The function f\text{f} is defined by
f:x↦(x−2)2−4,x∈R, x≥0.\text{f} : x \mapsto (x-2)^2 - 4,\quad x \in \mathbb{R},\ x \ge 0.

  1. (i)

    Sketch the graph of f\text{f} and explain why the function f−1\text{f}^{-1} does not exist.

  2. (ii)

    If the domain of f\text{f} is restricted to x≥kx \ge k, where kk is a real number, state the smallest value of kk for which f−1\text{f}^{-1} exists.

  3. (iii)

    With the domain in (ii), find f−1\text{f}^{-1} in a similar form, stating its domain.

  4. (iv)

    The function g\text{g} is defined by
    g:x↦3x−5,x∈R, x≥3.\text{g} : x \mapsto 3x - 5,\quad x \in \mathbb{R},\ x \ge 3.

    Find an expression for f−1g(x)\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}(x), and find also the range of f−1g\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}.

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Worked solution

4(i)

1. Identify key coordinates (vertex, intercepts) to sketch the graph of $\text{f}$.

The function f(x)=(x−2)2−4\text{f}(x) = (x-2)^2 - 4 is a parabola opening upwards.
The vertex is at (2,−4)(2, -4).
Find the yy-intercept by substituting x=0x=0:
f(0)=(0−2)2−4=0\text{f}(0) = (0-2)^2 - 4 = 0.
Find the xx-intercepts by setting f(x)=0\text{f}(x) = 0:
(x−2)2−4=0  ⟹  x−2=±2  ⟹  x=0 or x=4(x-2)^2 - 4 = 0 \implies x-2 = \pm 2 \implies x = 0 \text{ or } x = 4.
Since the domain is x≥0x \ge 0, the sketch must show a solid curve starting at the origin (0,0)(0,0), going down to the minimum point at (2,−4)(2,-4), and curving upwards to pass through (4,0)(4,0).

2. Explain why the inverse function $\text{f}^{-1}$ does not exist using the concept of one-to-one mapping.

Any horizontal line drawn between y=0y=0 and y=−4y=-4 (exclusive) intersects the graph of f\text{f} at two points.
For example, f(0)=0\text{f}(0) = 0 and f(4)=0\text{f}(4) = 0.
Since two distinct elements in the domain map to the same value in the codomain, f\text{f} is not a one-to-one function. Therefore, its inverse f−1\text{f}^{-1} does not exist.

Answer

A curve starting from (0,0)(0,0), with a minimum point at (2,−4)(2,-4), and crossing the xx-axis at (4,0)(4,0).
f\text{f} is not a one-to-one function (it fails the horizontal line test), hence f−1\text{f}^{-1} does not exist.

4(ii)

1. Identify the smallest $k$ that makes the function one-to-one on $x \ge k$

For f−1\text{f}^{-1} to exist, f\text{f} must be a one-to-one function.
The turning point of f(x)=(x−2)2−4\text{f}(x) = (x-2)^2 - 4 is at x=2x = 2.
For the domain x≥kx \ge k, the function is strictly increasing (and thus one-to-one) if k≥2k \ge 2.
Therefore, the smallest value of kk is 22.

Answer

k=2k = 2

4(iii)

1. Determine the domain of the inverse function by finding the range of the restricted original function.

From part (ii), the smallest value for kk is 22, so the restricted domain of f\text{f} is x≥2x \ge 2.
For x≥2x \ge 2, the minimum point of f(x)=(x−2)2−4\text{f}(x) = (x-2)^2 - 4 is at (2,−4)(2, -4).
Therefore, the range of f\text{f} is f(x)≥−4\text{f}(x) \ge -4.
Since the domain of f−1\text{f}^{-1} is the range of f\text{f}, the domain of f−1\text{f}^{-1} is x≥−4x \ge -4.

2. Set $y = \text{f}(x)$ and begin isolating $x$.

Let y=(x−2)2−4y = (x-2)^2 - 4.
(x−2)2=y+4(x-2)^2 = y + 4
x−2=±y+4x - 2 = \pm\sqrt{y+4}

3. Use the restricted domain to choose the correct sign and write the function in the required form.

Since the domain of f\text{f} is x≥2x \ge 2, we have x−2≥0x - 2 \ge 0.
Therefore, we must reject the negative square root and take the positive square root:
x−2=y+4x - 2 = \sqrt{y+4}
x=2+y+4x = 2 + \sqrt{y+4}
Expressing this in the required mapping form with its domain:
f−1:x↦2+x+4,x∈R, x≥−4\text{f}^{-1} : x \mapsto 2 + \sqrt{x+4}, \quad x \in \mathbb{R}, \ x \ge -4

Answer

f−1:x↦2+x+4,x∈R, x≥−4\text{f}^{-1} : x \mapsto 2 + \sqrt{x+4}, \quad x \in \mathbb{R}, \ x \ge -4

4(iv)

1. Find the expression for $\text{f}^{-1}(x)$ based on the domain restriction from parts (ii) and (iii).

Let y=f(x)=(x−2)2−4y = \text{f}(x) = (x-2)^2 - 4.
(x−2)2=y+4(x-2)^2 = y + 4
Since the domain is restricted to x≥2x \ge 2 for the inverse to exist, we take the positive square root:
x−2=y+4  ⟹  x=2+y+4x - 2 = \sqrt{y+4} \implies x = 2 + \sqrt{y+4}
Thus, f−1(x)=2+x+4\text{f}^{-1}(x) = 2 + \sqrt{x+4}.

2. Substitute $\text{g}(x)$ into $\text{f}^{-1}(x)$ to find the expression for the composite function.

f−1g(x)=f−1(3x−5)\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}(x) = \text{f}^{-1}(3x-5)
f−1g(x)=2+(3x−5)+4\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}(x) = 2 + \sqrt{(3x-5) + 4}
f−1g(x)=2+3x−1\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}(x) = 2 + \sqrt{3x-1}

3. Determine the range of $\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}$ using the domain of $\text{g}$.

The domain of g\text{g} is x≥3x \ge 3.
For x≥3x \ge 3:
3x−1≥3(3)−1=83x - 1 \ge 3(3) - 1 = 8
Therefore, 3x−1≥8=22\sqrt{3x-1} \ge \sqrt{8} = 2\sqrt{2}.
Hence, f−1g(x)=2+3x−1≥2+22\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}(x) = 2 + \sqrt{3x-1} \ge 2 + 2\sqrt{2}.
The range is [2+22,∞)[2+2\sqrt{2}, \infty).

Answer

Expression: 2+3x−12 + \sqrt{3x-1}
Range: [2+22,∞)[2+2\sqrt{2}, \infty) or f−1g(x)≥2+22\text{f}^{-1}\text{g}(x) \ge 2+2\sqrt{2}

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