A function f\mathrm{f} is said to be self-inverse if f(x)=f−1(x)\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{f}^{-1}(x) for all xx in the domain of f\mathrm{f}. The function g\mathrm{g} is defined by
g:x↦x2+2x2−1,x>1.\mathrm{g} : x \mapsto \sqrt{\frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1}}, \quad x > 1.

  1. (i)

    Sketch the curve y=g(x)y = \mathrm{g}(x), stating the equations of the asymptotes clearly.

  2. (ii)

    Define g−1\mathrm{g}^{-1} in a similar form and show that g\mathrm{g} is self-inverse.

  3. (iii)

    Show that g2(x)=x\mathrm{g}^2(x) = x and that g3(x)=g(x)\mathrm{g}^3(x) = \mathrm{g}(x). Hence find the values of xx for which
    4−g50(x)=[g51(x)]2.4 - \mathrm{g}^{50}(x) = \left[\mathrm{g}^{51}(x)\right]^2.

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Worked solution

6(i)

1. Determine the equations of the vertical and horizontal asymptotes.

To find the vertical asymptote, look for where the denominator approaches 00 at the boundary of the domain:
x2−1=0  ⟹  x=1 (since x>1)x^2 - 1 = 0 \implies x = 1 \text{ (since } x > 1)
So the vertical asymptote is x=1x = 1.

To find the horizontal asymptote, evaluate the limit as x→∞x \to \infty:
lim⁡x→∞x2+2x2−1=lim⁡x→∞1+2x21−1x2=1=1\lim_{x \to \infty} \sqrt{\frac{x^2+2}{x^2-1}} = \lim_{x \to \infty} \sqrt{\frac{1+\frac{2}{x^2}}{1-\frac{1}{x^2}}} = \sqrt{1} = 1
So the horizontal asymptote is y=1y = 1.

2. Sketch the curve restricted to the given domain.

For x>1x > 1, the function has no xx-intercepts or yy-intercepts.
The curve is strictly decreasing from infinity (near x=1x = 1) towards the horizontal line y=1y = 1 (as x→∞x \to \infty).
Draw the vertical dotted line x=1x=1 and horizontal dotted line y=1y=1, then draw a single smooth curve in the region x>1,y>1x>1, y>1 approaching both asymptotes.

Answer

[Sketch of a strictly decreasing curve in the first quadrant for x>1x>1]
Asymptotes: x=1x = 1, y=1y = 1

6(ii)

1. Set up the equation to find the inverse by letting $y = \mathrm{g}(x)$ and squaring both sides.

Let y=x2+2x2−1y = \sqrt{\frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1}}.

Squaring both sides:
y2=x2+2x2−1y^2 = \frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1}
y2(x2−1)=x2+2y^2(x^2 - 1) = x^2 + 2
x2y2−y2=x2+2x^2 y^2 - y^2 = x^2 + 2

2. Rearrange to make $x^2$ the subject.

x2y2−x2=y2+2x^2 y^2 - x^2 = y^2 + 2
x2(y2−1)=y2+2x^2(y^2 - 1) = y^2 + 2
x2=y2+2y2−1x^2 = \frac{y^2 + 2}{y^2 - 1}

3. Take the square root to make $x$ the subject, considering the domain of $x$.

Since the domain of g\mathrm{g} is x>1x > 1, xx must be positive. Thus, we take the positive square root:
x=y2+2y2−1x = \sqrt{\frac{y^2 + 2}{y^2 - 1}}

4. Determine the domain of $\mathrm{g}^{-1}$ by finding the range of $\mathrm{g}$, and define $\mathrm{g}^{-1}$.

The domain of g−1\mathrm{g}^{-1} is the range of g\mathrm{g}.
For x>1x > 1, as x→1+x \to 1^+, y→∞y \to \infty, and as x→∞x \to \infty, y→1y \to 1.
Hence, the range of g\mathrm{g} is y>1y > 1.

Defining g−1\mathrm{g}^{-1} in a similar form:
g−1:x↦x2+2x2−1,x>1.\mathrm{g}^{-1} : x \mapsto \sqrt{\frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1}}, \quad x > 1.

5. Conclude that $\mathrm{g}$ is self-inverse.

Comparing the definitions of g\mathrm{g} and g−1\mathrm{g}^{-1}, we see that:
g−1(x)=g(x)\mathrm{g}^{-1}(x) = \mathrm{g}(x)
for all x>1x > 1 (which is the domain of g\mathrm{g}).
Therefore, g\mathrm{g} is self-inverse.

