Question 1
a) Find the inverse of y = sqrt(x-2) + 1,
Inverse: (swap y and x)
- x = sqrt(y-1) + 1
- x-1 = sqrt(y-1)
- (x-1)2) = y-1
- y = (x-1)2 +1
The rest was algebra :)
b) State the domain and the range of y-1
To approach this, you should look at the original function: y = sqrt(x-2) + 1.
- dom y: x ≥ 2
- ran y: y ≥ 1
For the inverse, the domains and ranges are just swapped around.
- dom y-1: x ≥ 1
- ran y-1: y ≥ 2
Note that if you just tried to work out the domain and range from the formula you found in part (a), you can get the incorrect answer, because it's not taking into account that sqrt(x-2) + 1 only shows one half of the parabola.
Please comment if you don't know what I mean.
Question 2
- f(x) = sqrt(x-1)
- g(x) = x + (1/x)
To find f(g(x)), simply replace all x in f(x) with g(x):
- f(g(x)) = sqrt(g(x)-1)
- f(g(x)) = sqrt(x + (1/x) -1)
Similar idea for g(f(x)):
- g(f(x)) = f(x) + 1/f(x)
- g(f(x)) = sqrt(x-1) + 1/sqrt(x-1)
Question 3
I assume you meant: y = a sqrt(x+b) + c
- We have 3 unknowns to work out (a, b and c)
And three pieces of information (hence we can solve):
- The graph 'begins' at x = -1 (all square root graphs 'begin' somewhere)
- The graph goes through (-1, -2)
- The graph goes through (0, 0)
Our first piece of information tells us that b = 1. (x+b) must be greater than or equal to zero because it's inside the square root. Since the graph begins at x = -1, then b = 1 allows (x+b) = 0, the minimum possible value for the square root (and hence where the graph 'begins')
Our second and third pieces of information can be substituted into our equation: y = a sqrt(x+1) + c (we've substituted in b = 1)
- -2 = a sqrt(-1 + 1) + c, which gives: c = -2 (since the square root term equals zero)
- 0 = a sqrt(0 + 1) + c, which gives: a = 2 (substitute c = -2, the rest is algebra)
So with a = 2, b = 1, and c = -2, we get:
Edit: Added in Question 2 and Question 3 now. Hope these helped explain the thought process. Please comment if you've still got any more problems -- otherwise, you can accept my answer by selecting the tick, if you like :)