functions

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functions

by Olga Lapina » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:21 am
Dear friends, I have zero understanding of task and way to solve it. Please help.

For which of the following functions f is f(x)=f(1-x) for all x?

A. f(x)= 1-x
B. f(x)= 1-x^2
C. f(x)= x^2-(1-x)^2
D. f(x)= x^2(1-x)^2
E. f(x)= x/(1-x)

correct answer is D
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by GMATGuruNY » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:20 am
For which of the following functions f is f(x) = f(1-x) for all x?

a. f(x)= 1-x
b. f(x)= 1-x²
c. f(x)= x²-(1-x)²
d. f(x)= x²(1-x)²
e. f(x)= x/(1-x)
Let x=2.
Then f(x) = f(2) and f(1-x) = f(1-2) = f(-1).
The question becomes:

For which of the following functions does f(2) = f(-1)?

Answer choice A:
f(2) = 1-2 = -1.
f(-1) = 1-(-1) = 2.
Doesn't work.

Answer choice B:
f(2) = 1 - 2² = -3.
f(-1) = 1 - (-1)² = 0.
Doesn't work.

Answer choice C:
f(2) = 2² - (1-2)² = 4 - 1 = 3.
f(-1) = (-1)² - [1-(-1)]² = 1-4 = -3.
Doesn't work.

Answer choice D:
f(2) = 2² * (1-2)² = 4 * 1 = 4.
f(-1) = (-1)² * [1-(-1)]² = 1 * 4 = 4.
Success!

Answer choice E:
f(2) = 2/(1-2) = -2.
f(-1) = (-1)/[(1-(-1)] = -1/2.
Doesn't work.

The correct answer is D.
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by Olga Lapina » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:36 am
Thank you very much! =) appeared to be easier than it looks

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:37 am
For which of the following functions f is f(x)=f(1-x) for all x?

A) f(x) = 1-x
B) f(x) = 1-x²
C) f(x) = x² - (1-x)²
D) f(x) = x²(1-x)²
E) f(x) = x/(1-x)
Mitch's solution is perfect. Here's another version where we test the values using x = 0

So, we can reword the question as, For which of the following functions is f(0)=f(1-0)
In other words, we're looking for a function such that f(0) = f(1)

A) f(x)=1-x
f(0)=1-0 = 1
f(1)=1-1 = 0
Since f(0) doesn't equal f(1), eliminate A

B) f(x) = 1 - x²
f(0) = 1 - 0² = 1
f(1) = 1 - 1² = 0
Since f(0) doesn't equal f(1), eliminate B

C) f(x) = x² - (1-x)²
f(0) = 0² - (1-0)² = -1
f(1) = 1² - (1-1)² = 1
Since f(0) doesn't equal f(1), eliminate C

D) f(x) = x²(1-x)²
f(0) = 0^2(1-0)^2 = 0
f(1) = 1^2(1-1)^2 = 0
Since f(0) equals f(1), keep D for now

E) f(x) = x/(1-x)
f(0) = 0/(1-0) = 0
f(1) = 1/(1-1) = undefined
Since f(0) doesn't equal f(1), eliminate E

Since only D satisfies the condition that f(x)=f(1-x) when x=0, the correct answer is D

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by tanvis1120 » Sat Feb 15, 2014 4:08 pm
Quote:
For which of the following functions f is f(x)=f(1-x) for all x?

A) f(x) = 1-x
B) f(x) = 1-x²
C) f(x) = x² - (1-x)²
D) f(x) = x²(1-x)²
E) f(x) = x/(1-x)Quote:

--------------------------------
Hi Just put 1-x in place of x in all the answer options provided.
As for example:
A: If f(x)=1-x
Then, f(1-x)=1-(1-x)=x
So, f(x) is not equal to f(1-x).

Similarly evaluating for option D gives the same expression for f(1-x) as it is for f(x). Hence, option D is correct.