Rational Functions [166 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 14] EXN.1.SL.TZ0.8

The following diagram shows the graph of y = −1 − √ x + 3 for x ≥ −3.

(a) Describe a sequence of transformations that transforms the

graph of y = √x for x ≥ 0 to the graph of
y = −1 − √ x + 3 for x ≥ −3. [3]

A function f is defined by f (x) = −1 − √ x + 3 for x ≥ −3.

(b) State the range of f . [1]

(c) Find an expression for f −1 (x), stating its domain. [5]

(d) Find the coordinates of the point(s) where the graphs of

y = f (x) and y = f (x) intersect. [5]
−1

2. [Maximum mark: 14] 24M.1.SL.TZ1.8

Consider the function f (x) , x ≠ 2.
4x+2
=
x−2
 (a) Sketch the graph of y = f (x). On your sketch, indicate the
values of any axis intercepts and label any asymptotes with
their equations. [5]

(b) Write down the range of f . [1]

Consider the function g(x) = x

2
+ bx + c. The graph of g has an axis of
symmetry at x = 2.

The two roots of g(x) = 0 are −

1

2
and p, where p ∈ Q.

(c) Show that p =

9
. [1]
2

(d) Find the value of b and the value of c. [3]

(e) Find the y-coordinate of the vertex of the graph of y = g(x). [2]

(f ) Find the number of solutions of the equation f (x) = g(x). [2]

3. [Maximum mark: 8] 24M.1.SL.TZ2.6

2(x+3)
A function f is defined by f (x) =
3(x+2)
, where x ∈ R, x ≠ −2.

The graph y = f (x) is shown below.

 (a) Write down the equation of the horizontal asymptote. [1]

Consider g(x) = mx + 1, where m ∈ R, m ≠ 0.

(b.i) Write down the number of solutions to f (x) = g(x) for

m > 0. [1]

(b.ii) Determine the value of m such that f (x) = g(x) has only

one solution for x. [4]

(b.iii) Determine the range of values for m, where f (x) = g(x)

has two solutions for x ≥ 0. [2]

4. [Maximum mark: 12] 24M.2.SL.TZ1.7

Consider the function defined by f (x) =
3

2
e
x−2
, 0 ≤ x ≤ 4.
(a) Show that the inverse function is given by
). [3]
−1 2x
f (x) = 2 + ln (
3

The graphs of f and f −1 intersect at two points P and Q, as shown on the

following diagram.

(b) Find PQ. [3]

The graph of f is reflected in the x-axis and then translated parallel to the y-axis
by 5 units in the positive direction to give the graph of a function g.

(c) Write down

(c.i) an expression for g(x); [2]

(c.ii) the domain of g. [1]

(d) Solve the equation f (x) = g(x). Give your answer in the
form x = a + ln b, where a, b ∈ Q. [3]
5. [Maximum mark: 7] 23M.1.SL.TZ1.2
The function f is defined by f (x) for x ∈ R, x ≠ 2.
7x+7
=
2x−4

(a) Find the zero of f (x). [2]

(b) For the graph of y = f (x), write down the equation of

(b.i) the vertical asymptote; [1]

(b.ii) the horizontal asymptote. [1]

(c) Find f
−1
(x), the inverse function of f (x). [3]

6. [Maximum mark: 6] 23M.1.SL.TZ1.6

The function f is defined by f (x) = sin qx, where q > 0. The following
diagram shows part of the graph of f for 0 ≤ x ≤ 4m, where x is in radians.
There are x-intercepts at x = 0, 2m and 4m.

(a) Find an expression for m in terms of q. [2]

2qx
The function g is defined by g(x) = 3 sin
3
, for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6m.

(b) On the axes above, sketch the graph of g. [4]

7. [Maximum mark: 5] 23M.1.SL.TZ2.3
A function f is defined by f (x) = 1 −
1

x−2
, where x ∈ R, x ≠ 2.

(a) The graph of y = f (x) has a vertical asymptote and a

horizontal asymptote.

Write down the equation of

(a.i) the vertical asymptote; [1]

(a.ii) the horizontal asymptote. [1]

(b) Find the coordinates of the point where the graph of

y = f (x) intersects

(b.i) the y-axis; [1]

(b.ii) the x-axis. [1]

(c) On the following set of axes, sketch the graph of y = f (x),

showing all the features found in parts (a) and (b).

[1]
8. [Maximum mark: 6] 22M.1.SL.TZ2.4
A function f is defined by f (x) =
2x−1

x+1
, where x ∈ R, x ≠ −1.

The graph of y = f (x) has a vertical asymptote and a horizontal asymptote.

(a.i) Write down the equation of the vertical asymptote. [1]

(a.ii) Write down the equation of the horizontal asymptote. [1]

(b) On the set of axes below, sketch the graph of y = f (x).

On your sketch, clearly indicate the asymptotes and the

position of any points of intersection with the axes.

[3]

(c) Hence, solve the inequality 0 <

2x−1
< 2. [1]
x+1

9. [Maximum mark: 15] 22M.1.SL.TZ2.7

The following diagram shows part of the graph of a quadratic function f .

The graph of f has its vertex at (3, 4), and it passes through point Q as shown.
 (a) Write down the equation of the axis of symmetry. [1]

2
The function can be written in the form f (x) = a(x − h) + k.

(b.i) Write down the values of h and k. [2]

(b.ii) Point Q has coordinates (5, 12). Find the value of a. [2]

The line L is tangent to the graph of f at Q.

