A-Level Maths:

Core 3
for Edexcel

C3.2 Algebra and

functions 2
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 Functions and mappings

Functions and mappings

Finding the range of a function
Contents

Composite functions
Inverse functions and their graphs
The modulus function
Transforming functions
Examination-style questions

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Mappings

A mapping is made up of two sets and a rule that relates

elements from the first set, the input set, to the elements of
the second set, the output set (or image set).
Rule
Input set Output set
DOMAIN RANGE
The set of all permissible inputs is called the domain of the
mapping.
The set of all corresponding outputs is called the range of the
mapping.
For example, suppose we have the input set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}.
This set represents the domain of the mapping.

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Mappings

This set is related to the output set B = {–1, 1, 3, 5, 7} by the

rule “double and subtract 3”.

Double and subtract 3

A B
1 –1
2 1
3 3
4 5
5 7
DOMAIN RANGE
If we call this rule m we can write it using mapping notation as:
m: a → 2a – 3
Where a represents the elements in set A.

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Types of mappings

A mapping can be described as:

Subtract 2
One-to-one
In a one-to-one mapping, each 1 –1
element in the domain is mapped 2 0
onto exactly one element in the 3 1
range. For example: 4 2

Square
Many-to-one
In a many-to-one mapping, two or –1
1
1
more elements in the domain can
–2
be mapped onto the same element 4
2
in the range. For example: –3
9
3

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Types of mappings

One-to-many Square root

In a one-to-many mapping each –1
1
element in the domain can be 1
mapped onto two or more elements –2
4
in the range. For example: 2
–3
9
3

Is a factor of
Many-to-many
In a many-to-many mapping more 1 5
than one element in the domain can 2 6
be mapped onto more than one 4 7
element in the range. For example: 8 8

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Functions

A function is a special type of mapping such that each

member of the domain is mapped to one, and only one,
element in the range.
In other words,
Only a one-to-one or a many-to-one
mapping can be called a function.
One-to-many and many-to-many mappings are not functions.
Most functions you will meet are defined over a continuous
domain, such as the set of all real numbers.
Such functions are best represented by a graph plotting the
elements in the domain along the horizontal axis against the
corresponding members of the range along the vertical axis.

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Which graphs represent functions?

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Function notation

We usually use the letter f to represent a function but other

letters such as g and h can also be used.
The letter x is normally used to represent elements of the
domain (input values).
Since we can choose the value of x it is called an independent
variable.
For example, if we have the function “square and add 5” this
can be written as
f of x equals x
f(x) = x2 + 5 squared plus 5

We can also use mapping notation to write

f: x → x2 + 5 f is a function such
that x is mapped onto
x squared plus 5.
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Function notation

If we choose x to be –3, say, we can write

f(–3) = (–3)2 + 5 = 14
We say that 14 is the image of –3 under the function f.
The letter y is normally used to represent elements of the range
(output values), so y = f(x).
Since the value of y is determined by the function acting on x it
is called a dependent variable.
Since the domain of f(x) = x2 + 5 has not been given, we
assume that x belongs to the set of real numbers, .

What is the range of this function?

f(x) cannot be less than 5, so the range is:
f(x) ≥ 5
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 Finding the range of a function

Functions and mappings

Finding the range of a function
Contents

Composite functions
Inverse functions and their graphs
The modulus function
Transforming functions
Examination-style questions

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The domain and range of a function

Remember,
The domain of a function is the set of
values to which the function can be applied.

