The function f is defined by f:x↦e(x+c)2f : x \mapsto e^{(x+c)^2}, x∈Rx \in \mathbb{R}, x≤kx \le k, c>0c>0.

  1. (i)

    Find the largest value of kk in terms of cc for which the function f−1f^{-1} exists.

  2. (ii)

    For the rest of the question, use the value of kk found in part (i).

    Find f−1(x)f^{-1}(x) and state the domain of f−1f^{-1}.

  3. (iii)

    Sketch, on the same diagram, the graphs of ff and of f−1f^{-1} and state the relationship between the graphs.

  4. (iv)

    The function gg is defined by g:x↦ln⁡xg : x \mapsto \ln x for x∈Rx \in \mathbb{R}, x>0x>0. Give a reason why the composite function gfgf exists. Find gf(x)gf(x).

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Worked solution

5(i)

1. State the condition for the inverse function to exist

For f−1f^{-1} to exist, the function ff must be a one-to-one function.

2. Identify the turning point to find the largest valid domain

The function f(x)=e(x+c)2f(x) = e^{(x+c)^2} has a minimum turning point where its exponent (x+c)2(x+c)^2 is minimum, which occurs at x=−cx = -c.
For x≤−cx \le -c, the function is strictly decreasing and hence one-to-one.
For x>−cx > -c, the function starts to increase, which would make it a many-to-one function.
Therefore, the largest domain of the form x≤kx \le k for which ff is one-to-one is x≤−cx \le -c.
k=−ck = -c

Answer

k=−ck = -c

5(ii)

1. Deduce the domain of $f$ from part (i).

From part (i), the minimum point of y=e(x+c)2y = e^{(x+c)^2} occurs at x=−cx = -c.
For ff to be one-to-one (so that its inverse exists) on the domain x≤kx \le k, the maximum value of kk is −c-c.
Thus, k=−ck = -c, and the domain of ff is x≤−cx \le -c.

2. Set up the equation to find the inverse.

Let y=f(x)y = f(x).
y=e(x+c)2y = e^{(x+c)^2}
Taking the natural logarithm on both sides:
ln⁡y=(x+c)2\ln y = (x+c)^2

3. Solve for $x$ and select the correct root based on the domain of $f$.

Taking the square root gives:
x+c=±ln⁡yx + c = \pm \sqrt{\ln y}
Since the domain is x≤−cx \le -c, we have x+c≤0x + c \le 0. Thus, we must reject the positive root:
x+c=−ln⁡yx + c = -\sqrt{\ln y}
x=−c−ln⁡yx = -c - \sqrt{\ln y}

4. State the inverse function.

Replacing yy with xx to express the inverse function in terms of xx:
f−1(x)=−c−ln⁡xf^{-1}(x) = -c - \sqrt{\ln x}

5. Determine the domain of $f^{-1}$.

The domain of f−1f^{-1} is the range of ff.
For the domain x≤−cx \le -c, we have (x+c)2≥0(x+c)^2 \ge 0, which implies:
f(x)=e(x+c)2≥e0=1f(x) = e^{(x+c)^2} \ge e^0 = 1
The range of ff is [1,∞)[1, \infty).
Therefore, the domain of f−1f^{-1} is x≥1x \ge 1.

Answer

f−1(x)=−c−ln⁡xf^{-1}(x) = -c - \sqrt{\ln x}, with domain x≥1x \ge 1

5(iii)

1. Identify the domain, range, and endpoints of $f$ and $f^{-1}$ to prepare for sketching.

From parts (i) and (ii), we use k=−ck = -c.
For f(x)=e(x+c)2f(x) = e^{(x+c)^2}, the domain is x≤−cx \le -c. Since c>0c > 0, −c-c is negative.
At the boundary x=−cx = -c, f(−c)=e0=1f(-c) = e^0 = 1. As x→−∞x \to -\infty, f(x)→∞f(x) \to \infty.
Thus, the graph of ff is a curve in the second quadrant ending at (−c,1)(-c, 1).

The domain of f−1f^{-1} is the range of ff, which is x≥1x \ge 1.
The range of f−1f^{-1} is the domain of ff, which is y≤−cy \le -c.
Thus, the graph of f−1f^{-1} starts at (1,−c)(1, -c) and goes towards −∞-\infty as x→∞x \to \infty.

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

To sketch:

  1. Draw the xx and yy axes and add a dotted line for y=xy = x.
  2. Mark the endpoint (−c,1)(-c, 1) in the second quadrant and sketch y=f(x)y=f(x) curving upwards and to the left.
  3. Mark the endpoint (1,−c)(1, -c) in the fourth quadrant and sketch y=f−1(x)y=f^{-1}(x) curving downwards and to the right.
  4. Ensure both curves appear as mirror images of each other across the line y=xy=x.

3. State the relationship between the two graphs.

The graph of y=f−1(x)y = f^{-1}(x) is the reflection of the graph of y=f(x)y = f(x) in the line y=xy = x.

Answer

[A sketch showing y=f(x)y=f(x) in the second quadrant ending at (−c,1)(-c, 1) and y=f−1(x)y=f^{-1}(x) in the fourth quadrant starting at (1,−c)(1, -c), symmetric about the dotted line y=xy=x.]

The graph of y=f−1(x)y = f^{-1}(x) is the reflection of the graph of y=f(x)y = f(x) in the line y=xy = x.

5(iv)

1. Determine $k$ from part (i) to establish the domain and evaluate the range of $f$.

For ff to have an inverse, it must be a one-to-one function. The curve y=e(x+c)2y = e^{(x+c)^2} is symmetrical about x=−cx = -c, so the domain must be restricted to x≤−cx \le -c, giving k=−ck = -c.
For x≤−cx \le -c, we have x+c≤0  ⟹  (x+c)2≥0x+c \le 0 \implies (x+c)^2 \ge 0.
Therefore, f(x)=e(x+c)2≥e0=1f(x) = e^{(x+c)^2} \ge e^0 = 1.
The range of ff is Rf=[1,∞)R_f = [1, \infty).

2. State the reason for the existence of the composite function $gf$.

The domain of gg is Dg=(0,∞)D_g = (0, \infty).
Since Rf⊆DgR_f \subseteq D_g (i.e. [1,∞)⊆(0,∞)[1, \infty) \subseteq (0, \infty)), the composite function gfgf exists.

3. Find the expression for $gf(x)$.

gf(x)=g(f(x))=g(e(x+c)2)=ln⁡(e(x+c)2)=(x+c)2gf(x) = g(f(x)) = g(e^{(x+c)^2}) = \ln(e^{(x+c)^2}) = (x+c)^2

Answer

Reason: The range of ff, [1,∞)[1, \infty), is a subset of the domain of gg, (0,∞)(0, \infty).
gf(x)=(x+c)2gf(x) = (x+c)^2

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