Teach A Level Maths

Vol. 2: A2 Core Modules

3: Graphs of Inverse
Functions

Christine Crisp

Module C3

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Inverse Functions
Consider the graph of the function

f ( x) 2 x 4

y 2x 4
x4
y
2

The inverse function is

x4
( x)
2

Inverse Functions
Consider the graph of the function

y 2x 4

( 3, 2)x

x ( 0, 4)

(4, 0)
x
x4
y
2

( 2, 3)
The inverse function is

f ( x) 2 x 4

x4
( x)
2

An inverse function is just a rearrangement with x

and y swapped.
So the graphs just swap x and y!

Inverse Functions
What else do you notice about the graphs?

y 2 x 4x (0, 4)

yx

(4, 0)
x

( 3, 2)x
( 4, 4x)

x4
y
2

( 2, 3)

f 1 ( x ) is a reflection of f ( x ) in the line y = x

The function and its inverse must meet on y = x

Inverse Functions
e.g. On the same axes, sketch the graph of

y ( x 2) 2 ,

x2

and its inverse.

Solution:

N.B!

yx
(4, 4)

(1, 3)

(0, 2)
( 3, 1)
( 2, 0)

Inverse Functions
e.g. On the same axes, sketch the graph of

y ( x 2) 2 ,

x2

and its inverse.

Solution:

N.B!

yx
y x 2

y ( x 2) 2

N.B. Using the translation of x

inverse function is f 1 ( x )

we can see the

x 2 .

Inverse Functions

A bit more on domain and range

The previous example used

y x 2

y ( x 2) 2

f ( x ) ( x 2) 2 , x 2 .

The domain of f ( x ) is
x2.
1
Since f ( x ) is found
by swapping x and y,
the values of the domain
of f ( x ) give the values of
1
the range of f ( x ).

f ( x ) ( x 2) 2 Domain x 2
1
f ( x ) x 2 Range y 2

Inverse Functions

A bit more on domain and range

The previous example used

y x 2

y ( x 2) 2

f ( x ) ( x 2) 2 , x 2 .

The domain of f ( x ) is
x2 .
1
Since f ( x ) is found
by swapping x and y,
the values of the domain
of f ( x ) give the values of
1
the range of f ( x ).

Similarly, the values of the range of f ( x )

give the values of the domain of

f 1 ( x )

Inverse Functions
SUMMARY
1
The graph of y f ( x ) is the reflection of y f ( x )
in the line y = x. It follows that the curves meet on

y=x

At every point, the x and y coordinates of y f ( x )

become the y and x coordinates of y f 1 ( x ) .

The values of the domain and range of f ( x )

swap to become the values of the range and
domain of f 1 ( x ).
y x2 2

e.g.

f ( x) x 2 ,
1

f ( x) x 2 ,
2

x2 ;

x 0;

y 0

y 2

yx

y x2

Inverse Functions
A Rule for Finding an Inverse
e.g. 1 An earlier example sketched the inverse of the
function

y ( x 2) 2 ,

x2

There was a reason for giving the domain as

Lets look at the graph of
values of x.

x2.

y ( x 2) 2 for all real

Inverse Functions
y ( x 2) 2

This function is
many-to-one.
e.g.

x = 1, y = 1 . . .
and

x = 3, y = 1
An inverse function undoes a function.

But we cant undo y = 1 since x could be 1 or 3.

Inverse Functions
y ( x 2) 2

This function is
many-to-one.
e.g.

x = 1, y = 1 . . .
and

x = 3, y = 1
An inverse function undoes a function.

But we cant undo y = 1 since x could be 1 or 3.

Inverse Functions
y ( x 2) 2

This function is
many-to-one.
e.g.

x = 1, y = 1 . . .
and

x = 3, y = 1
An inverse function undoes a function.
An inverse function only exists if the original
function is one-to-one.

Inverse Functions
y ( x 2) 2

We can have either

x2

If a function is many-to-one, the domain must

be restricted to make it one-to-one.

Inverse Functions
y ( x 2) 2

or

x2

If a function is many-to-one, the domain must

be restricted to make it one-to-one.

Inverse Functions

e.g. 2 Find possible values of x for which the

inverse function of sin x can be defined.
Solution: Lets sketch the graph of y sin x for

2 x 2

The function is
clearly many-to-one
so we must find a
domain that gives us
a section that is
one-to-one.
The most obvious section to use is the part close to
the origin.

Inverse Functions

e.g. 2 Find possible values of x for which the

inverse function of sin x can be defined.
Solution: Lets sketch the graph of y sin x for

2 x 2

The function is
clearly many-to-one
so we must find a
domain that gives us
a section that is
one-to-one.
The most obvious section to use is the part close to
the origin.

