College Algebra

Chapter 4

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Note:
This review is composed of questions similar to those
in the chapter review at the end of chapter 4. This
review is meant to highlight basic concepts from
chapter 4. It does not cover all concepts presented
by your instructor. Refer back to your notes, unit
objectives, handouts, etc. to further prepare for your
exam.

Mary Stangler Center for Academic Success

For 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 4 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 4 find:
𝑓∘𝑔 3
𝑔∘𝑓 −1
𝑓∘𝑓 0
𝑔∘𝑔 4

𝑓∘𝑔 3
i) Find g(3): 𝑔 3 = (3)2 +4=13
ii) Find f(13): 𝑓 13 = 13 + 4 = 17
𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 3 = 17

𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 −1
i) find f(-1): 𝑓 −1 = −1 + 4 = 3
ii) find 𝑔( 3): 𝑔( 3)=( 3)2 +4=3+4=7
𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 −1 =7

𝑓∘𝑓 0
i) find f(0): f 0 = 0 + 4 = 4 = 2
ii) find f(2): 𝑓 2 = 2 + 4 = 6
𝑓∘𝑓 0 = 6

𝑔∘𝑔 4
i) Find g(4): 𝑔 4 = 42 + 4 = 20
ii) Find g(20): 𝑔 20 = 202 + 4 = 404
 𝑥+2 1
For 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−1 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 3𝑥 find: 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 and 𝑔 ∘ 𝑔. State the domain for each composite
function.

𝒇∘𝒈 𝒈∘𝒈
1 1 1
1 +2 𝑔 =
𝑓 = 3𝑥 3𝑥 1
3𝑥 1 3
−1 3𝑥
3𝑥 Simplify –threes cancel out
Find the common denominator and
𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
multiply the function by 1 1
𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
1 𝑔 =
+ 2 3𝑥 3𝑥 1
1 3𝑥
𝑓 = ∙ 𝑥
3𝑥 1
− 1 3𝑥 Rewrite
3𝑥 1 1 1
Multiple 3x through 𝑔 = ÷
1 1 + 6𝑥 3𝑥 1 𝑥
𝑓 = Flip to make multiplication
3𝑥 1 − 3𝑥
1 1
1 + 6𝑥 𝑔 = ∙𝑥 =𝑥
𝑓∘𝑔 𝑥 = 3𝑥 1
1 − 3𝑥
Domain: Find the domain of the result and the 𝑔∘𝑔 𝑥 =𝑥
domain of the inside function. Domain: Find the domain of the result and the
Domain of the result (
1+6𝑥 1
) is {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ }. The domain of the inside function.
1−3𝑥 3 Domain of the result (x) is all real numbers The
domain of the inside function (g). {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 0}.
domain of the inside function (g). {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ 0}.
Combining these the domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔
1 Combining these the domain of 𝑔 ∘ 𝑔
is {𝑥|𝑥 ≠ , x ≠ 0}. is {𝑥| x ≠ 0}.
3
Find the inverse of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 5. The function is one-to-one.

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−5
𝑦 = 𝑥−5
Switch x and y
𝑥 = 𝑦−5
Solve for y
𝑥2 = 𝑦 − 5
𝑥2 + 5 = 𝑦
𝑓 −1 x = 𝑥 2 + 5

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 1
If 𝑔 𝑥 = log 4 𝑥 , evaluate 𝑔(16) and 𝑔 64 by hand.

𝟏 𝒈 𝟔𝟒
𝒈
𝟏𝟔
1 1 𝑔 64 = log 4 64
𝑔 = log 4 Rewrite 64 in terms of the base of the logarithm (4)
16 16
Rewrite 16 in terms of the base of the logarithm (4) 𝑔 64 = log 4 43
𝑔
1
= log 4
1 Use log 𝑥 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑛
16 42
1 −𝑛
Use =𝑥 𝑔 64 = 3
𝑥𝑛
1
𝑔 = log 4 4−2
16
Use log 𝑥 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑛

1
𝑔 = −2
16

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 3𝑥
Find the domain of ℎ 𝑥 = log(𝑥+1)

