The function f\mathrm{f} is defined by
f:x↦x2+4x−5,for x≤k,k∈R.\mathrm{f} : x \mapsto x^2 + 4x - 5, \quad \text{for } x \le k, k \in \mathbb{R}.

  1. (i)

    Find the largest exact value of kk such that f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} exists. For this value of kk, define f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} in a similar form.

  2. (ii)

    Another function g\mathrm{g} is defined by
    g:x↦{4−x2,for 0<x≤22x−4,for 2<x≤4\mathrm{g} : x \mapsto \begin{cases} 4 - x^2, & \text{for } 0 < x \le 2 \\ 2x - 4, & \text{for } 2 < x \le 4 \end{cases}
    and that g(x)=g(x+4)\mathrm{g}(x) = \mathrm{g}(x + 4) for all real values of xx.

    Sketch the graph of y=g(x)y = \mathrm{g}(x) for −1<x≤7-1 < x \le 7.

  3. (iii)

    Using the results in part (i) and (ii), explain why composite function f−1g\mathrm{f}^{-1}\mathrm{g} exists and find the exact value of f−1g(6)\mathrm{f}^{-1}\mathrm{g}(6).

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Worked solution

5(i)

1. Complete the square for $\mathrm{f}(x)$ to determine its turning point.

f(x)=x2+4x−5\mathrm{f}(x) = x^2 + 4x - 5
f(x)=(x+2)2−4−5\mathrm{f}(x) = (x+2)^2 - 4 - 5
f(x)=(x+2)2−9\mathrm{f}(x) = (x+2)^2 - 9

The turning point is a minimum at (−2,−9)(-2, -9).

2. State the condition for $\mathrm{f}^{-1}$ to exist and deduce the largest value of $k$.

For f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} to exist, f\mathrm{f} must be a one-to-one function.
On the domain x≤kx \le k, the graph must not contain points on both sides of the turning point.
Hence, the largest exact value of kk is −2-2.

3. Make $x$ the subject of the formula to find the rule for $\mathrm{f}^{-1}$.

Let y=f(x)y = \mathrm{f}(x).
y=(x+2)2−9y = (x+2)^2 - 9
(x+2)2=y+9(x+2)^2 = y + 9
x+2=±y+9x+2 = \pm\sqrt{y+9}

4. Determine the correct sign and state the domain of $\mathrm{f}^{-1}$.

Since x≤−2x \le -2, we have x+2≤0x+2 \le 0. Thus, we must reject the positive root:
x=−2−y+9x = -2 - \sqrt{y+9}

The domain of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} is the range of f\mathrm{f}. For x≤−2x \le -2, f(x)≥−9\mathrm{f}(x) \ge -9.
Therefore, the domain of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} is x≥−9x \ge -9.

5. Define the inverse function in the required format.

f−1:x↦−2−x+9,for x≥−9\mathrm{f}^{-1} : x \mapsto -2 - \sqrt{x+9}, \quad \text{for } x \ge -9

Answer

k=−2k = -2
f−1:x↦−2−x+9,for x≥−9\mathrm{f}^{-1} : x \mapsto -2 - \sqrt{x+9}, \quad \text{for } x \ge -9

5(ii)

1. Sketch the primary period for $0 < x \le 4$.

For 0<x≤20 < x \le 2, the graph is a downward-facing parabola y=4−x2y = 4 - x^2. It approaches (0,4)(0, 4) and ends at (2,0)(2, 0).
For 2<x≤42 < x \le 4, the graph is a straight line y=2x−4y = 2x - 4. It starts from (2,0)(2, 0) and ends at (4,4)(4, 4).

2. Extend the graph to the left for $-1 < x \le 0$ using the periodic property.

Given g(x)=g(x+4)\mathrm{g}(x) = \mathrm{g}(x + 4), the graph has a period of 44.
For −1<x≤0-1 < x \le 0, the graph is a translation of the segment 3<x≤43 < x \le 4 to the left by 44 units.
g(−1)=g(−1+4)=g(3)=2(3)−4=2\mathrm{g}(-1) = \mathrm{g}(-1 + 4) = \mathrm{g}(3) = 2(3) - 4 = 2.
g(0)=g(4)=4\mathrm{g}(0) = \mathrm{g}(4) = 4.
This forms a straight line segment from (−1,2)(-1, 2) (open circle) to (0,4)(0, 4) (solid dot).

