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

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) = 1/(1-x)

GMAT tutoring students often dislike these function questions. They see f(x) and the brain shuts down: pinwheel of doom (on mac) or BSOD (blue screen of death) on windows.

I think it’s tough to grasp exactly what you need to do from the first read.

That’s OK and an important thing to get used to. Go back and read it again. Think. Jot some things down. Challenge yourself.

I think you’ll find most of these function questions are rather basic. No complicated math. No tricks.

Let’s define the question

Ok, so what does f(x) = f(1-x) mean?

We just need to find the answer choice for which plugging in x yields the same value as plugging in 1 – x.

Let’s say x is 4. Then the function must yield the same value for 4 as for 1 – 4 (-3).

It really is that easy.

Picking numbers makes some GMAT functions questions incredibly simple

For this style of function question pick numbers.

I’d probably avoid 1 (just my own superstition) but pretty much anything is fair game.

Let’s say X is 3. Let’s go through the answers and find the one for which plugging in 3 and 1 – 3 gives the same value.

Let’s plug 3 into the answer choices

A. f(x) = 1 – x

x = 3

1-3 = -2

x = -2

1-(-2) = 3

B. f(x) = 1 – $x^2$

x = 3

1- $3^2$ = -8

x = -2

1 – $(-2)^2$ = -3

C. f(x) = $x^2 – (1-x)^2$

x = 3

$3^2 – (1-3)^2$ = 5

x = -2

$(-2)^2 – (1-(-2))^2$ = -5

D. f(x) = $x^2(1-x)^2$

x = 3

$3^2(1-3)^2$ = 36

x = -2

$(-2)^2(1-(-2))^2$ = 36

E. f(x) = 1/(1-x)

x = 3

1/(1-3) = -1/2

x = -2

1/(1-(-2)) = 1/3

Here is a diagram with the solution more along the lines of what I’d do on an actual GMAT

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

Additional GMAT Function Example Questions

Here are three more GMAT Function questions. The first one is very similar to this one. The second is in the ballpark as well but the solution is a bit different. The third adds some number properties to the mix and is one of the most challenging questions in the GMAT universe.

For which of the following functions is f(a+b) = f(b) + f(a) for all positive numbers a and b?

For every positive even integer n the function h(n) is defined to be the product

If the operation @ is defined for all integers a and b by a@b = a+b – ab, which of the following statements must be true for all integers a, b and c?

Remember: Don’t rush the follow through. Do your arithmetic carefully. That doesn’t mean quadruple check everything. Just go at the pace that makes sense for you so that you can produce accurate calculations consistently. Happy studies!