1. Set the inside of the logarithm to be greater than zero and solve
3𝑥
>0
𝑥+1
3𝑥 > 0
𝑥>0
2. Set the denominator equal to zero and solve. x cannot be this value
𝑥+1=0
𝑥 = −1
𝑥 ≠ −1
3. Combine the results from 1 and 2
Domain is 𝑥 𝑥 > 0, 𝑥 ≠ −1

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Write the expression as the sum and/or difference of logarithms. Express powers as factors.
3𝑥 2
log 3
𝑤𝑦

𝑥
Use log 𝑥𝑦 = log 𝑥 + log 𝑦 and log = log 𝑥 − log 𝑦
𝑦
2
3𝑥
log 3 = log 3 3 + log 3 𝑥 2 − (log 3 𝑤 + log 3 𝑦)
𝑤𝑦
Simplify (remember log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1
1 + log 3 𝑥 2 − log 3 𝑤 − log 3 𝑦
Use log 𝑥 𝑚 = 𝑚 log 𝑥
3𝑥 2
log 3 = 1 + 2log 3 𝑥 − log 3 𝑤 − log 3 𝑦
𝑤𝑦

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Write the expression as a single logarithm
𝑥+2 𝑥
ln + ln − ln(𝑥 2 − 4)
𝑥 𝑥−2

𝑥
Use log 𝑥𝑦 = log 𝑥 + log 𝑦 and log = log 𝑥 − log 𝑦
𝑦
𝑥+2 𝑥
ln − ln(𝑥 2 − 4)
𝑥 𝑥−2
𝑥+2 𝑥
ln 𝑥 𝑥−2
2
𝑥 −4
Simplify
𝑥+2
ln 𝑥−2
𝑥2 − 4
𝑥+2
𝑥−2 𝑥+2
ln = ln ÷( 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 )
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥−2
𝑥+2 1
ln ∙
𝑥−2 𝑥−2 𝑥+2
Cross out the x+2 from the numerator and the denominator
1 1
ln = ln
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 2)2
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For each function f
a) find the domain of f b) Graph f
c) From the graph, determine the range and any asymptotes of f d) find 𝑓 −1
e) Find the domain and range of 𝑓 −1 f) graph 𝑓 −1

i) 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥−1 ii) 𝑓 𝑥 = ln(𝑥 + 2)

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙−𝟏 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟐)
a) Domain is all real numbers a) Domain
𝑥+2>0
b) 𝑥 > −2
{𝑥|𝑥 > −2}
b)

c) The range is {𝑦|𝑦 > 0} c) The range is all real numbers

Mary Stangler Center for Academic Success

For each function f
a) find the domain of f b) Graph f
c) From the graph, determine the range and any asymptotes of f d) find 𝑓 −1
e) Find the domain and range of 𝑓 −1 f) graph 𝑓 −1

i) 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥−1 ii) 𝑓 𝑥 = ln(𝑥 + 2)

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙−𝟏 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒏(𝒙 + 𝟐)
d. 𝑦 = 3𝑥−1 d. 𝑦 = ln(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥 = 3𝑦−1 𝑥 = ln(𝑦 + 2)
log 3 𝑥 = 𝑦 − 1 𝑒𝑥 = 𝑦 + 2
log 3 𝑥 + 1 = 𝑦 𝑒𝑥 − 2 = 𝑦
𝑓 −1 x = log 3 𝑥 + 1 𝑓 −1 x = 𝑒 𝑥 − 2

Remember Domain of 𝒇 = range of 𝒇−𝟏 and the range of 𝒇 = domain of 𝒇−𝟏

e. Domain: 𝑥 𝑥 > 0 e. Domain: all real numbers
Range: All real numbers Range: 𝑦 𝑦 > −2
f. f.
Solve
a) 4𝑥+2 = 16𝑥 b)3𝑥 = 6𝑥+1 c) 9𝑥 − 6 ⋅ 3𝑥 + 5 = 0

𝟒𝒙+𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔𝒙 𝟑𝒙 = 𝟔𝒙+𝟏 𝟗𝒙 − 𝟔 ⋅ 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟎

