IB HL Math Homework #4: Functions and Equations Solutions

Assigned: 9/20/07, Thursday

Due: 9/25/07, Tuesday
2x

1) Find all of the values of x that satisfy the inequality | x 1 | 1.

Split the work into two cases, one for x > 1 and one for x < 1. (Note that x 1.)
If x > 1, then we have

2x
1 , so 2 x x 1 , and x 1 . We can do the first step
x 1

because we know that in this case x 1 is positive. our conclusion tells us that if x >
1, then a solution would be x < -1. Thus, there are no values of x > 1 for which the
given statement is true.
If x < 1, we have

2x
1 , so 2 x 1 x , and x 1 / 3 . We can do the first step
( x 1)

since we know that (x 1) is positive. Thus, our total set of solutions is {x: x < 1/3}.
2) The polynomial f(x) = x3 + 3x2 + ax + b leaves the same remainder when divided by (x
2) as when divided by (x + 1). Find the value of a.
Carrying out the two required synthetic divisions, we get the following:
2
-1

1
1
1

3
5
2

a
b
10+a 20+2a+b
a2 2a+b

The two remainders are the same, so we have:

20 + 2a + b = 2 a + b
3a = -18
a = -6
3) The functions f and g are defined by f : x e x , g : x x 2. Calculate
(a) f

(3) g 1 (3)

(b) ( f g ) 1 (3).

(a) f 1 ( x) ln x , and g 1 ( x ) x 2 . (These can be computed in the usual way.)

Thus, f 1 (3) g 1 (3) (ln 3)(3 2) ln 3
(b) ( f g ) 1 ( x) g 1 ( f

( x)). Thus, ( f g ) 1 (3) g 1 ( f

(3)) g 1 (ln 3) ln 3 2 .

4) A sum of $5000 is invested at a compound interest rate of 6.3% per annum.

(a) Write down an expression for the value of the investment after n full years.
(b) What will be the value of the investment at the end of five years?
(c) The value of the investment will exceed $10000 after n full years.
(i) Write an inequality to represent this information.
(ii) Calculate the minimum value of n.
(a) ($5000)(1.063) n
(b) Value = ($5000)(1.063) 5 $6786.35.
(c) (i) ($5000)(1.063) n $10000
(1.063) n 2
n ln(1.063) ln 2
ln 2
n
ln 1.063

n 11.3

Thus, the minimum number of years necessary to double the investment is 12 years.
x4
x2
, x 1 and g ( x)
, x 4 . Find the set of values of x such
x 1
x4
that f ( x) g ( x ) .

5) Let f ( x)

x4 x2

x 1 x 4
x4 x2

0
x 1 x 4
( x 4)( x 4) ( x 2)( x 1)
0
( x 1)( x 4)
x 2 16 ( x 2 x 2)
0
( x 1)( x 4)
x 14
0.
( x 1)( x 4)

The critical points are x = -1, 4, 14. The given statement is true when x < -1 and
when 4 < x 14. Thus, the solution is {x: x < -1 or 4 < x 14}

6) Given that (x 1) and (x 2) are factors of 6x4 + ax3 17x2 + bx 4, find a and b, and
any remaining factors.
Use synthetic division:
1

6
6

a
a+6

-17
a-11

b
a-11+b

-4
a-15+b

So, a 15 + b = 0
2

6
6

a+6 a-11 a-11+b

a+18 3a+25 7a+39+b

So, 7a + 39 + b = 0
Subtracting the first equation from the second, we get:
6a + 54 = 0, so a = -9. It follows that b = 24.
After dividing the original polynomial by x 1 and x 2, we have the following
quadratic: 6x2 + (a+18)x + (3a+25), which is 6x2 + 9x 2. This
does not factor "nicely." The other two roots are irrational.
9 129
. In factored form, we could write this as
12
9 129
9 129
6( x
)( x
).
12
12

They are x

7) Consider the functions f ( x ) e 2 x and g ( x) sin

x
.
2

(a) Find the period of the function f g.

(b) Find the intervals for which ( f g ( x )) 4.
(a) ( f g ( x)) e 2 sin(x / 2) . The period of this function completely depends on the
periodicity of the exponent, since the exponential function is a monotonically
2

increasing function. The period of g is 2 4 .

(b) e 2 sin(x / 2) 4
x

ln 4
2
x
2 sin
2 ln 2
2
x
sin
ln 2
2
2 sin

x
sin 1 (ln 2) , within the first quadrant.
2
2 sin 1 (ln 2)
x

x 0.488 .

Since the sin function is decreasing in the second quadrant, and sin(x) = sin(-x),
it follows that the other angle in the first or second quadrant at which
x
sin
ln 2 is 2 0.488 = 1.512. Also, since the period of the function is four, it
2

follows that all solutions can be expressed as {x: 0.488+4k < x < 1.512+4k, k
Z }.
8) The function f is defined on the domain [-1,0] by f : x
(a) Write done the range of f.

1
.
1 x2

(b) Find an expression for f-1(x).

(a) The desired range is [.5, 1]. The maximum occurs when x=0, which minimizes
the denominator, and the minimum occurs when x=1, which maximizes the
denominator.
(b) x

1
1 ( f

( x )) 2
1
1 ( f 1 ( x)) 2
x
1
( f 1 ( x)) 2 1
x
1
f 1 ( x)
1 , we take the negative because the domain of the original function
x

is negative.