2𝑥𝑥 + 1 1

1 The function f is defined by f(x) = for x < .

2𝑥𝑥 − 1 2
The function g is defined by g(x) = 3x + 2 for x ∈ R.
1
Solve the equation f(x) = gf � �. [3]
4

[Nov2024/Paper12/Question 5(b)]

Composite functions 1
2 The function f is defined as follows:
f(x) = √𝑥𝑥 − 1 for x > 1.
(a) Find an expression for f −1 (x). [1]

1
The diagram shows the graph of y = g(x) where g(x) = for x ∈ R.
𝑥𝑥 2 +2
(b) State the range of g and explain whether g−1 exists. [2]

Composite functions 2
 1
The function h is defined by h(x) = for x ≥ 0.
𝑥𝑥 2 +2
25
(c) Solve the equation hf(x) = f� �. Give your answer in form a + b √𝑐𝑐, where a, b and c are
16
integers. [4]

[June2024/Paper12/Question 4]

Composite functions 3
3 The functions f and g are defined for all real values of x by
f(x) = (3x − 2)2 + k and g(x) = 5x − 1,
where k is a constant.
(a) Given that the range of the function g f is gf (x) ≥ 39, find the value of k. [4]

(b) For this value of k, determine the range of the function fg. [2]

Composite functions 4
 (c) The function h is defined for all real values of x and is such that gh(x) = 35x + 19.
Find an expression for g−1 (x) and hence, or otherwise, find an expression for h(x). [3]

[March2024/Paper12/Question 9]

Composite functions 5
4 The function f is defined by f(x) = −3x2 + 2 for x ≤ −1.
The function g is defined by g(x) = −x2 − 1 for x ≤ −1.
Solve the equation fg(x) − gf(x) + 8 = 0. [5]

[March2023/Paper12/Question 9(c)]

Composite functions 6
5 The functions f and g are defined as follows, where a and b are constants.
2𝑎𝑎
f(x) = 1 + for x > a
𝑥𝑥−𝑎𝑎
g(x) = bx − 2 for x ∈ R
5
(a) Given that f(7) = and gf(5) = 4, find the values of a and b. [4]
2

Composite functions 7
 For the rest of this question, you should use the value of a which you found in (a).
(b) Find the domain of f−1. [1]

(c) Find an expression for f −1(x). [3]

[June2023/Paper11/Question 8]

Composite functions 8
 5
6 The function f is defined by f(x) = 2 − for x > −2.
𝑥𝑥 + 2
The function g is defined by g(x) = x + 3 for x > 0.
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑏𝑏
Obtain an expression for fg(x) giving your answer in the form , where a, b, c and d are
𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 + 𝑑𝑑
integers. [3]

[June2023/Paper13/Question 7(c)]

Composite functions 9
7 The function f is defined by f(x) = 4x2 − 12x + 13 for p < x < q, where p and q are constants. The
function g is defined by g(x) = 3x + 1 for x < 8.
(a) Given that it is possible to form the composite function gf, find the least possible value of p and
the greatest possible value of q. [3]

(b) Find an expression for gf(x). [1]

[Oct2023/Paper11/Question 9(b)(c)]

Composite functions 10
8 Functions f and g are defined by
f(x) = (x + a)2 − a for x ≤ −a,
g(x) = 2x − 1 for x ∈ > R,
where a is a positive constant.
7
Given that a = , solve the equation gf(x) = 0. [3]
2

[Oct2023/Paper12/Question 8(c)]

Composite functions 11
 3
9 The function f is defined by f(x) = 1 + for x > 2.
𝑥𝑥 − 2
The function g is defined by g(x) = 2x − 2 for x > 0.
Obtain a simplified expression for gf(x). [2]

[Oct2023/Paper13/Question 7(c)]

Composite functions 12
10 Functions f, g and h are defined as follows:
1
f : x → x − 4𝑥𝑥 2 + 1 for x ≥ 0,
g : x → mx2 + n for x ≥ −2, where m and n are constants,
1
h : x → 𝑥𝑥 2 – 2 for x ≥ 0,
(a) Solve the equation f(x) = 0, giving your solutions in the form x = a + b √𝑐𝑐, where a, b and c
are integers. [4]

Composite functions 13
 (b) Given that f(x) ≡ gh(x), find the values of m and n. [4]

[March2022/Paper12/Question 9]

Composite functions 14
11 Functions f and g are defined as follows:
2𝑥𝑥 + 1 1
f(x) = for x ≠
2𝑥𝑥 − 1 2
g(x) = x2 + 4 for x ∈ R.
(a)

The diagram shows part of the graph of y = f(x).

