One-to-one and Inverse

Functions
Review:
A is any set of ordered pairs.

A is a set of ordered pairs where

x is not repeated.

A function does not have any y values

repeated.

Only functions can have

functions.
 What is an Inverse?
An inverse relation is a relation that performs the
opposite operation on x (the domain).

Examples:
f(x) = x – 3 f-1(x) = x + 3
g(x) = x , x ≥ 0 g-1(x) = x2 , x ≥ 0
h(x) = 2x h-1(x) = ½ x
k(x) = -x + 3 k-1(x)= -(x – 3)

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 Section 1.9 : Illustration
of the Definition of Inverse
Functions

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 The ordered pairs of the function f are reversed to
produce the ordered pairs of the inverse relation.
Example: Given the function
f = {(1, 1), (2, 3), (3, 1), (4, 2)}, its domain is {1, 2, 3, 4}
and its range is {1, 2, 3}.
The inverse of f is {(1, 1), (3, 2), (1, 3), (2, 4)}.
The domain of the inverse relation is the range of the
original function.
The range of the inverse relation is the domain of the
original function.

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 How do we know if an inverse
function exists?
• Inverse functions only exist if the original function
is one to one. Otherwise it is an inverse relation
and cannot be written as f-1(x).

• What does it mean to be one to one?

That there are no repeated y values.

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 Horizontal Line Test
Used to test if a function is one-to one
If the line intersection more than once then it is not one to
one.
Therefore there is not inverse function. y
(0, 7) (4, 7)
Example: The function
y = x2 – 4x + 7 is not one-to-one y=7
because a horizontal line can 2
intersect the graph twice. x
2
Examples points: (0, 7) & (4, 7).

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 Example: Apply the horizontal line test to the graphs
below to determine if the functions are one-to-one.
a) y = x3 b) y = x3 + 3x2 – x – 1
y y
8 8

4 4

-4 4 -4 4
x x

one-to-one not one-to-one

The Inverse is a Function The Inverse is a Relation
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 The graphs of a relation and its inverse are reflections
in the line y = x.
Example: Find the graph of the inverse relation
geometrically from the graph of f (x) = 1 ( x 3 − 2)
4
The ordered pairs of f are given by y y=x
the equation y = 1 ( x 3 − 2) . 2
4
The ordered pairs of the inverse are
x
given by x = 1 ( y 3 − 2) . -2 2
4
-2
( y − 2)
3
( x 3 − 2)
x= y=
4 4
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 • The inverse of a function is a
function with domain B and
range A given that the original
function has domain A and range
B.

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 How to Find the Inverse of
One-to-one Function

•Intuitively, the inverse of

a function may be known
by the principle of
“undo”.
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• To find the inverse of a one-to-one
function, consider the following
steps:
• a. Express the function in the form 𝑦
= 𝑓(𝑥);
• b. Interchange the x and y variables
in the equation;
• c. Solve for y in terms of x.
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 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 – 8
Express the function in the form 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥);

y = 3𝑥 – 8
Interchange the x and y variables in the equation;
x = 3y – 8

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 c. Solve for y in terms of x.
x = 3y – 8
x+(8) = 3y – 8+(8)
x+8=3y

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 • 1. What is an inverse function?
• 2. What is the symbol of an
inverse function?
• 3. Do all kinds of functions
have inverse function?
• 4. How do you solve for the
inverse of a one-to-one
function?
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