Inverse Functions

By

MATH PROJECT
 To have an inverse, a
function must be one-
to-one. This means for
each x there is one and
only one y and for each
y there is one and only
one x.
 The Horizontal Line
Test is used to test a
function for an inverse.
If a horizontal line is drawn and
intersects the graph at more than
one point, the function does not
have an inverse.
The function has an inverse if the
horizontal line intersects the
graph at only one point.
The function y=x2 fails the Horizontal
Line Test and therefore doesn’t have an
inverse.
 The function y=x+2 passes the
Horizontal Line Test and has an inverse.
To find the inverse…
Use the Horizontal Line Test.
Replace f(x) with y.
Exchange x and y then solve
for y.
Replace y with f-1(x).
Check: f ° f-1, f-1 ° f, and the
graph.
 f ( x)  3x
Replace f(x) with y. y  3x
Exchange x and y. x  3y
x
Solve for y. y
3
x
Replace y with f-1(x). f (x) 
1

3
Check.
 Check by graphing.

x
f ( x)  3x 1
f (x ) 
3
The graph of the inverse is the
graph of the function reflected
across the line y=x.
 Check with composition of functions.
f f-1 f-1 f
x 1 1
f ( f ( x ))  f ( )
1
f ( f ( x))  f (3 x)
3
x x (3x )
f ( )  3( ) f (3 x) 
1

3 3 3
1 1
f ( f ( x))  x f ( f ( x))  x
1 1
f ( f ( x))  f ( f ( x))  x
 f ( x)  x  1 3

Replace f(x) with y. y  x 1

3

Exchange x and y. x  y 1
3

x 1  y 3
Solve for y.
3
x 1  y
Replace y with f-1(x). 1
f ( x)  3
x 1
Check.
 Check by graphing.

f ( x)  x  1
3 1
f ( x)  3
x 1
The graph of f(x) and the graph
of f-1(x) should reflect over the
line y=x.

y=f(x) y=x

y=f-1(x)
 Check with composition of functions.
f f-1 f-1 f
1 1
1
f ( f ( x))  f ( x  1)
3 f ( f ( x))  f ( x  1) 3

1
f ( x  1)  ( x  1)  1
3 3 3
f ( x  1)  ( x  1)  1
3 3 3

1 1
f ( f ( x))  x f ( f ( x))  x
1 1
f ( f ( x))  f ( f ( x))  x
 f ( x) | x- 2|
either  x  2orx  2
The absolute value function does
not have inverse because it is not
one-to-one and fails the Horizontal
Line Test. For the absolute value
function to have an inverse, there
needs to be a restricted domain.
 f ( x) | x- 2|
either  x  2orx  2
Replace f(x) with y. y  x2
Exchange x and y. x  y2
Solve for y. x2 y
1
Replace y with f-1(x). f ( x)  x  2, x  2
Check by graphing & composition of functions.