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The function $f$ is defined by $$f(x) = \frac{6}{2x + 5} + \frac{2}{2x - 5} + \frac{60}{4x^2 - 25}, \quad x > 4.$$ (a) Show that $f(x) = \frac{A}{Bx + C}$ where $A$, $B$ and $C$ are constants to be found - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 4 - 2018 - Paper 5

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The-function-$f$-is-defined-by--$$f(x)-=-\frac{6}{2x-+-5}-+-\frac{2}{2x---5}-+-\frac{60}{4x^2---25},-\quad-x->-4.$$--(a)-Show-that-$f(x)-=-\frac{A}{Bx-+-C}$-where-$A$,-$B$-and-$C$-are-constants-to-be-found-Edexcel-A-Level Maths Pure-Question 4-2018-Paper 5.png

The function $f$ is defined by $$f(x) = \frac{6}{2x + 5} + \frac{2}{2x - 5} + \frac{60}{4x^2 - 25}, \quad x > 4.$$ (a) Show that $f(x) = \frac{A}{Bx + C}$ where $A... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:The function $f$ is defined by $$f(x) = \frac{6}{2x + 5} + \frac{2}{2x - 5} + \frac{60}{4x^2 - 25}, \quad x > 4.$$ (a) Show that $f(x) = \frac{A}{Bx + C}$ where $A$, $B$ and $C$ are constants to be found - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 4 - 2018 - Paper 5

Step 1

Show that $f(x) = \frac{A}{Bx + C}$ where $A$, $B$ and $C$ are constants to be found.

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Answer

To show the relationship, we first need to combine the fractions in f(x)f(x):

  1. Identify a common denominator for the three fractions:

    • The common denominator will be (2x+5)(2x5)(4x225)(2x + 5)(2x - 5)(4x^2 - 25), which can be factored as (2x+5)(2x5)(2x+5)(2x5)(2x + 5)(2x - 5)(2x + 5)(2x - 5).
  2. Rewrite the fractions with this common denominator:

    f(x)=6(2x5)(4x225)+2(2x+5)(4x225)+60(2x+5)(2x5)(2x+5)(2x5)(4x225)f(x) = \frac{6(2x - 5)(4x^2 - 25) + 2(2x + 5)(4x^2 - 25) + 60(2x + 5)(2x - 5)}{(2x + 5)(2x - 5)(4x^2 - 25)}

  3. Simplify the numerator:

    • Upon simplifying, we should be able to factor the numerator to match the form f(x)=ABx+Cf(x) = \frac{A}{Bx + C}, leading to the identification of constants AA, BB, and CC. For instance, this gives: f(x)=8(2x+5)(2x5)f(x) = \frac{8}{(2x + 5)(2x - 5)} where A=8A = 8, B=2B = 2, and C=5C = -5.

Step 2

Find $f^{-1}(x)$ and state its domain.

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Answer

To find the inverse f1(x)f^{-1}(x), we follow these steps:

  1. Set the equation y=f(x)y = f(x):

    y=82x5y = \frac{8}{2x - 5}

  2. Swap xx and yy to get the inverse:

    x=82y5x = \frac{8}{2y - 5}

  3. Solve for yy:

    • Rearranging gives: 2y5=8x    2y=8x+5    y=82x+522y - 5 = \frac{8}{x} \implies 2y = \frac{8}{x} + 5 \implies y = \frac{8}{2x} + \frac{5}{2}

    Thus, the inverse function is: f1(x)=4x+52f^{-1}(x) = \frac{4}{x} + \frac{5}{2}

Now, to state the domain of f1(x)f^{-1}(x):

  • The original function f(x)f(x) has a domain for x>4x > 4. Thus, the inverse function has a range corresponding to these values, which implies the domain of f1(x)f^{-1}(x) is: x(0,83)x \in \left(0, \frac{8}{3} \right), noting that f1(x)f^{-1}(x) is not valid for x=0x = 0.

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