GMAT Functions: The function f is defined for all nonzero x…
Question
The function f is defined for all nonzero x by the equation f(x)=x-1/x If x is not equal to 0, which of the following equals f(1/x)?
- f(x)
- f(-x)
- f(-1/x)
- 1/(f(x))
- -1/(f(x))
Topics: functions, function variable substitution
Solution
Step 1
We substitute 1/x into the definition of f.
f(1/x)=1/x-1/(1/x)
Step 2
We simplify the reciprocal of a reciprocal to the original value.
f(1/x)=1/x-x
Step 3
We factor out a negative to match the original function form.
1/x-x=-(x-1/x) =-f(x)
Step 4
We verify that f(-x) also equals this same expression.
f(-x)=-x-1/(-x) =-x+1/x =-(x-1/x) =-f(x)
Answer
f(-x) (B)
