SPM Practice (Long Question)


Question 4:
The function f is denoted by f:x1+x1x,x1. Find f2,f3,f4 and hence write down the functions f51 and f52.

Solution:
f(x)=1+x1x,x1f2(x)=f[f(x)]=f(1+x1x)         =1+(1+x1x)1(1+x1x)=1x+1+x1x1x1x1x         =22x=1xf3(x)=f[f2(x)]=f(1x)         =1+(1x)1(1x)=x1xx+1x         =x1x+1f4(x)=f[f3(x)]=f(x1x+1)          =1+(x1x+1)1(x1x+1)=x+1+x1x+1x+1x+1x+1          =2x2=xf5(x)=f[f4(x)]=f(x)=1+x1x(recurring)