Worksheet 1.

6A, Inverse functions

1. Find the inverse function of f (x). State the domain of the inverse function f −1 (x).
(a) f (x) = 2x + 4
(b) f (x) = 2(x + 4)
(c) f (x) = 3(x − 7) + 5
(d) f (x) = x2 − 4
(e) f (x) = x3 + 7
(f) f (x) = (x + 7)3

2. For each function f (x), below, find a domain on which f is one-to-one and then create an inverse
function g(x) corresponding to f on that domain.
(a) f (x) = (x − 4)2
√
(b) f (x) = x + 4
1
(c) f (x) =
x+1
x
(d) f (x) =
x+1
√
(e) f (x) = x3 + 9
1
(f) f (x) = √
2
x +1

3. Find the inverse function of f (x). State the domain of the inverse function f −1 (x).
(a) f (x) = x3
√
(b) f (x) = 3 x
(c) f (x) = 4x − 5
√
(d) f (x) = x3 + 5
(e) f (x) = x3 + 5

4. Compose the function f and g and determine, from your answer, if the functions f and g are inverses
of each other.
√
(a) f (x) = (x + 3)2 − 7, g(x) = x + 7 − 3
1
(b) f (x) = 3x + 7, g(x) = x − 7.
3
√ x−7 3
(c) f (x) = 2 3 x − 5 + 7, g(x) = ( ) +5
2
(x − 7)3 √
(d) f (x) = + 5, g(x) = 2 3 x − 5 + 7
2
 Worksheet 1.6A, Inverse functions
MATH 1410
(SOLUTIONS)

1. Find the inverse function of f (x). State the domain of the inverse function f −1 (x).
(a) f (x) = 2x + 4
(b) f (x) = 2(x + 4)
(c) f (x) = 3(x − 7) + 5
(d) f (x) = x2 − 4
(e) f (x) = x3 + 7
(f) f (x) = (x + 7)3
Solution.
x−4
(a) The inverse function of f (x) = 2x + 4 is f −1 (x) = .
2
The function f −1 (x) has domain (−∞, ∞).
1
(b) The inverse function of f (x) = 2(x + 4) is f −1 (x) = (x − 8).
2
The function f −1 (x) has domain (−∞, ∞).
x−5
(c) The inverse function of f (x) = 3(x − 7) + 5 is f −1 (x) = + 7.
3
The function f −1 (x) has domain (−∞, ∞).
√
(d) The inverse function of f (x) = x2 − 4 is f −1 (x) = x + 4. In order to make f (x) one-to-one,
so that there is no ambiguity in f −1 (x), we need to restrict the domain of f (x) to [0, ∞). This
means that the range of f −1 (x) is also [0, ∞).
The function f −1 (x) has domain [−4, ∞).
√
(e) The inverse function of f (x) = x3 + 7 is f −1 (x) = 3 x − 7.
The function f −1 (x) has domain (−∞, ∞).
√
(f) The inverse function of f (x) = (x + 7)3 is f −1 (x) = 3 x − 7.
The function f −1 (x) has domain (−∞, ∞).

2. For each function f (x), below, find a domain on which f is one-to-one and then create an inverse
function g(x) corresponding to f on that domain.
(a) f (x) = (x − 4)2
√
(b) f (x) = x + 4
1
(c) f (x) =
x+1
x
(d) f (x) =
x+1
√
(e) f (x) = x3 + 9
1
(f) f (x) = √
2
x +1
 √
(a) The inverse function of f (x) = (x − 4)2 is f −1 (x) = x + 4.
The range of f (x) is [0, ∞) which is the domain of f −1 . It is in this region that f (x) is
one-to-one so let us set the domain of f (x) to the range of f −1 (x), that is [4, ∞).
√
Set the domain of f (x) to [4, ∞). Then f (x) is one-to-one with inverse f −1 (x) = x + 4.
√
(b) The inverse function of f (x) = x + 4 is f −1 (x) = x2 − 4.
The range of f (x) is [0, ∞) which is the domain of f −1 . It is in this region that f (x)
is one-to-one so let us set the domain of f (x) to the range of f −1 (x) which is [−4, ∞).
Set the domain of f (x) to [−4, ∞). Then f (x) is one-to-one with inverse f −1 (x) = x2 − 4
1 1
(c) If y = then the inverse function obeys the equation x = .
x+1 y+1
Solve for y:
1 1−x
x= =⇒ x(y + 1) = 1 =⇒ xy + x = 1 =⇒ xy = 1 − x =⇒ y = .
y+1 x