Write each with the same base Take the Log of both sides Get common exponential
4𝑥+2 = (42 )𝑥 𝐿𝑜𝑔 3𝑥 = 𝐿𝑜𝑔 6𝑥+1 (3𝑥 )2 − 6 ⋅ 3𝑥 + 5 = 0
4𝑥+2 = 42𝑥 Use log 𝑥 𝑚 = 𝑚 log 𝑥 Use u substitution for 3𝑥
Since the bases are the same, we 𝑥 log 3 = (𝑥 + 1) log 6 𝑢2 − 6𝑢 + 5 = 0
can cross them out Distribute log 6 Solve for u (factor)
𝑥 + 2 = 2𝑥 𝑥 log 3 = 𝑥 log 6 + log 6 𝑢−5 𝑢−1 =0
Solve for x Bring everything with an x to the 𝑢 = 5 𝑜𝑟 𝑢 = 1
2=𝑥 same side Use values for u to solve for 3𝑥
𝑥 log 3 − 𝑥 log 6 = log 6 5 = 3𝑥 𝑜𝑟 1 = 3𝑥
Factor out x For each equation, take the log on
𝑥 (log 3 − log 6) = log 6 both sides to solve for x
Solve for x log 3 5 = 𝑥 𝑜𝑟 log 3 1 = 𝑥
log 3 − log 6 𝑥 ≈ 1.465 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 0
𝑥=
log 6

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Solve
a) ln 𝑥 + 2 = 4 b) log 𝑥 + 2 + log 𝑥 + 1 = 1

𝒍𝒏 𝒙 + 𝟐 = 𝟒 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒙 + 𝟐 + 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟏
Write in exponential form Combine Logs
𝑒4 = 𝑥 + 2 log (𝑥 + 2 (𝑥 + 1)) = 1
Square both sides FOIL
2
(𝑒 4 )2 = ( 𝑥 + 2)2 log 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 2 = 1
Remember (𝑥 𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑚𝑛 log 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = 1
𝑒8 = 𝑥 + 2 Write in exponential form
Solve for x 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = 101
𝑒8 − 2 = 𝑥 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = 10
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 8 = 0
Solve using the quadratic formula (not shown)
−3± 41
𝑥=
2
−3+ 41
However only 𝑥= works
2

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A child’s aunt wishes to purchase a bond that matures in 18 years to be used for his college
education. The bond pays 6% interest compounded semiannually. How much should they pay so
the bond is worth $150,000 at maturity.

𝑟
Use 𝐴 = 𝑃(1 + )𝑛𝑡
𝑛
P=? A=150000 t=18 n=2 (semiannually) r=.06
.06 2∙18
150000 = 𝑃(1 + )
2
Solve for P
150000
=𝑃
.06 2∙18
(1 + )
2
𝑃 ≈ 4045.31

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A pan is removed from an oven where the temperature is 425℉ and placed in a room whose
temperature is 68℉. After 10 minutes, the temperature of the pan is 375℉. How long will it be
until the temperature is 200℉. Round k to 3 decimal places

Using Newton’s Law of cooling (𝑢 𝑡 = 𝑇 + (𝑢0 − 𝑇)𝑒 𝑘𝑡 )

T=temperature of the room =68
𝑢0 =the initial temperature of the pan=425
k=negative constant currently unknown

1) Find K. Let 𝑢 𝑡 =375 when t=10 2) Substitute the known values of k, let
375 = 68 + (425 − 68)𝑒 𝑘10 𝑢 𝑡 =200, and solve for t
Combine like terms 200 = 68 + (425 − 68)𝑒 −.015𝑡
375 = 68 + 357𝑒 𝑘10 Combine like terms
Subtract 68 from both sides 200 = 68 + (357)𝑒 −.015𝑡
307 = 357𝑒 𝑘10 Subtract 68 from both sides
Divide by 357 132 = 357𝑒 −.015𝑡
307 Divide by 357
= 𝑒 𝑘10 132
357 = 𝑒 −.015𝑡
Rewrite in logarithmic form 357
307 Rewrite in logarithmic form
ln = 𝑘10 132
357 ln = −.015𝑡
Divide by 10 357
307 Divide by -.015
ln 132
𝑘 = 357 ≈ −.015 ln
10 𝑡 = 357 ≈ 66.3 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠
−.015
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