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Functions: evaluating, solving and composite

O Level Maths 4024 · Chapter 17, Functions · 6-minute lecture

The teaching part (1 min) is free to watch. A free account opens the whole lecture: 8 practice questions, 1 real past-paper question with the answer explained, the mistakes that lose marks, the full-marks tip, a one-card summary and a quick quiz.

What this lecture covers

  1. A machine with a rule
  2. Function notation
Read the transcript of the teaching part

Last time

Before we start: last time, in Sketching curves, tangents and turning points, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.

A machine with a rule

Think of a machine. You put a number in, it follows a rule, and a number comes out. A function is exactly that. Call this machine f, with the rule double and add five. Put in three and out comes eleven. Today you will use these machines, run two of them one after the other, and run one backwards.

Function notation

We write f of x equals two x plus five. This is the rule. The letter x stands for whatever number goes in. f of three means: replace every x with three. Two times three is six, plus five is eleven. f of minus one: put the minus number in brackets. Two times minus one is minus two. Plus five gives three.

How often it comes up

The whole chapter: Functions.

Chapter 17: Functions

Also for O Level Maths 4024

Which topics come up most in O Level Maths 4024 past papers, counted from every paper since 2004.

The O Level Maths 4024 topical past-paper book.