±25x = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{16 - 4(1)(-16)}}{2} = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{80}}{2} = -2 \pm 2\sqrt{5}
Since the principal square root is non-negative, we must have x≥0x \ge 0. Thus, we reject −2−25-2 - 2\sqrt{5}.
x=−2+25x = -2 + 2\sqrt{5}
One point of intersection is (−2+25,−2+25)(-2 + 2\sqrt{5}, -2 + 2\sqrt{5}).

2. Find any additional points of intersection by considering the intercepts of $f(x)$.

For the yy-intercept of ff, set x=0x = 0:
f(0)=16−0=4  ⟹  (0,4) is on ff(0) = \sqrt{16 - 0} = 4 \implies (0, 4) \text{ is on } f
For the xx-intercept of ff, set y=0y = 0:
16−4x=0  ⟹  x=4  ⟹  (4,0) is on f\sqrt{16 - 4x} = 0 \implies x = 4 \implies (4, 0) \text{ is on } f
Since the graph of f−1f^{-1} is the reflection of ff across the line y=xy = x, any point (a,b)(a, b) on ff means (b,a)(b, a) is on f−1f^{-1}.
Since (0,4)(0, 4) is on ff, its reflection (4,0)(4, 0) is on f−1f^{-1}.
Since (4,0)(4, 0) is on ff, its reflection (0,4)(0, 4) is on f−1f^{-1}.
Therefore, the symmetric points (0,4)(0, 4) and (4,0)(4, 0) lie on both graphs and are valid intersection points.

3. Sketch the graphs of $f$ and $f^{-1}$ on the same diagram.

The domain of ff is x≤4x \le 4 and its range is y≥0y \ge 0.
Therefore, the domain of f−1f^{-1} is x≥0x \ge 0 and its range is y≤4y \le 4.

  • Draw ff starting from (4,0)(4, 0), curving upwards to the left, passing through (0,4)(0, 4).
  • Draw f−1f^{-1} starting from (0,4)(0, 4), curving downwards to the right, passing through (4,0)(4, 0).
  • Ensure the curves smoothly intersect at (0,4)(0, 4), (4,0)(4, 0), and (−2+25,−2+25)(-2+2\sqrt{5}, -2+2\sqrt{5}).

(A standard graph sketch is drawn matching these features)

Answer

Sketch of f(x)f(x) as a half-parabola starting at (4,0)(4,0) and curving upwards to the left through (0,4)(0,4).
Sketch of f−1(x)f^{-1}(x) as a half-parabola starting at (0,4)(0,4) and curving downwards to the right through (4,0)(4,0).

Points of intersection: (0,4)(0, 4), (4,0)(4, 0), and (−2+25,−2+25)(-2+2\sqrt{5}, -2+2\sqrt{5}).

3(ii)

1. State the range of $g$ and the domain of $f$.

Range of gg, Rg=[0,∞)R_g = [0, \infty)
Domain of ff, Df=(−∞,4]D_f = (-\infty, 4]

2. Explain why $fg$ does not exist by checking the subset condition.

For the composite function fgfg to exist, the range of gg must be a subset of the domain of ff (Rg⊆DfR_g \subseteq D_f).
Since [0,∞)⊈(−∞,4][0, \infty) \not\subseteq (-\infty, 4] (for example, 5∈Rg5 \in R_g but 5∉Df5 \notin D_f), the condition is not satisfied.
Hence, fgfg does not exist.

Answer

The range of gg ([0,∞)[0, \infty)) is not a subset of the domain of ff ((−∞,4](-\infty, 4]). Hence, the composite function fgfg does not exist.

3(iii)

1. Substitute $f(x)$ into $g(x)$ to find the algebraic rule for $gf(x)$.

gf(x)=g(f(x))gf(x) = g(f(x))
gf(x)=g(16−4x)gf(x) = g(\sqrt{16 - 4x})
gf(x)=(16−4x)2gf(x) = (\sqrt{16 - 4x})^2
gf(x)=16−4xgf(x) = 16 - 4x

2. Express the composite function $gf$ in the requested mapping form, including its domain.

The domain of a composite function gfgf is the set of all xx in the domain of ff such that f(x)f(x) is in the domain of gg.
Since the domain of gg is x∈Rx \in \mathbb{R}, the domain of gfgf is simply the domain of ff, which is x≤4x \le 4.

In similar form:
gf:x↦16−4x,  x∈R,  x≤4gf : x \mapsto 16 - 4x, \; x \in \mathbb{R}, \; x \le 4

3. Determine the range of the composite function $gf$.

To find the range, we observe the output of gf(x)gf(x) for its domain x≤4x \le 4.
x≤4x \le 4
4x≤164x \le 16
16−4x≥016 - 4x \ge 0
Therefore, the range of gfgf is gf(x)≥0gf(x) \ge 0.

(Alternatively, the range of f(x)f(x) is [0,∞)[0, \infty). Substituting y∈[0,∞)y \in [0, \infty) into g(y)=y2g(y) = y^2 yields [0,∞)[0, \infty)).

Answer

gf:x↦16−4x,  x∈R,  x≤4gf : x \mapsto 16 - 4x, \; x \in \mathbb{R}, \; x \le 4

Range: gf(x)≥0gf(x) \ge 0

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