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Inverse Functions

The document discusses one-to-one functions and inverse functions. It defines a one-to-one function as a function where each element in the range is mapped to by exactly one element in the domain. It also provides the horizontal line test to determine if a function is one-to-one. The document defines the inverse of a function f as a function g where f(g(x))=x and g(f(x))=x. It explains that a function has an inverse if and only if it is one-to-one.

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37 views17 pages

Inverse Functions

The document discusses one-to-one functions and inverse functions. It defines a one-to-one function as a function where each element in the range is mapped to by exactly one element in the domain. It also provides the horizontal line test to determine if a function is one-to-one. The document defines the inverse of a function f as a function g where f(g(x))=x and g(f(x))=x. It explains that a function has an inverse if and only if it is one-to-one.

Uploaded by

Midnight Sun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The function f is a set of ordered pairs, (x,y), then the

changes produced by f can be “undone” by reversing


components of all the ordered pairs. The resulting
relation (y,x), may or may not be a function. Inverse
functions have a special “undoing” relationship.
A function y = f (x) with domain D is one-to-one on D
if and only if for every x1 and x2 in D, f (x1) = f (x2)
implies that x1 = x2.

A function is a mapping from its domain to its range


so that each element, x, of the domain is mapped to
one, and only one, element, f (x), of the range.

A function is one-to-one if each element f (x) of the


range is mapped from one, and only one, element, x,
of the domain.
Horizontal Line Test
A function y = f (x) is one-to-one if and only if
no horizontal line intersects the graph of y = f (x)
in more than one point.
y
Example: The function
y = x2 – 4x + 7 is not one-to-one (0, 7) (4, 7)
on the real numbers because y=7
the line y = 7 intersects the
2
graph at both (0, 7) and (4, 7). x
2
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


Definition of Inverse: A function g is the inverse of the
function f if f(g(x)) = x and g(f(x)) = x.

Domain of f = Range of g
Domain of g = Range of f

Ex. Show that the following are inverses of each other.


x 1
f ( x)  2 x  1
3
g ( x)  3

3
2
 x 1 
f ( g ( x))  2 3  1
 x
 2 
Reflective Property of Inverse Functions

f contains (a, b) iff f-1 contains (b, a)


“if and only if”
Existence of an Inverse Function

1. A function possesses an inverse iff it is 1 – 1.


2. If f is strictly monotonic on its entire domain, then
it is 1 – 1 and hence, possesses an inverse.
Note: strictly monotonic means the function is increasing
or decreasing over its entire domain.
Let’s look at the following two functions.
a.) f(x) = x3 + x –1 and b.) f(x) = x3 – x + 1

Not 1 – 1
1 – 1, because it does
therefore not pass the
it has an horizontal
inverse. line test.
Find the inverse of f ( x)  2 x  3 Steps for finding
an inverse.
1. solve for x
y  2x  3 Domain of f(x)
2. exchange x’s
y  2x  3
2
3  and y’s
y  3  2x
2 2 ,
  3. replace y
y 3
2 with f-1
x Range of f(x)
2
x2  3 0,  
y
2 Domain of f -1(x) = Range of f(x)
x 3
2
 f 1 ( x) and
2
Range of f-1(x) = Domain of f(x)
Horizontal Line Test

b and c are not one-to-one functions because they


don’t pass the horizontal line test.
y=x
f-1(x)

f(x)
The Derivative of an Inverse Function

If f is differentiable on its domain and possesses an inverse


function g, then the derivative of g is given by

1
g ' ( x) 
f ' ( g ( x))

Graphs of inverse functions have reciprocal slopes.


Let f(x) = x2 (for x >0) and let f-1(x) = x .

Show that the slopes of the graphs of f and f-1 are reciprocals
at the following points. (2, 4) and (4, 2)

Find the derivatives of f and f-1.

f ' ( x)  2 x and  f  ' x  


1 1
2 x
At (2, 4), the slope of the graph of f is f’(2) = 4.
At (4, 2), the slope of the graph of f-1 is ¼.
For a function y = f (x), the inverse relation of f
is a function if and only if f is one-to-one.

For a function y = f (x), the inverse relation of f


is a function if and only if the graph of f passes
the horizontal line test.

If f is one-to-one, the inverse relation of f


is a function called the inverse function of f.

The inverse function of y = f (x) is written y = f -1(x).

16
Applications of Inverse Functions
The function given by f(x)=5/9x+32 converts x degrees Celsius
to an equivalent temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
a. Is f a one-to-one function? Why or why not?
F=f(x)=5/9x+32 is 1 to 1 because it is a linear function.
b. Find a formula for f -1 and interpret what it calculates.
5 The Celsius formula converts x
f ( x)  x  32
9 degrees Fahrenheit into Celsius.
5
y  x  32 Replace the f(x) with y
9
5
x  y  32 Solve for y, subtract 32
9
5 Multiply by 9/5 on both sides
x  32  y
9
9
( x  32)  y
5

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