CHAPTER 9 / THE SAT MATH: PASSPORT TO ADVANCED MATH 363

Lesson 1: Functions

Definition of a Function

A function is just a recipe for turning any input Depth

number (usually, but not always, called x) into
an output number (usually, but not always, called
f(x) or y).
Time

The graph above shows the depth of water in a

right cylindrical tank as a function of time as the
If f(2x) = x + 2 for all values of x, which of the tank drains. Which of the following represents
following is equivalent to f(x) ? the graph of the situation in which the tank
starts with twice as much water as the original
A) x +2 tank had and the water drains at three times the
2 original rate?

B) x A)
+2
2
C) x −2 Depth
2
D) 2x − 2
Time

(Medium) The equation tells us that f is the function that B)

turns an input of 2x into x + 2. What steps accomplish
this? Depth

Input value: 2x
1. Divide by 2: x
Time
2. Add 2: x+2
C)
Therefore, f is a function that takes an input, divides it
x
by 2, and then adds 2. So f ( x ) = + 2, and the correct Depth
answer is B. 2

We could also substitute a value for x, such as x = 1, into

the equation: f(2(1)) = 1 + 2, or f(2) = 3. Therefore, the Time
correct function takes an input of 2 and turns it into 3. If
D)
we substitute x = 2 into all of the choices, we get A) 2, B)
3, C) 0, and D) −1. Since only B gives the correct output,
that must be the correct answer. Depth

We can also solve with a variable substitution. Let’s

define a new variable, z = 2x. Since this also means that Time
z
x = , we can substitute into the original function:
2 z
f (2x) = x + 2 becomes f ( z ) = + 2. Since it doesn’t
2
matter what we call the input variable, this is equivalent
x
to f ( x ) = + 2.
2
364 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

(Medium) Although no units are shown on the axes (so 1. (Medium) Since the vertical velocity must be 0 when
the time axis could be in minutes, hours, or any other the projectile is at the top of its trajectory, we can find
time unit, and the depth axis could by in any depth unit), the time to the top by solving the equation
we know that the axes cross at the origin, or the point (0, 0 = 272 − 32t
0). The graph shows that the tank starts at 2 depth units Add 32t to both sides: 32t = 272
and drains after 6 time units. In other words, the tank
drains at 1/3 of a depth unit per time unit. (Remember Divide by 32 on both sides: t = 8.5
that the slope equals the unit rate of change.) In the
new graph, then, the tank should start at a depth of 2. (Medium) The velocity at t = 0 is V = 272 − 32(0) =
2 × 2 = 4 depth units, and it should drain at 3 × 1/3 = 1 272 feet per second, and the velocity at t = 6 is
depth unit per time unit. In other words, it should take V = 272 − 32(6) = 80 feet per second, so the average
4 time units for the tank to drain completely. The only velocity over this interval is (272 + 80)/2 = 176 feet
graph that shows indicates this correctly is A. per second.

3. (Medium) From question 1 we know that the total

V = 272 − 32t time to the top of the trajectory is 8.5 seconds. The
average velocity over this time is the average of its
The equation above shows how the vertical initial velocity (272 feet per second) and its final
velocity, V, in feet per second, of a projectile velocity (0 feet per second), which is (272 + 0)/2 =
relates to the time, t, in seconds, since it was 136 feet per second. Therefore, the projectile is (136
launched from the ground. feet per second)(8.5 seconds) = 1,156 feet from the
ground at the top of its trajectory.
1. After how many seconds will the projectile
reach the top of its trajectory?

2. While the projectile is in the air, its average

velocity over any time interval is equal to the
average of the initial velocity and the final
velocity over that same time interval. What is
the average velocity, in feet per second, of the
projectile in the first 6 seconds of its flight?

