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Function concepts

A quartic and an unevenly spaced table

  • Units 1 and 2
  • 6 points
  • About 18 minutes

You can use a calculator on this question, just like on exam day.

You work with functions given as a table, a graph described in words, or an equation: composition, inverses, zeros, end behavior and asymptotes, and picking the function type that fits a table. You'll use a graphing calculator. On the exam: Question 1 of 4. Part A of the free-response section: 2 questions in 35 minutes, graphing calculator required.

The question and its sources

A graphing calculator is required for this question. Make sure it is in radian mode. Unless otherwise specified, decimal approximations should be accurate to three places after the decimal point; avoid rounding intermediate values. Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function f is the set of all real numbers x for which f(x) is a real number. Show the work that leads to your answers where the question asks for it.

Values of q

x01346
q(x)236.7510.12522.78125

Source: Hypothetical function values

The functions p and q

The function p is given by p(x) = 0.5x⁴ − 2x³ + x² + 3x − 4.

The function q is increasing and is defined for all real numbers. The table gives values of q(x) at selected values of x.

Source: Hypothetical functions

Suggested time: 18 minutes

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Part (a)

2 points

(i) The function h is defined by h(x) = (p ∘ q)(x) = p(q(x)). Find the value of h(1) as a decimal approximation, or indicate that it is not defined. Show the work that leads to your answer. (ii) Find the value of q⁻¹(10.125), or indicate that it is not defined.

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Part (b)

2 points

(i) Find all real zeros of p, as decimal approximations, or indicate that there are none. (ii) Determine the number of non-real zeros of p. Give a reason for your answer.

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Part (c)

2 points

(i) Based on the table, which of the following function types best models q: linear, quadratic, exponential, or logarithmic? (ii) Give a reason for your answer to part (c)(i) based on the relationship between the change in the output values of q and the change in the input values of q. Refer to values in the table in your reasoning.

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