The range of a function is the set of all

possible output values.
A function is only fully defined if we are given both:
the rule that defines the function, for example f(x) = x – 4.
the domain of the function, for example the set {1, 2, 3, 4}.
Given the rule f(x) = x – 4 and the domain {1, 2, 3, 4} we can
find the range:
{–3, –2, –1, 0}
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The domain and range of a function

It is more common for a function to be defined over a

continuous interval, rather than a set of discrete values.
For example:
The function f(x) = 4x – 7 is defined over the domain
–2 ≤ x < 5. Find the range of this function.
Since this is a linear function, substitute the smallest and
largest values of x:
When x = –2, f(x) = –8 – 7 = –15
When x = 5, f(x) = 20 – 7 = 13

The range of the function is therefore

–15 ≤ f(x) < 13

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Example 1

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Example 2

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Restricting the domain

When the domain of a function is not given it is assumed to be

the set of all real numbers, . That is, x  .
However, there are many rules that would not be functions if
they were applied to the whole of the set .
1
For example, consider the rule f(x) = x .
If x were allowed to take any real
y
value then we could have x = 0.
However, when x = 0 there is no
corresponding output value for y.
0 x
So, to make f(x) a function we have
to restrict the domain as follows:
1
f(x) = x , x   , x ≠ 0.
The range of this function is f(x)   , f(x) ≠ 0.
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Restricted domains

Another example is g(x) = x  2.

Since we cannot find the square

y
root of a negative number the
function is not defined for x < 2.
So, to make g(x) a function we
have to restrict the domain as
0 2 x follows:
This means x can
be any real
g(x) = x 2 , x ≥ 2
number greater
than or equal to
2.
The range of this function is f(x) ≥ 0.

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 Composite functions

Functions and mappings

Finding the range of a function
Contents

Composite functions
Inverse functions and their graphs
The modulus function
Transforming functions
Examination-style questions

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Composite functions

Suppose we have two functions defined for all real numbers:

f(x) = x – 3
g(x) = x2
We can combine these two functions by applying f and then
applying g as follows:
f g
x x–3 (x – 3)2

gf
Since we are applying g to f(x), this can be written as g[f(x)] or
more simply as gf(x). So:
gf(x) = (x – 3)2
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Composite functions

gf(x) is an example of a composite function.

gf(x) means perform f first and then g.
Compare this with the composite function fg(x):
g f
x x2 x2 – 3

fg
It is also possible to form a composite function by applying the
same function twice. For example, if we apply the function f to
f(x), we have ff(x) or f 2(x).
f 2(x) = f [f (x)]
= f(x – 3)
= (x – 3) – 3
=x–6
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Composite function machine

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 Inverse functions and their graphs

Functions and mappings

Finding the range of a function
Contents

Composite functions
Inverse functions and their graphs
The modulus function
Transforming functions
Examination-style questions

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Inverse functions

Suppose we have a function f: x → 4x + 3 which is defined

over the domain {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}.

4x + 3
This is a
0 3 one-to-one
1 7 mapping.
2 11
3 15
4 19

The range of this mapping is the set {3, 7, 11, 15, 19}.
Sometimes we might want to reverse this function so that the
set {3, 7, 11, 15, 19} is mapped onto the set {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}.

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Inverse functions

We can write the function f(x) = 4x + 3 using a mapping

diagram as follows:
×4 +3
x 4x 4x + 3

To find the inverse of f(x) = 4x + 3, we can start with x and

perform the inverse operations in reverse order.

x 3 ÷4 –3
x–3 x
4

The inverse of f(x) is written as f –1, so if f(x) = 4x + 3,

1 x 3
f ( x) =
4
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Inverse functions

The domain of f –1(x) is the same as the range of f(x) and the
range of f –1(x) is the same as the domain of f(x).
Therefore, since f(x) = 4x + 3 is a one-to-one function, its
inverse must also be a one-to-one function.
Suppose we wanted to find the inverse of a many-to-one
function, for example, the inverse of f(x) = x2 over the domain
{–2, – 1, 0, 1, 2}.
x2
–2 3 This is a
0 many-to-one
–1 7
mapping.
0 11
1
1 15
2 4
19

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Inverse functions

The inverse of this function would map the range of f(x) onto
the domain of f(x) as follows:

±√x
3 –2 This is a
0 one-to-many
7 –1
mapping.
11
1 0
15 1
4
19 2

The inverse of f(x) is not a function because some of the

elements in the domain are mapped to more than one element
in the range.
The inverse of f(x) will only be a function if f(x)
is a one-to-one function.
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Finding inverse functions