3. The total vertical distance that the projectile

travels over any time interval is equal to
its average vertical velocity over that time
interval multiplied by the time interval. How
many feet from the ground is the projectile
when it reaches the top of its trajectory?
CHAPTER 9 / THE SAT MATH: PASSPORT TO ADVANCED MATH 365

Lesson 2: Representing Functions

TEG: Tables, Equations, Graphs

x g(x) h(x)
We can represent functions as tables of ordered 1 2 −9
pairs, as equations in functional notation, or
2 4 −6
as graphs in the xy-plane. Make sure you can
translate between these forms. 3 6 −3
For instance, if the function g turns an input of 4 8 0
−2 into an output of 4, we can represent that fact
5 10 3
in three ways:
6 12 6
Table:
7 14 9
x y
8 16 12
−2 4
9 18 15
Equation: g(−2) = 4
Graph: The graph of y = g(x) contains (−2, 4) According to the table above, for what value of x
is g(h(x)) = 6?

A) 2
B) 5
y
C) 6
y = f (x) D) 12

(Medium-hard) The equation g(h(x)) = 6 means that

y =g (x) when x is put into the function h and the result is then
1 put into function g, the result is 6. Working backward, we
x should ask: what input to g would yield an output of 6?
1 According to the table, only an input of 3 into g would
yield an output of 6. This means that h(x) = 3. So what
input into h would yield an output of 3? Consulting the
The graphs of the functions f and g in the table again, we see that g(5) = 3, and so x = 5; therefore,
xy-plane are shown above for −3 ≤ x ≤ 3. Which the correct answer is B.
of the following describes the set of all x for
which f(x) ≤ g(x)?

A) x ≥ −3
B) −3 ≤ x ≤ −1 or 2 ≤ x ≤ 3
C) −1 ≤ x ≤ 2
D) 3 ≤ x ≤ 5

(Easy) Since f(x) and g(x) are the y-values of the respec-
tive functions, f(x) ≤ g(x) wherever the graphs cross
or the graph of g(x) is above the graph of f(x). The two
graphs cross at the points (−1, 4) and (2, 3), and g(x) is
above f(x) at every point in between, so −1 ≤ x ≤ 2; there-
fore, the correct answer is C.
366 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

Lesson 3: Compositions and Transformations

Compositions of Functions Transformations of Functions

The notation f(g(x)) indicates the composition of Given the parent function y = f(x) below, here
two functions, g and f. The number x is put into are some transformations of function f.
the function g and this result is put into the func- y
tion f ; the final result is called f(g(x)).

If f(x) = x + 2 and f(g(1)) = 6, which of the follow-

ing could be g(x) ?
x
A) g(x) = 3x
B) g(x) = x + 3
C) g(x) = x − 3
y = f (x)
D) g(x) = 2x + 1

The graph of y = f(x + k) is the graph of y = f(x)

(Medium-hard) shifted −k units horizontally. So the graph of
y = f(x + 1) is the graph of f(x) shifted one unit to
Given equation: f(g(1)) = 6 the left, and the graph of y = f(x − 1) is the graph
of f(x) shifted one unit to the right.
Apply the definition of f : g(1) + 2 = 6
y
Subtract 2: g(1) = 4

In other words, g is the function that gives an output of

4 when its input is 1. The only function among the choices
that has this property is g(x) = x + 3, so the correct
answer is B.
x
If f(x) = x2 + 1 and g( f(x)) = 2x2 + 4 for all values
of x, which of the following expresses g(x) ? y = f (x + 1)

A) g(x) = 2x + 1 1
B) g(x) = 2x + 2
C) g(x) = 2x + 3 y
D) g(x) = 2x2 + 1

y = f (x − 1)
(Medium-hard) g( f (x)) = 2x2 + 4

Substitute f (x) = x2 + 1: g(x2 + 1) = 2x2 + 4

x
So how do we turn an input of x2 + 1 into 2x2 + 4?

