GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Inverse
Functions
 ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTION

A function f is one-to-one if for each x in the domain

of f there is exactly one y in the range and no y in the
range is the image of more than one x in the domain.

ALTERNATE DEFINITION

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.
 ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS

Which of the two mappings illustrate one-to-one function?

1 10 1 10

2 11 2 11

3 12 3 12

4 13 4 13

5 14 5 14

6 15 6 15

7 16 7 16
 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 the y=7
line y = 7 intersects the graph at
2
both (0, 7) and (4, 7). x
2
 HORIZONTAL LINE TEST

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

 INVERSE RELATION

Every function y = f (x) has an inverse relation x = f (y).

Function y = |x| + 1 Inverse relation x = |y| + 1

x y x y
2 2
1 3 1 3
0 2 0 2
-1 1 -1 1
-2 -2
Domain Range Range Domain

The inverse relation is not a function. It pairs 2 to both

-1 and +1.
 INVERSE RELATION

The ordered pairs of the function f are reversed to

produce the ordered pairs of the inverse relation.
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 relation 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.
 INVERSE RELATION

The graphs of a relation and its inverse are reflections

in the line y = x.
Find the graph of the inverse relation geometrically
from the graph of f (x) = ( x 3
 2) y y=x
4 2
The ordered pairs of f are 3
( x  2)
given by the equation y  .
4 x
-2 2
The ordered pairs of the inverse are
( y 3
 2) . -2
given by x  ( y 3  2) ( x 3  2)
4 x y
4 4
 INVERSE FUNCTION

Let f denote a one-to-one function y = f(x). The

inverse of f, denoted by f -1 , is a function such that
f -1(f( x )) = x for every x in the domain of f and
f(f -1(x)) = x for every x in the domain of f -1.

NOTE:
 To find the inverse of a function algebraically,
interchange x and y and solve for y.
1
 Domain of f  Range of f
1
Range of f  Domain of f
 INVERSE FUNCTION

1. Find the inverse function of f(x) = 3x + 2.

y = 3x + 2 Original equation defining f

x = 3y + 2 Switch x and y.
3y + 2 = x Reverse sides of the equation.
( x  2)
y= Solve for y.
3

−1 𝑥−2
Therefore, 𝑓 𝑥 =
3
 INVERSE FUNCTION

5
2. Find the inverse function of 𝑓 𝑥 = .
𝑥−3
5
𝑦= Original equation defining f
𝑥−3
5
𝑥= Switch x and y.
𝑦−3
𝑦−3 𝑥 =5 Multiply both sides by (y – 3).
𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑥 = 5 Distribute x.
3𝑥+5
𝑦= Solve for y.
𝑥

3𝑥+5
Therefore, 𝑓 −1 𝑥 =
𝑥
 INVERSE FUNCTION

3. Find the inverse function of 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 3.

𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 3 Original equation defining f

𝑥= 2𝑦 − 3 Switch x and y.
𝑥 2 = 2𝑦 − 3 Square both sides.
2𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 3 Isolate 2y.
𝑥 2 +3
𝑦= Solve for y.
2
𝑥 2 +3
Therefore, 𝑓 −1 𝑥 =
2
 INVERSE FUNCTIONS

𝑥+1
Verify that the function 𝑓 𝑥 = is the inverse of
2
f(x) = 2x – 1.

( f ( x)  1) (( 2 x  1)  1) 2x
g( f(x)) = = = =x
2 2 2
f(g(x)) = 2g(x) – 1 = 2( x  1) – 1 = (x + 1) – 1 = x
2
It follows that g = f -1.
 INVERSE FUNCTIONS

EXERCISE
A. Find the inverse of each function.
1
1. 𝑓 𝑥 = − 2 3. 𝑓 𝑥 = −2𝑥 3 + 1
𝑥
𝑥+7
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 7 4. 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−3

B. Verify that f and g are inverse functions.

1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 6 ; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 6
2 2
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = − 𝑥+1
;𝑔 𝑥 = − − 1
𝑥