Lecture Notes

Inverse Functions Sample Problems

page 1

1. Find an equation for the inverse for each of the function given below. x+4 a) f (x) = 3x + 2 c) f (x) = e) f (x) = e5x 3x 5 b) f (x) = (5x 1)3 d) f (x) = log5 (2x 1)

2. Prove that the inverse of a linear function is also linear and the two slopes are reciporcals of each other.

Practice Problems
1. Find an equation for the inverse of each of the following functions. 1 2x + 5 a) f (x) = 35x 1 d) f (x) = g) f (x) = 3x + 1 3x 2 p 2x 7 3 x 5 b) f (x) = e) f (x) = 3x + 5 2 1 c) f (x) = ln (2x 1) f) f (x) = log3 x 7 2

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2010

Last revised: March 21, 2010

Lecture Notes

Inverse Functions Sample Problems - Answers

page 2

1. a) f

1 (x 2) 3 1 d) f 1 (x) = (5x + 1) 2
1

(x) =

b) f e) f
1

(x) =

1 p ( 3 x + 1) 5

c) f

(x) =

5x + 4 3x 1

(x) =

1 (ln x + 1) 5

2. see solutions

Practice Problems - Answers

1. a) f 1 (log3 x + 1) 5 x+1 d) f 1 (x) = 3x 2x + 5 g) f 1 (x) = 3x 2
1

(x) =

b) f e) f
1

(x) = 2x + 5 3

5x + 7 3x + 2
2

c) f f) f

(x) =

1 x (e + 1) 2

(x) =

(x) = 2 3x + 14

Sample Problems - Solutions

1. Find an equation for the inverse for each of the function given below. a) f (x) = 3x + 2 Solution: First we drop the function notation and write y instead of f (x). Then we solve for x and nally, swap x and y. y = 3x + 2 subtract 2 2 = 3x divide by 3 2 x = x swap x and y y=

y y 3

2 3

(x) =

1 (x 3

2)

b) f (x) = (5x 1)3 Solution: First we drop the function notation and write y instead of f (x). Then we solve for x and nally, swap x and y. y p 3 y p 3 y+1 p 3 y + 1 5 = (5x 1)3 = 5x 1 = 5x = x take 3rd root of both sides add 1 divide by 5 1 p 3 swap x and y y= x+1 5

(x) =

1 p 3 x+1 5

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2010

Last revised: March 21, 2010

Lecture Notes

Inverse Functions

page 3

x+4 . 3x 5 Solution: First we drop the function notation and write y instead of f (x). Then we solve for x and nally, swap x and y. c) f (x) = y = y (3x 5) = 3xy 5y = 3xy x = x (3y 1) = x = x+4 3x 5 x+4 x+4 5y + 4 5y + 4 5y + 4 3y 1 multiply by 3x 5

distribute add 5y; subtract x factor out x divide by 3y 1 5x + 4 swap x and y y = 3x 1

(x) =

5x + 4 3x 1

d) f (x) = log5 (2x 1) Solution: First we drop the function notation and write y instead of f (x). Then we solve for x and nally, swap x and y. y 5y 5y + 1 5y + 1 2 = log5 (2x = 2x 1 = 2x = x 1) re-write it as an exponential statement add 1 divide by 2 1 1 y = (5x + 1) f 1 (x) = (5x + 1) 2 2

swap x and y

e) f (x) = e5x 1 Solution: First we drop the function notation and write y instead of f (x). Then we solve for x and nally, swap x and y. y ln y ln y ln y + 1 ln y + 1 5 = = = = e5x 1 ln e5x 5x 1 5x
1

= x

swap x and y

take the natural logarithm of both sides ln e5x 1 = 5x 1 add 1 divide by 5 1 1 y = (ln x + 1) f 1 (x) = (ln x + 1) 5 5

2. Prove that the inverse of a linear function is also linear and the two slopes are reciporcals of each other. Solution: Let f (x) = mx + b: If m = 0; the function is very badly not on-to-one and the inverse does not exist. If m 6= 0; then the inverse is y y m y = mx + b b = mx b = x solve for x m 6= 0 =) 1 . m x=

1 y m

b m

=) f

(x) =

1 x m

b m

The inverse is a line with slope

c copyright Hidegkuti, Powell, 2010

Last revised: March 21, 2010