(c) Find the equation of L. [4]

Now consider another function y = g(x). The derivative of g is given by

g′(x) = f (x) − d, where d ∈ R.

(d) Find the values of d for which g is an increasing function. [3]

(e) Find the values of x for which the graph of g is concave-up. [3]

10. [Maximum mark: 16] 22M.2.SL.TZ1.8

The function f is defined by f (x) , where x ∈ R, x ≠ −4.
4x+1
=
x+4
 For the graph of f

(a.i) write down the equation of the vertical asymptote. [1]

(a.ii) find the equation of the horizontal asymptote. [2]

(b.i) Find f −1 (x). [4]

(b.ii) Using an algebraic approach, show that the graph of f −1 is

obtained by a reflection of the graph of f in the y-axis followed
by a reflection in the x-axis. [4]

The graphs of f and f −1 intersect at x = p and x = q, where p < q.

(c.i) Find the value of p and the value of q. [2]

(c.ii) Hence, find the area enclosed by the graph of f and the graph
of f −1 . [3]

11. [Maximum mark: 5] 21N.1.SL.TZ0.3

The function f is defined by f (x) , where x ∈ R, x ≠ 3.
2x+4
=
3−x

Write down the equation of

(a.i) the vertical asymptote of the graph of f . [1]

(a.ii) the horizontal asymptote of the graph of f . [1]

Find the coordinates where the graph of f crosses

(b.i) the x-axis. [1]

(b.ii) the y-axis. [1]

 (c) Sketch the graph of f on the axes below.

[1]

12. [Maximum mark: 5] 21M.1.SL.TZ1.1

The graph of y = f (x) for −4 ≤ x ≤ 6 is shown in the following diagram.
 (a.i) Write down the value of f (2). [1]

(a.ii) Write down the value of (f ∘ f )(2). [1]

(b) 1
Let g(x) = 2 f (x) + 1 for −4 ≤ x ≤ 6. On the axes
above, sketch the graph of g.

[3]

13. [Maximum mark: 6] 20N.1.SL.TZ0.S_4

Let f (x) = a log 3 (x − 4), for x > 4, where a > 0.

Point A(13, 7) lies on the graph of f .

(a) Find the value of a.

[3] 

(b) The x-intercept of the graph of f is (5, 0).

On the following grid, sketch the graph of f .

[3] 

14. [Maximum mark: 15] 20N.1.SL.TZ0.S_10

The following diagram shows part of the graph of f (x) , for
k
=
x

x > 0, k > 0.

k
Let P(p, p
) be any point on the graph of f . Line L 1 is the tangent to the
graph of f at P.

(a.i) Find f ′(p) in terms of k and p.

[2] 

(a.ii) Show that the equation of L 1 is kx + p 2 y − 2pk = 0.

[2] 

Line L 1 intersects the x-axis at point A(2p, 0) and the y-axis at point B.

(b) Find the area of triangle AOB in terms of k.

[5] 

(c) 4
The graph of f is translated by ( ) to give the graph of g.
3

In the following diagram:

point Q lies on the graph of g

points C, D and E lie on the vertical asymptote of g
points D and F lie on the horizontal asymptote of g
point G lies on the x-axis such that FG is parallel to DC.
 Line L 2 is the tangent to the graph of g at Q, and passes
through E and F.

Given that triangle EDF and rectangle CDFG have equal

areas, find the gradient of L 2 in terms of p. [6] 

15. [Maximum mark: 15] 20N.1.SL.TZ0.S_10

The following diagram shows part of the graph of f (x) , for
k
=
x

x > 0, k > 0.

Let P(p, k

p
) be any point on the graph of f . Line L 1 is the tangent to the
graph of f at P.
(a.i) Find f ′(p) in terms of k and p.
[2] 

(a.ii) Show that the equation of L 1 is kx + p 2 y − 2pk = 0.

[2] 

Line L 1 intersects the x-axis at point A(2p, 0) and the y-axis at point B.

(b) Find the area of triangle AOB in terms of k.

[5] 

(c) 4
The graph of f is translated by ( ) to give the graph of g.
3

In the following diagram:

point Q lies on the graph of g

points C, D and E lie on the vertical asymptote of g
points D and F lie on the horizontal asymptote of g
point G lies on the x-axis such that FG is parallel to DC.

Line L 2 is the tangent to the graph of g at Q, and passes

through E and F.
 [6] 

Given that triangle EDF and rectangle CDFG have equal

areas, find the gradient of L 2 in terms of p.

16. [Maximum mark: 6] 20N.1.SL.TZ0.S_4

Let f (x) = a log 3 (x − 4), for x > 4, where a > 0.

Point A(13, 7) lies on the graph of f .

(a) Find the value of a.

[3] 

(b) The x-intercept of the graph of f is (5, 0).

On the following grid, sketch the graph of f .

 [3] 

17. [Maximum mark: 7] 19N.1.SL.TZ0.S_3

Let g (x) = x
2
+ bx + 11. The point (−1, 8) lies on the graph of g.

(a) Find the value of b. [3]

(b) The graph of f (x) = x

2
is transformed to obtain the graph
of g.

Describe this transformation. [4]

18. [Maximum mark: 4] 18N.2.SL.TZ0.S_3

Let f (x) =
6x−1

2x+3
, for x ≠ −
3

2
.

(a.i) For the graph of f , find the y-intercept. [2]

(b) Hence or otherwise, write down lim (

6x−1
).
x→∞
2x+3 [2]

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