Inverse Functions
Inverse Functions
4 INVERSE FUNCTION
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INVERSE FUNCTION
f Note :
1
x y f-1 ≠ f (x )
−1
f
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Suppose,
Df = Rf-1
Rf = Df-1
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An inverse function of f exists only if the
function f is a ‘ one to one ‘ function.
i. Algebraic approach.
- if f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 ) ,
then x1 = x2
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ii) Horizontal line test ( graphical approach)
If the horizontal line intersects the
graph of the function only once , then
the function is one – to- one.
a b)
)
The
The horizontal
horizontal line
line
intersects
intersects
one-to-one the graph Not
at one one-to-one
point.
the graph at two points.
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Example 1
• f(x) = 3x – 2 , x ∈ R
b) g ( x ) = x3 + 7 , x ∈ R
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a) f ( x ) = 3x – 2 , x ∈ R
Method 1 : Use f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 ) to
show x1 = x2
f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 )
Therefore, 3x1 - 2 = 3x2 - 2
3x1 = 3x2
x1 = x2
Hence , f ( x ) is one – to – one function
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Method 2 : Horizontal Line Test
y y = 3x - 2
x
y = k
The horizontal line intersects
the graph y = 3x - 2 at one point only
Hence , f ( x ) is one – to – one function
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b) g(x) = x3 + 7 , x ∈ R
Method 1 : Use f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 ) to
show x1 = x2
Thus , x1 3 + 7 = x2 3 + 7
x1 3 = x2 3
x1 = x2
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Method 2 : Horizontal Line Test
y
y = x3 + 7
y = k
The horizontal linentersects
the graph y = x +7 at one
3
point only x
Note :
i) (f-1)-1 = f
ii) f-1(f(x)) = x and f(f-1(x)) = x
iii) (fοg)-1 = g-1 ο f-1
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Example 2 :
Given f(x) = 4 . Find f-1(x)
x −3
Solution :
f[f −1(x )] = x
4
=x
f −1(x ) − 3
−1
xf (x ) − 3x = 4
−1 4 + 3x
∴ f (x ) =
x
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Example 3 :
Find the inverse for each of the following
function :
a ) f ( x ) = 2 x − 1ε,x R
b ) f ( x ) = 2 x3 + 1ε,x R
3 2
c ) f ( x ) = − x + ,xεR
3
x −1
d ) f(x)= ,x ≠ −2
x+2
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Solution :
a ) f ( x ) = 2 x − 1ε,x R
1
f [ f ( x )] x
2 f 1( x ) 1 x
1 x 1
f (x)
2
3
b ) f ( x ) 2 x 1ε,x R
1 3
2( f ( x )) 1 x
1 x 1
f (x) 3
2
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3 2
c ) f ( x ) x ,xεR
3
f [ f 1( x )] x
1 3 2
[ f ( x )] x
3
1 3 2
[ f ( x )] x
3
1 3 2
[ f ( x )] x
3
1 2
f (x) 3 x
3
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OR 3 2
f ( x ) x ,xεR
3
1
f [ f ( x )] x
Let f 1( x ) y
f( y) x
3 2
y x
3
2
y x 3
3
1 2
f (x) 3 x
3
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x 1
d ) f(x) ,x 2
x2
f [ f 1( x )] x
Let f 1( x ) y
Expand and let y
f( y) x
be a subject
y 1
x matter
y2
y 1 x( y 2 )
2x 1 2x 1
y 1
f (x)
1 x 1 x
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Example 4 :
Given that f (x) = 3x + 5. Find
(a) (f –1 )2
(b) (f 2)-1
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Solution :
(a) (f-1) 2
(f -1 )2 (x) =f -1[f -1(x)]
f(x) = 3x + 5 x −5
= f −1
f [ f 1( x )] x 3
x −5
−5
3 f 1( x ) 5 x = 3
3
1 x 5 x − 20
f (x) =
3 9
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(b) (f 2) -1
f 2(x) = f [f (x)]
= f(3x + 5)
= 3(3x + 5) +5
= 9x + 20
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Let f 2 ( x ) f ( x )
1
f [ f ( x )] x
1
9 f ( x ) 20 x
1 x 20
f (x)
9
2 1
( f ) ( x )
x 20 •Note that : f ( ) =(f )
−1 2 2 −1
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Example 5 :
The functions f and g are defined by
f : x → 2x + 3 and g : x → x – 1. Find
a) f -1
and g -1
−1 −1
b) g f and f g
c) ( f g) −1
−1 −1
d) g f
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Solution :
a) f : x → 2x + 3 g : x → x – 1.
