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Nov 2013 p13 q10
783
The function f is defined by \(f : x \mapsto x^2 + 4x\) for \(x \geq c\), where \(c\) is a constant. It is given that \(f\) is a one-one function.
(i) State the range of \(f\) in terms of \(c\) and find the smallest possible value of \(c\).
The function \(g\) is defined by \(g : x \mapsto ax + b\) for \(x \geq 0\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are positive constants. It is given that, when \(c = 0\), \(gf(1) = 11\) and \(fg(1) = 21\).
(ii) Write down two equations in \(a\) and \(b\) and solve them to find the values of \(a\) and \(b\).
Solution
(i) The function \(f(x) = x^2 + 4x\) can be rewritten as \((x+2)^2 - 4\). The vertex of this parabola is at \(x = -2\), giving the minimum value \(-4\). For \(f\) to be one-one, \(x \geq c\) must be such that the function is increasing, which occurs for \(x \geq -2\). Thus, the range is \(y \geq c^2 + 4c\) and the smallest possible value of \(c\) is \(-2\).
(ii) Given \(gf(1) = 11\) and \(fg(1) = 21\), we have:
1. \(g(f(1)) = g(5) = 5a + b = 11\)
2. \(f(g(1)) = f(a + b) = (a + b)^2 + 4(a + b) = 21\)
Substituting \(b = 11 - 5a\) into the second equation:
\((a + (11 - 5a))^2 + 4(a + (11 - 5a)) = 21\)
\((11 - 4a)^2 + 4(11 - 4a) = 21\)
\(121 - 88a + 16a^2 + 44 - 16a = 21\)
\(16a^2 - 104a + 144 = 21\)
\(16a^2 - 104a + 123 = 0\)
Solving this quadratic equation gives \(a = 2\) and \(b = 1\).