SPM Practice (Long Question)

Question 4:

\begin{array}{l} The function f is denoted by f : x \to \frac{1 + x}{1 - x}, x \neq 1. \\ Find f^{2}, f^{3}, f^{4} and hence write down the functions f^{51} and f^{52} . \end{array}

Solution:

\begin{array}{l} f (x) = \frac{1 + x}{1 - x}, x \neq 1 \\ f^{2} (x) = f [f (x)] = f (\frac{1 + x}{1 - x}) \\ = \frac{1 + (\frac{1 + x}{1 - x})}{1 - (\frac{1 + x}{1 - x})} = \frac{\frac{1 - x + 1 + x}{1 - x}}{\frac{1 - x - 1 - x}{1 - x}} \\ = \frac{2}{- 2 x} = - \frac{1}{x} \\ f^{3} (x) = f [f^{2} (x)] = f (- \frac{1}{x}) \\ = \frac{1 + (- \frac{1}{x})}{1 - (- \frac{1}{x})} = \frac{\frac{x - 1}{x}}{\frac{x + 1}{x}} \\ = \frac{x - 1}{x + 1} \\ f^{4} (x) = f [f^{3} (x)] = f (\frac{x - 1}{x + 1}) \\ = \frac{1 + (\frac{x - 1}{x + 1})}{1 - (\frac{x - 1}{x + 1})} = \frac{\frac{x + 1 + x - 1}{x + 1}}{\frac{x + 1 - x + 1}{x + 1}} \\ = \frac{2 x}{2} = x \\ f^{5} (x) = f [f^{4} (x)] = f (x) = \frac{1 + x}{1 - x} (recurring) \\ ∴ f^{51} (x) = f^{3} [f^{48} (x)] = f^{3} (x) \\ = \frac{x - 1}{x + 1} \\ f^{52} (x) = f^{4} [f^{48} (x)] = f^{4} (x) = x \end{array}