1
f [ f ( x )] x 1
g[ g ( x )] x
2 f 1( x ) 3 x 1
g ( x ) 1 x
x 3 ∴ g -1(x) = x + 1
f 1
x
2
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−1 −1
b) gf f g
g f 1 x g f 1 x
f g 1 x f g 1 x
x − 3
= g = f ( x + 1)
2
= 2( x + 1) + 3
x −3
= −1 = 2x + 5
2
x −5
=
2
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c) ( f g) −1
Let ( f g )( x ) f ( x )
f [ f 1( x )] x
f g x f g x
2 f 1( x ) 1 x
= f ( x − 1) x 1
1
f (x)
= 2( x − 1) + 3 2
1 x 1
= 2x + 1 f g x
2
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d) g−1 f −1
x −3
(g −1
f −1
) ( x) = g
−1
2
x −3
= +1
2
x −1
=
2
Note that ( f g) −1 −1
=g f −1
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Exercise :
1
Given that f (x) = 1 – x and g (x) = ,x ≠ -2.
Find (f g)−1
(x ) x + 2
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Example 6
x p
Given the function f (x) = x 3 ,(x≠3),
where p is a constant. Find
1
• The value of p if f ( 5 ) = 12
• f -1
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Solution :
5 +p 1
a) f (5) = =
5 −3 2 5+ p
5−3
1
2
5+p = 3
p = -2
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(b) From (a),
x2 y2
f(x) x
x3 y 3
1
f [ f ( x )] x 2 3x 3x 2
y
1 1 x x 1
Let f (x) y
f( y) x Therefore,
1 3x 2
f (x)
x 1
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• f is undefined for x =1
-1
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
A FUNCTION AND ITS INVERSE
Df = Rf-1
Rf = Df-1
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Example 7 :
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Solution :
f y=x
2
f-1
2
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Example 8 :
•f(x) = -x2 + 5, x ≥ 5
b) f (x ) = x − 2
2
c) f (x ) = ,x > 3
x −3
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a) f(x) = -x2 + 5 , x ≥ 0
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a) f(x) = -x2 + 5, x ≥ 0 Df = [ 0, +∞ ) = R
f-1
y=x
5
f-1
5
f
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b) h(x) = x − 2 , x ≥ 2 Dh = [ 2, +∞ ) = R -1
h
h −1( x ) = x2 + 2 Rh = [ 0, +∞ ) = Dh-1
h-1
y=x
2 h
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2
c) f(x) = ,x>3
x −3 Df = ( 3, +∞ ) = Rf-1
−1 2 + 3x
f (x ) = Rf = ( 0, +∞ ) = Df-1
x
f-1
y=x
f
3
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Example 9 :
3
Find the inverse of f(x)= ( x + 4)(x – 1), x ≥ −
2
and stating its domain. Then, on the same
axes, sketch the graph of f and its inverse.
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Solution :
3
y = ( x + 4)(x – 1) , x ≥ −
2
= x2 + 3x – 4 By completing the
3 2 25 square
= (x + ) −
2 4
3
D f , , R 25 ,
2 f 4
Therefore,
25
D , , R 3 ,
f 1 4 f 1 2
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f-1 y=x
f
25
−
4 3
−
2
3
−
2
25
−
4
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Example 10 :
Given that f ( x ) = ( x – 9 )2 , x ∈ R , x ≥ 9.
i) Find the inverse of function f .
• Sketch the graph of f and f -1 on
the same plane.
iii) State the domain and range of f-1.
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a) To find f -1
( f -1(x) - 9 ) 2 = x
f -1(x) - 9 = x
( taking the + sign )
f -1(x) = x +9
Hence f- 1 : x x +9
,
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b) Sketch the graphs
f
y y=k
f-1
9
x
9
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Example 11 :
If the domain of g is x ∈ R , x ≥ 0 ,
find g -1 and sketch the graph of g
and g-1. State the domain and range of g-1.
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By Horizontal Line Test ,
y
y = ( x + 1)2 - 2
y = k
x
Graph y = k intersects
Min point (-1, -2)
y = (x+1) - 2 at two points
2
That is g-1 ( y ) = y + 2 −1
y = ( x + 1)2 – 2 , x ≥ 0
y
x
Min point (-1, -2)
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If the domain of g is x ∈ R , x ≥ 0 ,
then g is one – to one - and hence
g -1 exists .
y
y=k
g
g-1
-1 x
-1
Dg = [0,∞) , Rg =[-1, ∞) D = [-1, ∞) , R = [0, ∞)
g−1 g−1
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