To find the inverse of a many-to-one function we have to

restrict the domain so that the function becomes one-to-one.
For example,
f(x) = x2 – 2, x   is a many-to-one function.
 Its inverse is not a function.
However, g(x) = x2 – 2, x ≥ 0 is a one-to-one function.
 Its inverse is a function.
The reverse of “squaring and subtracting 2” is “adding 2 and
square rooting” so,
g –1(x) = x + 2
The domain of g –1(x) is: x ≥ –2
The range of g –1(x) is: x ≥ 0
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Finding inverse functions

We can also find the inverse of a one-to-one function f(x) by

writing an equation of the form y = f(x) and rearranging it to
make x the subject of the equation. For example,
5x
Find the inverse of f ( x ) = , x ≠ 1.
x 1
5x
y=
x 1
y(x – 1) = 5x
xy – y = 5x
xy – 5x = y
x(y – 5) = y
y
x=
y 5
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Finding inverse functions
y
The inverse function is therefore of the form .
y 5
So the inverse function in terms of x is
x Just replace
f  1( x ) =
x 5 the y’s with x’s.

The domain f –1(x) is x   , x ≠ 5.

If we apply f(x) to a number and then apply f –1(x) to the result
we should get back to the original number.
We can use this to check our result:
5 × 2 10 1 10 10
f (2) = = = 10 f (10) = = = 2
2 1 1 10  5 5
as required.
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Graphs of inverse functions 1

The graph of y = f –1(x) will always be a reflection of y = f(x) in

the line y = x.

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Graphs of inverse functions 2

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Graphs of inverse functions 3

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 The modulus function

Functions and mappings

Finding the range of a function
Contents

Composite functions
Inverse functions and their graphs
The modulus function
Transforming functions
Examination-style questions

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The modulus function

The modulus of a number is its absolute value or

magnitude.
In other words, if a number has a negative sign in front of it
this is dropped to leave just the number. mod –3
For example, the modulus of –3 is written |–3|.
|–3| = 3
The modulus of a positive number is just the number itself.
For example,
|5.8| = 5.8
In general, for any number x,

x when x ≥ 0
|x| =
–x when x < 0
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The graph of y = |x|

Let’s start with the graph of y = x:

y For positive values of x

y = x|x|
the graph of y = |x| will be
the same as the graph of
y = x.
x For negative values of x
the graph of y = |x| will be
the same as the graph of
y = –x.

Notice that the part of y = x that lies below the x-axis is

reflected in the x-axis to give y = |x|.

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The graph of y = |f(x)|

In general, the graph of y = f(x) can be sketched by reflecting

above the x-axis the parts of y = f(x) that are below the x-axis.

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The graph of y = f(|x|)

Suppose we want to sketch the graph of y = |x|2 – |x| – 2.

Start by sketching y = x2 – x – 2.
This can be factorized as y = (x + 1)(x – 2) and so it has roots
at x = –1 and x = 2:
For positive values of x, the
y y = x|x|––x |x|
2 2
– 2– 2
graph of y = |x|2 – |x| – 2 will
be the same as the graph of
y = x2 – x – 2.
For negative values of x, the
graph of y = |x|2 – |x| – 2 will
–2 –1 2 x be the same as the graph of
y = (–x)2 – (–x ) – 2.
= x2 + x – 2
= (x – 1)(x + 2)
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The graph of y = f(|x|)

In general, for positive values of x (that is, for parts of the curve
to the right of the y-axis) the graph of y = f(|x|) will be the same
as the graph of y = f(x).
For negative values of x (that is, for parts of the curve to the left
of the y-axis) the graph of y = f(|x|) will be the same as the
graph of y = f(–x).
From previous work on transformations you will remember that
the graph of y = f(–x) is a reflection of the graph of y = f(x) in
the y-axis.
Therefore, starting with the graph of y = f(x), the graph of
y = f(|x|) can be sketched by reflecting left of the y-axis any part
of y = f(x) that is to the right of the y-axis.
Any part of y = f(x) that is to the left of the y-axis is ignored.

