High School Math : Functions and Graphs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Functional Notations

If  and , what is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

means gets plugged into .

Thus .

Example Question #3 : Understanding Functional Notations

Let and .  What is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Calculate and plug it into .

Example Question #1 : Function Notation

Evaluate  if and .

Possible Answers:

Undefined

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This expression is the same as saying "take the answer of and plug it into ."

First, we need to find . We do this by plugging in for in .

Now we take this answer and plug it into .

We can find the value of by replacing with .

This is our final answer.

Example Question #1 : Transformations Of Parabolic Functions

If the function  is depicted here, which answer choice graphs ?

Possible Answers:

C

B

None of these graphs are correct.

Correct answer:
Explanation:

The function  shifts a function f(x) units to the left. Conversely,  shifts a function f(x) units to the right. In this question, we are translating the graph two units to the left.

To translate along the y-axis, we use the function  or .

Example Question #1 : Understanding Inverse Functions

Let . What is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are asked to find , which is the inverse of a function. 

In order to find the inverse, the first thing we want to do is replace f(x) with y. (This usually makes it easier to separate x from its function.).

Next, we will swap x and y.

Then, we will solve for y. The expression that we determine will be equal to .

Subtract 5 from both sides.

Multiply both sides by -1.

We need to raise both sides of the equation to the 1/3 power in order to remove the exponent on the right side. 

We will apply the general property of exponents which states that .

Laslty, we will subtract one from both sides.

The expression equal to y is equal to the inverse of the original function f(x). Thus, we can replace y with .

The answer is .

Example Question #2 : Understanding Inverse Functions

What is the inverse of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The inverse of requires us to interchange and and then solve for .

 

Then solve for :

Example Question #3 : Understanding Inverse Functions

If , what is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the inverse of a function, exchange the and variables and then solve for .

Example Question #1 : Vertical And Horizontal Lines

Which of the following is a horizontal line? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A horizontal line has infinitely many values for , but only one possible value for . Thus, it is always of the form , where  is a constant. Horizontal lines have a slope of . The only equation of this form is

Example Question #1 : Understanding Vertical And Horizontal Lines

Which of the following is a vertical line? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A vertical line is one in which the  values can vary. Namely, there is only one possible value for , and  can be any number. Thus, by this description, the only vertical line listed is 

Example Question #1 : Linear Functions

Which of the following has a slope of 0? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A line with a slope of zero will be horizontal. A horizontal line has only one possible value for , and  can be any value. 

Thus, the only given equation which fits this description is .

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