SAT Math : SAT Mathematics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #2741 : Sat Mathematics

If f(x) = x - 3, then find f^{-1}(x)

Possible Answers:

f^{-1}(x)=3x

f^{-1}(x)=x-3

f^{-1}(x)=3-x

f^{-1}(x)=x+3

f^{-1}(x)=\frac{1}{x-3}

Correct answer:

f^{-1}(x)=x+3

Explanation:

f(x) = x - 3 is the same as y= x - 3

To find the inverse simply exchange x and y and solve for y

So we get x=y-3 which leads to y=x+3.

Example Question #2742 : Sat Mathematics

If , then which of the following is equal to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Inversef2

Inverse3

Example Question #2743 : Sat Mathematics

Given the relation below, identify the domain of the inverse of the relation.

Possible Answers:

The inverse of the relation does not exist.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The domain of the inverse of a relation is the same as the range of the original relation. In other words, the y-values of the relation are the x-values of the inverse.

For the original relation, the range is: .

Thus, the domain for the inverse relation will also be .

Example Question #5 : How To Find Domain And Range Of The Inverse Of A Relation

Define  , restricting the domain of the function to  .

Determine  (you need not determine its domain restriction).

Possible Answers:

 does not exist

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, we must determine whether  exists.

A quadratic function has a parabola as its graph; this graph decreases, then increases (or vice versa), with a vertex at which the change takes place. 

 exists if and only if, if , then - or, equivalently, if there does not exist  and  such that , but . This will happen on any interval on which the graph of  constantly increases or constantly decreases, but if the graph changes direction on an interval, there will be  such that  on this interval. The key is therefore to determine whether the interval to which the domain is restricted contains the vertex.

The -coordinate of the vertex of the parabola of the function

is .

The -coordinate of the vertex of the parabola of  can be found by setting :

.

The vertex of the graph of  without its domain restriction is at the point with -coordinate 2. However, . Therefore, the domain at which  is restricted does not include the vertex, and  exists on this domain.

To determine the inverse of , first, rewrite  in vertex form

, the same as  in the standard form.

The graph of , if unrestricted, would have a vertex with -coordinate 2, and -coordinate 

.

Therefore, .

The vertex form of  is therefore

To find , first replace  with :

Switch  and :

Solve for . First, add 8 to both sides:

Take the square root of both sides:

Add 2 to both sides

Replace  with :

Either  or 

The domain of  is the set of nonpositive numbers; this is consequently the range of .  can only have positive values, so the only possible choice for  is .

Example Question #5 : How To Find Domain And Range Of The Inverse Of A Relation

Define a function .

It is desired that is domain be restricted so that  have an inverse. Which of these domain restrictions would not achieve that goal?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A quadratic function has a parabola as its graph; this graph decreases, then increases (or vice versa), with a vertex at which the change takes place. 

 exists if and only if, if , then - or, equivalently, if there does not exist  and  such that , but . This will happen on any interval on which the graph of  constantly increases or constantly decreases, but if the graph changes direction on an interval, there will be  such that  on this interval. The key is therefore to identify the interval that contains the vertex.

The -coordinate of the vertex of the parabola of the function

is .

The -coordinate of the vertex of the parabola of  can be found by setting :

.

Of the five intervals in the choices, 

,

so  cannot exist if  is restricted to this interval. This is the correct choice.

Example Question #41 : Algebraic Functions

Define  , restricting the domain of the function to  .

Determine  (you need not determine its domain restriction).

Possible Answers:

 does not exist

Correct answer:

 does not exist

Explanation:

First, we must determine whether  exists.

A quadratic function has a parabola as its graph; this graph changes direction (downward to upward, or vice versa) at a given point called the vertex.

 exists on a given domain interval if and only if there does not exist  and  on this domain such that , but . This will happen if the graph changes direction on the domain interval. The key is therefore to determine whether the given domain interval includes the vertex.

The -coordinate of the vertex of the parabola of the function

is .

The -coordinate of the vertex of the parabola of  can be found by setting :

.

The vertex of the graph of  without its domain restriction is at the point with -coordinate 8. Since , the vertex is in the interior of the domain; as a consequence, the graph of  changes direction on the interval, and  does not exist on .

Example Question #1 : How To Find F(X)

If f(x) = x2 – 5 for all values x and f(a) = 4, what is one possible value of a?

Possible Answers:

8

14

3

1

11

Correct answer:

3

Explanation:

Using the defined function, f(a) will produce the same result when substituted for x:

 f(a) =  a2 – 5

Setting this equal to 4, you can solve for a:

a2 – 5 = 4

a2 = 9

a = –3 or 3

Example Question #2 : How To Find F(X)

If the function g is defined by g(x) = 4x + 5, then 2g(x) – 3 =

Possible Answers:

6x + 2

8x + 2

6x + 7

4x + 2

8x + 7

Correct answer:

8x + 7

Explanation:

The function g(x) is equal to 4x + 5, and the notation 2g(x) asks us to multiply the entire function by 2. 2(4x + 5) = 8x + 10. We then subtract 3, the second part of the new equation, to get 8x + 7.

Example Question #3 : How To Find F(X)

If f(x) = x2 + 5x and g(x) = 2, what is f(g(4))?

Possible Answers:

39

4

2

14

36

Correct answer:

14

Explanation:

First you must find what g(4) is. The definition of g(x) tells you that the function is always equal to 2, regardless of what “x” is. Plugging 2 into f(x), we get 22 + 5(2) = 14.

Example Question #3 : Algebraic Functions

f(a) = 1/3(a3 +  5a – 15)

Find = 3. 

Possible Answers:

3

9

27

1

19

Correct answer:

9

Explanation:

Substitute 3 for all a.

(1/3) * (33 + 5(3) – 15)

(1/3) * (27 + 15 – 15)

(1/3) * (27) = 9

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