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The graph of y = f(|x|)

Left of the y-axis y = f(–x) Right of the y-axis y = f(x)

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Equations involving the modulus function

In general, for any positive constant a:

if |f(x)| = a then either

f(x) = a or f(x) = – a

Find all values of x such that |2x – 5| = 3.

For this equation either

2x – 5 = 3 or 2x – 5 = –3
2x = 8 2x = 2
x=4 x=1
So the solutions to |2x – 5| = 3 are x = 1 or x = 4.

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Equations involving the modulus function

We can also solve the equation |2x – 5| = 3 by sketching the

graph of y = |2x – 5| and the graph of y = 3 and finding the
points where they intersect.

y At point A, –(2x – 5) = 3
y = –(2x – 5)
2x – 5 = –3
y = 2x – 5
2x = 2
A B y=3 x=1
At point B, 2x – 5 = 3
2x = 8
0 x
x=4

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Equations involving the modulus function

If f(x) = (x + 1)(x – 4), find all values of x such that |f(x)| = 6.

Solving this algebraically, either

(x + 1)(x – 4) = 6 or (x + 1)(x – 4) = –6
x2 – 3x – 4 = 6 x2 – 3x – 4 = –6
x2 – 3x – 10 = 0 x2 – 3x + 2 = 0
(x + 2)(x – 5) = 0 (x – 1)(x – 2) = 0
x = –2 or x = 5 x = 1 or x = 2

So the solutions to |f(x)| = 6 are x = –2, x = 5, x = 1 or x = 2.

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Equations involving the modulus function

We can check these four solutions by drawing the graphs of

y = |f(x)| and y = 6 and noting the points where they intersect.

y = |f(x)|
y=6

–2 1 2 5

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Equations involving the modulus function

Solve the equation |2x – 3| = |x – 4|.

We can solve this equation algebraically by treating the RHS

as if it were a positive constant so that, either:

2x – 3 = x – 4 or 2x – 3 = –(x – 4)
x = –1 2x – 3 = 4 – x
3x = 7
7
x= 3
1
x=23

So the solutions to |2x – 3| = |x – 4| are x = –1 and x = 2 31 .

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Equations involving the modulus function

We can check these solutions by drawing the graphs of

y = |2x – 3| and y = |x – 4| and noting the points where they
intersect.
y
y = |2x – 3|
A

y = |x – 4|

–1 0 2 31 x

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Inequalities involving the modulus function

In general, for any positive constant a:

if |x| ≤ a then –a ≤ x ≤ a
if |x| ≥ a then x ≤ –a or x ≥ a

We can illustrate these two situations on a number line as

follows:
|x| ≤ a

–a a
|x| ≥ a

–a a
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Inequalities involving the modulus function

Find the values of x for which |4x – 5| > 7.

Solving this algebraically, either:

4x – 5 < –7 or 4x – 5 > 7
4x < –2 4x > 12
1
x<– 2 x>3

This solution cannot be written as a single inequality.

Either x < – 21 or x > 3.

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Inequalities involving the modulus function

Solve the following inequality: |2x + 5| < 2 – x

Since 2 – x is not always positive it is best to solve this

inequality by sketching the graphs of y = |2x + 5| and y = 2 – x.

y = |2x + 5| y At point A, 2 – x = –(2x + 5)

A y=2–x 2 – x = –2x – 5
x=–7
B At point B, 2x + 5 = 2 – x
3x = –3
–7 –1 x x = –1
So the solution set is:
–7 < x < –1
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 Transforming functions

Functions and mappings

Finding the range of a function
Contents

Composite functions
Inverse functions and their graphs
The modulus function
Transforming functions
Examination-style questions

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Transforming functions

Earlier in the course we looked at the following transformations

on a general function f(x):
y = f(x) + a is a translation of a units in the y-direction. a

y = f(x + a) is a translation of –a units in the x-direction. a

y = –f(x) is a reflection in the x-axis.

y = f(–x) is a reflection in the y-axis.

y = af(x) is a one-way stretch by scale factor a in

a
the y direction.
1
y = f(ax) is a one-way stretch by scale factor a in 1
a
the x direction.