1−x
The domain of f (x) to (−∞, −1) ∪ (−1, ∞). f (x) is one-to-one with inverse f −1 (x) = .
x
x y
(d) If y = then the inverse function obeys the equation x = .
x+1 y+1
Solve for y:
y x−1 x
x= =⇒ x(y+1) = y =⇒ xy+x = y =⇒ xy−y = −x =⇒ y(x−1) = −x =⇒ y = = .
y+1 −x 1−x

x
The domain of f (x) to (−∞, −1) ∪ (−1, ∞). f (x) is one-to-one with inverse f −1 (x) = .
1−x
√ √
(e) The inverse function of f (x) = x3 + 9 is f −1 (x) = x3 − 9. The domain of f (x) is [− 3 9, ∞).
1 1
(f) If y = √ then the inverse function involves the equation: x = p .
2
x +1 2
y +1
Let us square both sides and then multiply both sides by y 2 + 1:

1 1
x= p =⇒ x2 = =⇒ x2 (y 2 + 1) = 1.
y2 +1 y2 + 1

Then divide both sides by x2 and then subtract 1 from both sides:

1 1
x2 (y 2 + 1) = 1 =⇒ y 2 + 1 = =⇒ y 2 = 2 − 1.
x2 x
Then get a common denominator on the right side and then take square roots.
√
2 1 2 1 − x2 1 − x2
y = 2 − 1 =⇒ y = 2
=⇒ y = ±( ).
x x x
This solution does not give a function since there are two answers. So let us agree to restrict
the domain of f (x) to [0, ∞) and then the inverse function will have range [0, ∞). If we do
that, then
√
1 − x2
f −1 (x) = .
x
3. Find the inverse function of f (x). State the domain of the inverse function f −1 (x).

(a) f (x) = x3
√
(b) f (x) = 3 x
(c) f (x) = 4x − 5
√
(d) f (x) = x3 + 5
(e) f (x) = x3 + 5
√
(a) The inverse function of f (x) = x3 is f −1 (x) = 3 x. The domain of the inverse function is
(−∞, ∞).
√
(b) The inverse function of f (x) = 3 x is f −1 (x) = x3 . The domain of f −1 (x) is (−∞, ∞).
x+5
(c) The inverse function of f (x) = 4x − 5 is f −1 (x) = . The domain of f −1 (x) is (−∞, ∞).
4
√ √ √
(d) The inverse function of f (x) = x3 + 5 is f −1 (x) = 3 x2 − 5. The domain of f (x) is [− 3 5, ∞)
and the range of f (x) is [0, ∞). Therefore the domain of f −1 (x) is [0, ∞).
√
(e) The inverse function of f (x) = x3 + 5 is f −1 (x) = 3 x − 5. The domain of f −1 (x) is (−∞, ∞).

4. Compose the function f and g and determine, from your answer, if the functions f and g are inverses
of each other.
√
(a) f (x) = (x + 3)2 − 7, g(x) = x + 7 − 3. (Assume the domain of f (x) is [−3, ∞).)
1
(b) f (x) = 3x + 7, g(x) = x − 7.
3
√ x−7 3
(c) f (x) = 2 3 x − 5 + 7, g(x) = ( ) + 5.
2
(x − 7)3 √
(d) f (x) = + 5, g(x) = 2 3 x − 5 + 7.
2
Solutions.
√ √
(a) (f ◦ g)(x) = f ( x + 7 − 3) = ( x + 7 − 3 + 3)2 − 7 = x. (Similarly (g ◦ f )(x) = x.) So, yes,
these functions are inverses.
1
(b) (f ◦ g)(x) = 3( x − 7) + 7 = x − 21 + 7 = x − 14. Since this answer is not equal to x, these
3
functions are not inverses.
r r
x−7 3 3 x−7 3 x−7 3 x−7
(c) (f ◦ g)(x) = f (( ) + 5) = 2 ( ) + 5 − 5 + 7) = 2 3 ( ) + 7 = 2( ) + 7 = x.
2 2 2 2
(Similarly (g ◦ f )(x) = x.) So, yes, these functions are inverses.
√ √
√ (2 3 x − 5 + 7 − 7)3 (2 3 x − 5)3 8(x − 5)
(d) (f ◦ g)(x) = f (2 3 x − 5 + 7) = +5 = +5 = +5 =
2 2 2
4(x − 5) + 5 = 4x − 15.
Since this answer is not equal to x, these functions are not inverses.