Inverse Functions

e.g. 2 Find possible values of x for which the

inverse function of sin x can be defined.
Solution: Lets sketch the graph of y sin x for

2 x 2

The function is
clearly many-to-one
so we must find a
domain that gives us
a section that is
one-to-one.
The most obvious section to use is the part close to
the origin.

Inverse Functions

e.g. 2 Find possible values of x for which the

inverse function of sin x can be defined.
Solution: Lets sketch the graph of y sin x for

2 x 2

The function is
clearly many-to-one
so we must find a
domain that gives us
a section that is
one-to-one.

x These values are called the principal values.

2
2
In degrees, the P.Vs. are 90 x 90

Inverse Functions
Exercise
Suggest principal values for y cos x and y tan x

( Give your answers in both degrees and radians )

Solution:

y cos x

Inverse Functions
Exercise
Suggest principal values for y cos x and y tan x

( Give your answers in both degrees and radians )

Solution:

y cos x

0 x
or

0 x 180

y tan x

Inverse Functions

y tan x

Inverse Functions

x
2
2
or

90 x 90

Inverse Functions

SUMMARY

Only one-to-one functions have an inverse

function.

If a function is many-to-one, the domain must

be restricted to make the function one-to-one.

The restricted domains of the trig functions

are called the principal values.
radians
degrees

sin x

0 x

cos x
tan x

90 x 90
0 x 180

90 x 90

Inverse Functions

Exercise

1 (a) Sketch the function y f ( x ) where

f ( x) x 2 1 .
(b) Write down the range of f ( x ) .
(c) Suggest a suitable domain for f ( x ) so that
the inverse function f 1 ( x ) can be found.

(d) Find f
range.

( x ) and write down its domain and

(e) On the same axes sketch y f

( x) .

Inverse Functions

Solution:

y x2 1

(a)

(b) Range of f ( x ) :

f ( x ) 1

(c) Restricted domain:

x0

(d) Inverse: Let

Rearrange:

Swap:

Domain:

y x2 1
y 1 x2

( Well look at the

other possibility
x0
in a minute. )

y 1 x
x 1 y
f 1 ( x ) x 1

x 1

Range: y 0

Solution:
(a)

Inverse Functions

(b) Range of f ( x ) :

y x2 1

f ( x ) 1

(c) Suppose you chose

x0

for the domain

(d)

As before
Rearrange:
We now need

y x2 1
y 1 x2
y 1 x since x 0

Let

Solution:
(a)

Inverse Functions

y x2 1

(b) Range: y 1
(c) Suppose you chose

x0

(d)

As before
Rearrange:

Let

for the domain

Choosing x 0
2
y x 1
is easier!

y 1 x2
We now need y 1 x since x 0
Swap:
x 1 y
f 1 ( x ) x 1
Domain: x 1 Range: y 0

Inverse Functions

Inverse Functions

The following slides contain repeats of

information on earlier slides, shown without
colour, so that they can be printed and
photocopied.
For most purposes the slides can be printed
as Handouts with up to 6 slides per sheet.

Inverse Functions

SUMMARY
1
The graph of y f ( x ) is the reflection of y f ( x )
in the line y = x. It follows that the curves meet on

y=x

At every point, the x and y coordinates of y f ( x )

become the y and x coordinates of y f 1 ( x ) .

The values of the domain and range of f ( x )

swap to become the values of the range and
domain of f 1 ( x ).
y x2 2

e.g. f ( x )

x2,

x2 ;

y 0

yx

f 1 ( x ) x 2 2 ,

x 0;

y 2

y x2

Inverse Functions

An inverse function undoes a function.

An inverse function only exists if the original

function is one-to-one.

If a function is many-to-one, the domain must

be restricted to make it one-to-one.

For y ( x 2) 2 we can have:

either

x2

y ( x 2) 2

or

x2

y ( x 2) 2

Inverse Functions
e.g. 1 Find possible values of x for which the
inverse function of sin x can be defined.
Solution:
Lets sketch the graph of y sin x for

2 x 2

y sin x

The function is
clearly many-to-one
so we must find a
domain that gives us
a section that is
one-to-one.

Inverse Functions

y sin x
The part closest to
the origin is used for
the domain.

x
2
2
These values are called the principal values.
In degrees, the P.Vs. are 90 x 90

SUMMARY

Inverse Functions

Only one-to-one functions have an inverse

function.

If a function is many-to-one, the domain must

be restricted to make the function one-to-one.

The restricted domains of the trig functions

are called the principal values.
radians
degrees

sin x

0 x

cos x
tan x

90 x 90
0 x 180

90 x 90