Grade 12 · Mathematics · Paper 1 · CAPS
Functions and Inverses – Grade 12 Mathematics (Paper 1)
What Functions & Inverses covers, how it is examined in Mathematics Paper 1, the 6 sections to study and how long it takes – plus live online lessons when you get stuck.
- Study sections
- 6
- Exam-style questions
- 12
- Marks of practice
- 156
- Study time
- ≈ 6 h 35 min
What it covers
This topic revises the Grade 11 graphs – straight lines, parabolas, hyperbolas and exponential graphs – which you sketch and then read for where they cut the axes, their highest or lowest points, their asymptotes and the values of x where one graph lies above another. The new Grade 12 idea is the inverse: finding the inverse of linear functions, of y = ax² on a restricted domain and of exponential functions, and recognising the logarithmic graph as the mirror image of the exponential graph in the line y = x. Domain and range, and deciding whether an inverse is itself a function, are regular exam items.
How it is examined
- Paper
- Mathematics Paper 1 – Friday 23 October 2026, 09:00 (3 hours, 150 marks)
- Weighting
- Functions & graphs ≈ 35/150 in Paper 1 (Gr 11 graphs included)
- Questions
- In a typical paper you will find it in Questions 4–5 of Mathematics Paper 1.
Question numbers and mark splits are typical, not fixed – they vary a little from year to year.
Sections to study
- Gr 11 functions revision: parabola, hyperbola, exponential45 min
- The inverse of a function35 min
- Exponential and logarithmic functions35 min
- Reflections and transformations30 min
- Relations, functions and one-to-one25 min
- Logarithms in practice30 min
Study time
| Notes and worked examples6 sections | 3 h 20 min |
|---|---|
| Exam-style questions12 questions · 156 marks × 1,2 min per mark | 3 h 05 min |
| Topic quiz | 10 min |
| Total | ≈ 6 h 35 min |
Mathematics Paper 1 is written on Friday 23 October 2026 at 09:00.
What you get in the portal
- 12 exam-style questions on Functions & Inverses (156 marks in total), each with a full marking memo
- Worked examples with diagrams and step-by-step calculations for each of the 6 sections
- Tutor notes added to sections and questions – for the whole class or just for you
- A topic quiz, mock papers and a study plan that counts down to Mathematics Paper 1
Notes, worked examples, questions and memos open once the tutor approves your account – usually with your first confirmed lesson.
Stuck on Functions & Inverses? Book a one-on-one lesson.
R250 per hour – 60, 90 or 120 minutes, online from anywhere in South Africa. Pick Functions & Inverses as your topic; you pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms.
Related Maths P1 topics
Questions about Functions & Inverses
How many marks is Functions & Inverses worth in the matric exam?
In Mathematics Paper 1 (3 hours, 150 marks) the usual weighting is: Functions & graphs ≈ 35/150 in Paper 1 (Gr 11 graphs included). In a typical paper you will find it in Questions 4–5 of Mathematics Paper 1. The exact marks change a little from year to year.
How long does it take to study Functions & Inverses?
About 6 h 35 min: 3 h 20 min for the notes and worked examples in its 6 sections, 3 h 05 min for the 12 exam-style questions (156 marks) at exam pace of 1,2 minutes per mark, and a 10-minute quiz.
When is the Mathematics Paper 1 exam in 2026?
Mathematics Paper 1 is written on Friday 23 October 2026 at 09:00 and lasts 3 hours (150 marks), according to the DBE’s 2026 NSC timetable. Confirm the date with your school, because the DBE can amend the timetable.
Can I get online lessons for Functions & Inverses?
Yes. Create a free account in the Adventuity portal, request a one-on-one online lesson of 60, 90 or 120 minutes (or a seat in a group class) and choose Functions & Inverses as your topic. You pay by EFT only after the tutor confirms the booking.