Answer

g−1:x↦x2+2x2−1,x>1\mathrm{g}^{-1} : x \mapsto \sqrt{\frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1}}, \quad x > 1

6(iii)

1. Show that $\mathrm{g}^2(x) = x$ and $\mathrm{g}^3(x) = \mathrm{g}(x)$.

g2(x)=g(g(x))=[g(x)]2+2[g(x)]2−1\mathrm{g}^2(x) = \mathrm{g}(\mathrm{g}(x)) = \sqrt{\frac{[\mathrm{g}(x)]^2 + 2}{[\mathrm{g}(x)]^2 - 1}}
=x2+2x2−1+2x2+2x2−1−1= \sqrt{\frac{\frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1} + 2}{\frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1} - 1}}
=x2+2+2(x2−1)x2−1x2+2−(x2−1)x2−1= \sqrt{\frac{\frac{x^2 + 2 + 2(x^2 - 1)}{x^2 - 1}}{\frac{x^2 + 2 - (x^2 - 1)}{x^2 - 1}}}
=3x23=x2= \sqrt{\frac{3x^2}{3}} = \sqrt{x^2}
Since the domain is x>1x > 1, x2=x\sqrt{x^2} = x. Thus, g2(x)=x\mathrm{g}^2(x) = x.
(Alternatively, from part (ii), g\mathrm{g} is self-inverse so g−1(x)=g(x)\mathrm{g}^{-1}(x) = \mathrm{g}(x), hence g2(x)=g(g−1(x))=x\mathrm{g}^2(x) = \mathrm{g}(\mathrm{g}^{-1}(x)) = x.)

For g3(x)\mathrm{g}^3(x):
g3(x)=g(g2(x))=g(x)\mathrm{g}^3(x) = \mathrm{g}(\mathrm{g}^2(x)) = \mathrm{g}(x)

2. Simplify the powers $\mathrm{g}^{50}(x)$ and $\mathrm{g}^{51}(x)$ and set up the equation.

Since g2(x)=x\mathrm{g}^2(x) = x, any even iteration yields xx and any odd iteration yields g(x)\mathrm{g}(x).
Therefore, g50(x)=x\mathrm{g}^{50}(x) = x and g51(x)=g(x)\mathrm{g}^{51}(x) = \mathrm{g}(x).

The equation 4−g50(x)=[g51(x)]24 - \mathrm{g}^{50}(x) = \left[\mathrm{g}^{51}(x)\right]^2 becomes:
4−x=[g(x)]24 - x = [\mathrm{g}(x)]^2
4−x=x2+2x2−14 - x = \frac{x^2 + 2}{x^2 - 1}

3. Rearrange into a polynomial equation and solve for $x$.

(4−x)(x2−1)=x2+2(4 - x)(x^2 - 1) = x^2 + 2
4x2−4−x3+x=x2+24x^2 - 4 - x^3 + x = x^2 + 2
x3−3x2−x+6=0x^3 - 3x^2 - x + 6 = 0

By trial and error, let P(x)=x3−3x2−x+6P(x) = x^3 - 3x^2 - x + 6.
P(2)=8−12−2+6=0P(2) = 8 - 12 - 2 + 6 = 0, so (x−2)(x - 2) is a factor.
Using polynomial division or comparing coefficients:
x3−3x2−x+6=(x−2)(x2−x−3)=0x^3 - 3x^2 - x + 6 = (x - 2)(x^2 - x - 3) = 0

So, x=2x = 2 or x2−x−3=0x^2 - x - 3 = 0.
For the quadratic factor:
x=1±(−1)2−4(1)(−3)2=1±132x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{(-1)^2 - 4(1)(-3)}}{2} = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{13}}{2}

4. Check solutions against the domain of $\mathrm{g}$.

The domain of g\mathrm{g} is given as x>1x > 1.

  • x=2>1x = 2 > 1 (Accept)
  • x=1+132≈2.30>1x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{13}}{2} \approx 2.30 > 1 (Accept)
  • x=1−132≈−1.30<1x = \frac{1 - \sqrt{13}}{2} \approx -1.30 < 1 (Reject)

The valid values are x=2x = 2 and x=1+132x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{13}}{2}.

Answer

x=2x = 2 or x=1+132x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{13}}{2}

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