3. Extend the graph to the right for $4 < x \le 7$ using the periodic property.

For 4<x≤64 < x \le 6, the graph is a translation of 0<x≤20 < x \le 2 to the right by 44 units. It is a downward-facing parabola from (4,4)(4, 4) to (6,0)(6, 0).
For 6<x≤76 < x \le 7, the graph is a translation of 2<x≤32 < x \le 3 to the right by 44 units. It is a straight line segment from (6,0)(6, 0) to (7,2)(7, 2) (solid dot).

Key features on the final sketch:

  • Open circle at (−1,2)(-1, 2)
  • Maximum points at (0,4)(0, 4) and (4,4)(4, 4)
  • Minimum points (xx-axis intersections) at (2,0)(2, 0) and (6,0)(6, 0)
  • Closed solid dot at the endpoint (7,2)(7, 2)
Answer

A sketched graph consisting of a straight line from (−1,2)(-1, 2) [open] to (0,4)(0, 4) [closed], a downward parabola from (0,4)(0, 4) to (2,0)(2, 0), a straight line from (2,0)(2, 0) to (4,4)(4, 4), a downward parabola from (4,4)(4, 4) to (6,0)(6, 0), and a straight line from (6,0)(6, 0) to (7,2)(7, 2) [closed].

5(iii)

1. Determine the domain of $\mathrm{f}^{-1}$ and the range of $\mathrm{g}$ using the results from parts (i) and (ii).

From part (i), by completing the square, f(x)=(x+2)2−9\mathrm{f}(x) = (x+2)^2 - 9 for x≤−2x \le -2.
The domain of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} is the range of f\mathrm{f}, so Df−1=Rf=[−9,∞)D_{\mathrm{f}^{-1}} = R_{\mathrm{f}} = [-9, \infty).
From part (ii), the supremum of 4−x24-x^2 for 0<x≤20 < x \le 2 is 44 (exclusive) and the minimum is 00 (inclusive). The range of 2x−42x-4 for 2<x≤42 < x \le 4 is (0,4](0, 4] (inclusive of 4). Thus, combining these intervals over a full period gives the overall range of g\mathrm{g} as Rg=[0,4]R_{\mathrm{g}} = [0, 4].

2. Verify the condition for the existence of the composite function $\mathrm{f}^{-1}\mathrm{g}$.

For the composite function f−1g\mathrm{f}^{-1}\mathrm{g} to exist, the range of g\mathrm{g} must be a subset of the domain of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1}.
Since Rg=[0,4]⊆[−9,∞)=Df−1R_{\mathrm{g}} = [0, 4] \subseteq [-9, \infty) = D_{\mathrm{f}^{-1}}, the condition is satisfied and the composite function f−1g\mathrm{f}^{-1}\mathrm{g} exists.

3. Evaluate $\mathrm{g}(6)$ using the periodic property of $\mathrm{g}$.

Since g(x)=g(x+4)\mathrm{g}(x) = \mathrm{g}(x+4) for all real xx, the function repeats every 44 units.
g(6)=g(6−4)=g(2)\mathrm{g}(6) = \mathrm{g}(6-4) = \mathrm{g}(2).
Using the piecewise definition for 0<x≤20 < x \le 2:
g(2)=4−(2)2=0\mathrm{g}(2) = 4 - (2)^2 = 0.

4. Find the expression for $\mathrm{f}^{-1}(x)$ and calculate the exact value of $\mathrm{f}^{-1}\mathrm{g}(6)$.

From part (i), let y=(x+2)2−9y = (x+2)^2 - 9 with x≤−2x \le -2.
(x+2)2=y+9  ⟹  x=−2−y+9(x+2)^2 = y + 9 \implies x = -2 - \sqrt{y+9} (taking the negative root since x≤−2x \le -2).
So, f−1(x)=−2−x+9\mathrm{f}^{-1}(x) = -2 - \sqrt{x+9}.
Therefore,
f−1g(6)=f−1(0)\mathrm{f}^{-1}\mathrm{g}(6) = \mathrm{f}^{-1}(0)
=−2−0+9= -2 - \sqrt{0+9}
=−2−3=−5= -2 - 3 = -5.

Answer

−5-5

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