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Transforming functions

We can now look at what happens when we combine any of

these transformations.
For example, since all quadratic curves have the same basic
shape any quadratic curve can be obtained by performing a
series of transformations on the curve y = x2.

Write down the series of transformations that must be applied

to the graph of y = x2 to give the graph y = 2x2 + 4x – 1.

Start by writing y = 2x2 + 4x – 1 in completed square form:

2x2 + 4x – 1 = 2(x2 + 2x) – 1
= 2((x + 1)2 – 1) – 1
= 2(x + 1)2 – 3
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Transforming functions

So, starting with y = x2:

y = x2
1. Translate –1 units in the x-direction.
y = (x + 1)2
2. Stretch by a scale factor of 2 in the y-direction.
y = 2(x + 1)2
3. Translate –3 units in the y-direction.
y = 2(x + 1)2 – 3
These transformations must be performed in the correct order.

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Combining transformations 1

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Combining transformations 2

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Combining transformations 3

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Combining transformations 4

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 Examination-style questions

Functions and mappings

Finding the range of a function
Contents

Composite functions
Inverse functions and their graphs
The modulus function
Transforming functions
Examination-style questions

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Examination-style question 1

The functions f and g are defined by

f ( x) = x + 3 x  3
g( x ) = 6 x +1 x
a) Find f –1(x) and state its domain and range.
b) Evaluate fg(2).
c) Write expressions for fg(x), gf(x) and (gf)–1(x).
d) Solve the equation (gf)–1(x) = –2.
a) Let y = x+3
y2 = x + 3
x = y2  3
 f  1( x ) = x 2  3
The domain of f –1(x) is x ≥ 0 and the range is x ≥ –3.
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Examination-style question 1

b) fg(2) = f(6 × 2 + 1) = f(13)

= 13 + 3 = 16
=4
c) fg(x) = f(6x +1)
= 6 x +1+ 3
= 6x + 4

gf ( x ) = g( x + 3 )

= 6 x + 3 +1

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Examination-style question 1

c) Let gf ( x ) = y = 6 x + 3 +1
y 1
 = x+3
6
2
 y  1
 6  = x+3
 
2
 y  1 
x=  3
 6 
2
1  x  1
 (gf ) ( x ) =   3
 6 
d) (gf)–1(x) = –2  x = gf(–2)
= 6  2 + 3 +1
=7
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Examination-style question 2

The function f is defined by

f ( x ) = 2 x +1  3 x
a) Describe the sequence of geometrical transformations by
which the graph of y =|2x + 1| – 3 can be obtained from
that of y =|x|.
b) State, giving your reasons, whether f(x) has an inverse
function.
c) Sketch the graph of f(x) indicating the points where the
graph crosses the co-ordinate axes.
d) Solve f(x) ≥ x.

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Examination-style question 2

a) y = |x|
1
1. Stretch horizontally by a scale factor of 2.
y = |2x|
2. Translate – 21 units in the x-direction.
y = |2(x + 21 )| = |2x + 1|
3. Translate –3 units in the y-direction.
y = |2x + 1| – 3

So, y =|2x + 1| – 3 can be obtained from y =|x| by stretching it

horizontally by a scale factor of 21 , translating it a 21 unit to the
left, and then translating it 3 units downwards.

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Examination-style question 2

b) f(x) does not have an inverse because it is many-to-one,

not one-to-one. For example, f(–2) and f(1) are both equal
to 0.
c) y
y = |2x + 1| – 3

(–2, 0) (1, 0)
x
(0,–2)

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Examination-style question 2

d) |2x + 1| – 3 ≥ x
Using a graph shows that there are two critical points given by
points A and B.
y = |2x + 1| – 3 At point A, x = –(2x + 1) – 3
y x = –2x – 4
y=x
3x = – 4
x = – 34
B
At point B, x = (2x + 1) – 3
A x
x = 2x – 2
–x = –2
x=2

So |2x + 1| – 3 ≥ x when: x ≤ – 34 or x ≥ 2
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