Inverse
Functio
ns
INTRODUCTION
Inverse functions are formed by taking the inverse operation or ‘undoing’ the
operation of the function. However, the inverse is not always a function.
For the inverse relation to be itself a function, the original function must be a one-to-
one relation—that is, there is a unique x value for every y value, and a unique y value
for every x value.
This occurs when a graph is monotonic increasing or decreasing.
In the functions topic we used a vertical line test to check a function.
To check if the inverse relation will be a function, we use a horizontal line test on the original
function.
The inverse is not a function.
In a lot of cases we needto restrict the
domain of so that is a function
DEFINITION: The inverse relation is obtained by reversing each ordered pair.
DOMAIN AND RANGE OF THE INVERSE: The domain of the inverse is the range of the
relation, and the range of the inverse is the domain of the relation
THE GRAPH OF THE INVERSE: The graph of the inverse relation is obtained by reflecting the
original graph in the diagonal line .
INVERSE FUNCTIONS: If the inverse relation of a function f(x) is also a function, the inverse
function is written . The composition of the function and its inverse sends every number
back to itself.
and
EXAMPLES
Make the subject, then swap and to find the inverse for 𝑦 =2 𝑥+1
Swap and
x= 2 y +1
𝑥 −1=2 y
𝑦 −1
𝑥=
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =2 𝑥 +1
−1 y −1
𝑓 ( x )=
2
EXAMPLES
3
Swap and then make the subject to find the inverse for 𝑦 =𝑥 − 2
swap and
3
𝑥= 𝑦 − 2
Now make y the subject
3
𝑥+ 2= 𝑦
𝑦 =√ 𝑥+ 2
3
EXAMPLES
Find the inverse relation of
2
𝑥=𝑦 − 4 𝑦 − 7
2
𝑥+ 7= 𝑦 − 4 𝑦
Complete the square on
the right hand side
2
𝑥+ 7+ 4= 𝑦 − 4 𝑦 + 4
𝑥+ 11= ( 𝑦 − 2 )2
± √ 𝑥+11= 𝑦 − 2
2 ± √ 𝑥 +11= 𝑦
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