State the domain of f −1. [1]

(b) Find an expression for f −1(x). [3]

(c) Find gf −1(3). [2]

Composite functions 15
 (d) Explain why g−1(x) cannot be found. [1]

2 2𝑥𝑥 + 1
(e) Show that 1 + can be expressed as . Hence find the area of the triangle enclosed
2𝑥𝑥 − 1 2𝑥𝑥 − 1
by the tangent to the curve y = f(x) at the point where x = 1 and the x- and y-axes. [6]

[June2022/Paper12/Question 10]

Composite functions 16
12 The function f is defined by f(x) = 2x2 − 16x + 23 for x < 3.
The function g is defined by g(x) = 2x + 4 for x < −1.
Find and simplify an expression for fg(x). [2]

[June2022/Paper13/Question 6(d)]

Composite functions 17
13 Functions f and g are defined by
1
f(x) = x + for x > 0.
𝑥𝑥
g(x) = ax + 1 for x ∈ R,
where a is a constant.
(a) Find an expression for gf(x). [1]

(b) Given that gf(2) = 11, find the value of a. [2]

(c) Given that the graph of y = f(x) has a minimum point when x = 1, explain whether or not f has
an inverse. [1]

Composite functions 18
 It is given instead that a = 5.
(d) Find and simplify an expression for g−1f(x). [3]

(e) Explain why the composite function fg cannot be formed. [1]

[Nov2022/Paper12/Question 9]

Composite functions 19
14 Functions f and g are defined as follows:
f : x → x2 + 2x + 3 for x ≤ −1,
g : x → 2x + 1 for x ≥ −1.
(a) Express f(x) in the form (x + a)2 + b and state the range of f. [3]

Composite functions 20
 (b) Find an expression for f −1(x). [2]

(c) Solve the equation gf(x) = 13. [3]

[March2021/Paper12/Question 7]

Composite functions 21
15 Functions f and g are defined as follows:
f(x) = (x – 2)2 − 4 for x ≥ 2,
g(x) = ax + 2 for x ∈ R,
where a is a constant.
(a) State the range of f. [1]

(b) Find f −1(x). [2]

5
(c) Given that a = − , solve the equation f(x) = g(x). [3]
3

Composite functions 22
 (d) Given instead that ggf −1(12) = 62, find the possible values of a. [5]

[June2021/Paper11/Question 9]

Composite functions 23
16 The function f is defined by f(x) = 2x2 + 3 for x ≥ 0.
(a) Find and simplify an expression for ff(x). [2]

(b) Solve the equation ff(x) = 34x2 + 19. [4]

[June2021/Paper12/Question 5]

Composite functions 24
17 Functions f and g are defined as follows:
f : x → x2 − 1 for x < 0,
1 1
g:x→ for x < −
2
.
2𝑥𝑥 + 1
(a) Solve the equation fg(x) = 3. [4]

Composite functions 25
 (b) Find an expression for (fg)−1(x). [3]

[June2021/Paper13/Question 8]

Composite functions 26
18 The function f is defined as follows:
𝑥𝑥 + 3
f (x) = for x > 1.
𝑥𝑥 − 1
(a) Find the value of ff(5). [2]

(b) Find an expression for f −1(x). [3]

[Nov2021/Paper12/Question 3]

Composite functions 27
 𝑥𝑥
19 It is now given that f(x) = − , where −2 < 0 < 2.
�4−𝑥𝑥2

(a) Find an expression for f −1(x). [4]

The function g is defined by g(x) = 2x for −a < x < a, where a is a constant.

(b) State the maximum possible value of a for which fg can be formed. [1]

Composite functions 28
 (c) Assuming that fg can be formed, find and simplify an expression for fg(x). [2]

[Nov2021/Paper13/Question 6]

Composite functions 29
20 (a) Express 2x2 + 12x + 11 in the form 2(x + a)2 + b, where a and b are constants. [2]

The function f is defined by f(x) = 2x2 + 12x + 11 for x ≤ −4.

(b) Find an expression for f −1(x) and state the domain of f −1. [3]

Composite functions 30
 The function g is defined by g(x) = 2x − 3 for x ≤ k.
(c) For the case where k = −1, solve the equation fg(x) = 193. [2]

(d) State the largest value of k possible for the composition fg to be defined. [1]

[March2020/Paper12/Question 9]

Composite functions 31
21 Functions f and g are defined for x ∈ R by
1
f:x⟼ x–a
2
g : x ⟼ 3x + b,
where a and b are constants.
(a) Given that gg(2) = 10 and f −1(2) = 14, find the values of a and b. [4]

(b) Using these values of a and b, find an expression for gf(x) in the form cx + d, where c and d
are constants. [2]

[June2020/Paper11/Question 6]

Composite functions 32
22 The function f is defined for x ∈ R by
f : x ⟼ a − 2x,
where a is a constant.
(a) Express ff(x) and f −1(x) in terms of a and x. [4]

(b) Given that ff(x) = f −1(x), find x in terms of a. [2]

[June2020/Paper12/Question 5]

Composite functions 33
23 The functions f and g are defined by
f(x) = x2 + 3 for x > 0,
1
g(x) = 2x + 1 for x > − .
2
(a) Find an expression for fg(x). [1]

(b) Find an expression for (fg)−1(x) and state the domain of (fg)−1. [4]

Composite functions 34
 (c) Solve the equation fg(x) − 3 = gf(x). [4]

[Nov2020/Paper11/Question 11]

Composite functions 35
24 Functions f and g are defined by
f(x) = 4x − 2, for x ∈ R,
4
g(x) = , for x ∈ R, x ≠ −1.
𝑥𝑥 + 1

(a) Find the value of fg(7). [1]

(b) Find the values of x for which f −1(x) = g−1(x). [5]

[Nov2020/Paper12/Question 5]

Composite functions 36