Inverses of Functions: Section 2.6

Inverses of Functions
Section 2.6
Objective
To be able to find

inverses of
functions.
Relevance
 To be able to model
a set of raw data
after a function to
best represent that
data.
Intro to Inverses
 Sneetches Video or Read Story Quickly
 A function describes the relationship between
2 variables, applying a rule to an input that
generates exactly one output.
 For such relationships, we are often
compelled to “reverse” or “undo” the rule.
Inverse Function Partner
Share.

List the sequence of steps needed to

evaluate this function:
1. Square the Input
2. Multiply by 9
3. Add 4
Warm Up #3: Graph & give the
domain & range.
 x  5, x  3

f ( x)  2, 3  x 1
 x  4, x  1

Answer on Next Slide

Warm Up #3: Graph & give the
domain & range.
 x  5, x  3

f ( x)  2, 3  x 1
 x  4, x  1

x y x y
-3 2 1 -3
-4 1 2 -2
-5 0 3 -1
4 0
D :   , 3    3,  
R :   ,  
Inverse of a relation
 The inverse of the ordered pairs (x, y) is the
set of all ordered pairs (y, x).
 The Domain of the function is the range of the

inverse and the Range of the function is the
Domain of the inverse.
1 In other words, switch the

 Symbol: f ( x) x’s and y’s!
Example: {(1,2), (2, 4), (3, 6), (4, 8)}
Inverse:
  2 ,1  ,  4 , 2  ,  6 , 3  ,  8 , 4 
Function notation? What is really
happening when you find the
inverse?
Find the inverse of f(x)=4x-2

x *4 -2 4x-2
(x+2)/4 /4 +2 x
f 1
 x   x  2
So
4
To find an inverse…
 Switch the x’s and y’s.
 Solve for y.
 Change to functional notation.

Find Inverse: f ( x )  8 x  1
f ( x)  8 x  1
y  8x  1
x  8 y 1
8 y  x 1
x 1
y
8
x 1
f  x 
1
8
Find Inverse: f ( x )  8 x  2
f ( x)  8 x  2
y  8x  2
x  8y  2
8y  x  2
x2
y
8
1 x2
f 
8
3x  1
Find Inverse: f ( x ) 
2
3x  1
f  x 
2
3x  1
y
2
3y 1
x
2
3 y  1  2x
3 y  2x 1
2x 1
y
3
1 2x 1
f 
3
Find Inverse: f ( x )  x  4
2
f  x  x  4
2
y  x 4
2
x y 4
2
y  x4
2
y  x4
1
f ( x)   x  4
Draw the inverse. Compare to the
line y = x. What do you notice?
y  x
  5,3  3,5
  4,2  2,4
  3,1 1,3
  2,1 1,2
 1,1 1,1
 0,1 1,0
1,5  5,1
Graph the inverse of the following:
The function and

x y its inverse are
symmetric with
0 -5
-3 -4 respect to the
1 2 Line y = x.
1 4
How Does an Inverse Exist

More on One-To-One
 Recall that a function is a set of
ordered pairs where every first
coordinate has exactly one second
coordinate.
 A one-to-one function has the added
constraint that each 2nd coordinate has
exactly one 1st coordinate.
Example

Example

Example

Things to note..
 The domain of f 1
x is the range of f(x).
 The graph of an inverse function can be found

by reflecting a function in the line y=x.
Check this by plotting y = 3x + 1 and

x  1 on your graphic calculator.
y
3 Take a look
Reflecting..5
y=3x+1
4
3 y=x
2
1
y=(x-1)/3
0
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
Find the inverse of the function.
x y
f ( x)  x x 
2
 y 2
y  x2
Is the inverse also a function? Let’s look at the

graphs. f  x   x 2
f 1
x   x
If f  x   x ,
2
x  y2
x  y2
NOTE: Inverse is NOT
y x Inverse
a function!
Horizontal Line Test
 Recall that a function passes the
vertical line test.
 The graph of a one-to-one function will

pass the horizontal line test. (A
horizontal line passes through the
function in only one place at a time.)
Is it an Inverse?
A function can only have an inverse if it is
one-to-one.
You can use the horizontal line test on

graphical representations to see if the
function is one-to-one.
Composition and Inverses
 If f and g are functions and
( f  g )( x)   g  f  x   x,
then f and g are inverses of one

another.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Example: Show that the following are
inverses of each other.
1 2
f  x   7 x  2 and g  x   x 
7 7
 1 2
f  g  x   7 x    2
 g  f  x   1  7 x  2   2
7 7
7 7
2 2
 x22  x 
7 7
x x
The composition of each both produce

a value of x; Therefore, they are inverses
of each other.
Are f & g inverses? f ( x)  x3  4
g ( x)  3 x  4
 f  g  x      g  f  x   3 x3  4  4
3
x4 4
3
 x44  3 x3
x x
YE S !
You Try….
 Show that
1 3
f  x   4 x  3 and g ( x )  x 
4 4
 are inverses of each other.
 f  g  x    g  f  x   x
Therefore , they ARE
inverses of each other .
f ( x)  3 x  2
Are f & g inverses?
x2
g ( x) 
3
3x  2  2
  x2
f  g  x   3 2  g  f  x  
 3  3
 x22 3x

x 3
x
YE S !

Inverses of Functions: Section 2.6

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Inverses of Functions

List the sequence of steps needed to

Answer on Next Slide

 The Domain of the function is the range of the

1 In other words, switch the

Find the inverse of f(x)=4x-2

 Change to functional notation.

The function and

 The graph of an inverse function can be found

Check this by plotting y = 3x + 1 and

Is the inverse also a function? Let’s look at the

 The graph of a one-to-one function will

You can use the horizontal line test on

then f and g are inverses of one

The composition of each both produce

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