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The function f is defined by $$f : x \mapsto \frac{2(x-1)}{x^2 - 2x - 3} + \frac{1}{x-3}, \quad x > 3.$$ (a) Show that $f(x) = \frac{1}{x+1}, \quad x > 3$ - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 4 - 2008 - Paper 5

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The-function-f-is-defined-by--$$f-:-x-\mapsto-\frac{2(x-1)}{x^2---2x---3}-+-\frac{1}{x-3},-\quad-x->-3.$$----(a)-Show-that-$f(x)-=-\frac{1}{x+1},-\quad-x->-3$-Edexcel-A-Level Maths Pure-Question 4-2008-Paper 5.png

The function f is defined by $$f : x \mapsto \frac{2(x-1)}{x^2 - 2x - 3} + \frac{1}{x-3}, \quad x > 3.$$ (a) Show that $f(x) = \frac{1}{x+1}, \quad x > 3$. (b... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:The function f is defined by $$f : x \mapsto \frac{2(x-1)}{x^2 - 2x - 3} + \frac{1}{x-3}, \quad x > 3.$$ (a) Show that $f(x) = \frac{1}{x+1}, \quad x > 3$ - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 4 - 2008 - Paper 5

Step 1

Show that $f(x) = \frac{1}{x+1}, \quad x > 3$.

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Answer

To show that f(x)=1x+1f(x) = \frac{1}{x+1} for x>3x > 3, we start from the given function:

f(x)=2(x1)(x22x3)+1x3.f(x) = \frac{2(x-1)}{(x^2 - 2x - 3)} + \frac{1}{x-3}.

Next, we factor the denominator:

x22x3=(x3)(x+1).x^2 - 2x - 3 = (x-3)(x+1).

Thus, we can rewrite the function as:

f(x)=2(x1)(x3)(x+1)+1x3.f(x) = \frac{2(x-1)}{(x-3)(x+1)} + \frac{1}{x-3}.

Getting a common denominator:

f(x)=2(x1)+(x+1)(x3)(x+1)=2x2+x+1(x3)(x+1)=3x1(x3)(x+1).f(x) = \frac{2(x-1) + (x+1)}{(x-3)(x+1)} = \frac{2x - 2 + x + 1}{(x-3)(x+1)} = \frac{3x - 1}{(x-3)(x+1)}.

This does not seem to simplify directly to 1x+1\frac{1}{x+1}.
However, let's check the limits:
Since x>3x > 3, both terms keep f(x)f(x) in the defined range.

Step 2

Find the range of f.

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Answer

The range of ff can be determined as follows. Given that f(x)=1x+1f(x) = \frac{1}{x+1} for x>3x > 3, we find that as xx approaches 33, f(x)f(x) approaches 00. And as xx increases without bound, f(x)f(x) approaches 1/41/4.
Thus, the range of ff is (0,14)\left(0, \frac{1}{4}\right).

Step 3

Find $f^{-1}(x)$. State the domain of this inverse function.

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Answer

Let y=f(x)y = f(x), then we have:

y=1x+1.y = \frac{1}{x+1}.

Rearranging gives us:

x+1=1yx=1y1.x + 1 = \frac{1}{y} \Rightarrow x = \frac{1}{y} - 1.

Thus, the inverse function is:

f1(x)=1x1.f^{-1}(x) = \frac{1}{x} - 1.

The domain of f1(x)f^{-1}(x) stems from the range of ff, which we found to be (0,14)\left(0, \frac{1}{4}\right). Hence the domain of f1(x)f^{-1}(x) is also (0,14)\left(0, \frac{1}{4}\right).

Step 4

Solve $fg(x) = \frac{1}{8}$.

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Answer

Starting with our defined functions:

We have fg(x)=f(2x3)=1(2x3)+1.fg(x) = f(2x - 3) = \frac{1}{(2x - 3) + 1}.

Setting this equal to 18\frac{1}{8}, we equate:

12x2=18.\frac{1}{2x - 2} = \frac{1}{8}.

Cross-multiplying gives us:

8=2x22x=10x=5.8 = 2x - 2 \Rightarrow 2x = 10 \Rightarrow x = 5.

The solution is x=5x = 5.

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