Input: x2 + 1
Multiply by 2: 2x2 + 2 1

Add 2: 2x2 + 4

So, g is a function that takes an input, multiplies it by 2,

and adds 2, which is the function in choice B.
CHAPTER 9 / THE SAT MATH: PASSPORT TO ADVANCED MATH 367

The graph of y = f(x) + k is the graph of y = f(x) When the function y = g(x) is graphed in the
shifted vertically k units. If k is negative, this a xy-plane, it has a minimum value at (1, −2).
downward shift. What is the maximum value of the function
h(x) = −3g(x) −1?
y
A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
y = f (x) + 1
D) 7

x (Medium) The graph of y = h(x) = −3g(x) − 1 is the graph

of g after it has been stretched vertically by a factor of 3,
1
reflected over the x-axis, and then shifted down 1 unit.
This transforms the minimum value point of (1, −2)
to a maximum value point on the new graph at (1, −3
(−2) − 1) or (1, 5), so the correct answer is B.
The graph of y = kf(x) is the graph of y = f(x)
stretched or shrunken vertically by a factor of
k (if k > 1, it’s a stretch, but if k < 1 it’s a shrink).

y = 1 f (x)
2
x

The graph of y = −f(x) is the graph of y = f(x)

reflected over the x-axis.

y = − f (x)

x
368 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

Exercise Set 1 (Calculator)

1
If f(x) = x2 + x + k, where k is a constant, and Questions 5–9 refer to the table below.
f(2) = 10, what is the value of f(−2) ?

x f(x) k(x)

1 3 5

2 4 6

3 5 1

4 6 2

2 5 1 3

The minimum value of the function y = h(x) 6 2 4

corresponds to the point (−3, 2) on the xy-plane.
What is the maximum value of g(x) = 6 − h(x + 2) ?
5
According to the table above, f(3) =

3
The function g is defined by the equation
g(x) = ax + b, where a and b are constants.
If g(1) = 7 and g(3) = 6, what is the value of g(−5) ?
6
According to the table above, f(k(6)) =

4
Let the function h be defined by the equation
h(x) = f(g(x)), where f(x) = x2 − 1 and g(x) = x + 5.
What is the value of h(2) ?
CHAPTER 9 / THE SAT MATH: PASSPORT TO ADVANCED MATH 369

7 10
According to the table above, k(k(6)) = If g(x − 1) = x2 + 1, which of the following is equal
to g(x) ?

A) x2 + 2
B) x2 + 2x
C) x2 + 2x + 1
D) x2 + 2x + 2

8
According to the table above, if k( f(x)) = 5, then
what is the value of x ?

11
x +1
If h( x ) = and f(x) = (x − 1)2, then which of the
2
following is equal to f(h(x)) for all x ?

A) x 2 − 2x + 2
2
B) x 2 − 2x + 2
4
9 x 2 − 2 x +1
C)
Which of the following is true for all values of x 2
indicated in the table?
D) x − 2 x + 1
2

A) f(k(x)) − k( f(x)) = 0 4
B) f(k(x)) + k( f(x)) = x
C) f(k(x)) − k( f(x)) = x
D) f(k(x)) + k( f(x)) = 0
370 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

Exercise Set 1 (No Calculator)

15
If g( f(x)) = −1, what is the value of x + 10 ?
Questions 12–19 are based on the graph below.

y = f (x)

y = g (x)
1
x
1

16
If f(k) + g(k) = 0, what is the value of k ?
12
What is the value of g(−1) ?

17
If f(a) = g(a), where a < 0, and f(b) = g(b), where
13
b > 0, what is the value of a + b ?
What is the value of g( f(3)) ?

14
What is the value of f(g(3)) ?
CHAPTER 9 / THE SAT MATH: PASSPORT TO ADVANCED MATH 371

18 19
Let h(x) = f(x) × g(x). What is the maximum value Which of the following graphs represents the
of h(x) if −3 ≤ x ≤ 3 ? (A) y = f(x) + g(x) ?
function
A) y

1
x
1
(B)
B) y

1
x
1

(C)
C) y

1
x
1

(D)
D) y

1
x
1