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Draw graphs of the functions f   and   f 1 from [link] .

Graph of f(x) and f^(-1)(x).
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Is there any function that is equal to its own inverse?

Yes. If f = f 1 , then f ( f ( x ) ) = x , and we can think of several functions that have this property. The identity function does, and so does the reciprocal function, because

1 1 x = x

Any function f ( x ) = c x , where c is a constant, is also equal to its own inverse.

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with inverse functions.

Visit this website for additional practice questions from Learningpod.

Key concepts

  • If g ( x ) is the inverse of f ( x ) , then g ( f ( x ) ) = f ( g ( x ) ) = x . See [link] , [link] , and [link] .
  • Only some of the toolkit functions have an inverse. See [link] .
  • For a function to have an inverse, it must be one-to-one (pass the horizontal line test).
  • A function that is not one-to-one over its entire domain may be one-to-one on part of its domain.
  • For a tabular function, exchange the input and output rows to obtain the inverse. See [link] .
  • The inverse of a function can be determined at specific points on its graph. See [link] .
  • To find the inverse of a formula, solve the equation y = f ( x ) for x as a function of y . Then exchange the labels x and y . See [link] , [link] , and [link] .
  • The graph of an inverse function is the reflection of the graph of the original function across the line y = x . See [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

Describe why the horizontal line test is an effective way to determine whether a function is one-to-one?

Each output of a function must have exactly one output for the function to be one-to-one. If any horizontal line crosses the graph of a function more than once, that means that y -values repeat and the function is not one-to-one. If no horizontal line crosses the graph of the function more than once, then no y -values repeat and the function is one-to-one.

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Why do we restrict the domain of the function f ( x ) = x 2 to find the function’s inverse?

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Can a function be its own inverse? Explain.

Yes. For example, f ( x ) = 1 x is its own inverse.

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Are one-to-one functions either always increasing or always decreasing? Why or why not?

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How do you find the inverse of a function algebraically?

Given a function y = f ( x ) , solve for x in terms of y . Interchange the x and y . Solve the new equation for y . The expression for y is the inverse, y = f 1 ( x ) .

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Algebraic

Show that the function f ( x ) = a x is its own inverse for all real numbers a .

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For the following exercises, find f 1 ( x ) for each function.

f ( x ) = x + 3

f 1 ( x ) = x 3

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f ( x ) = 2 x

f 1 ( x ) = 2 x

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f ( x ) = x x + 2

f 1 ( x ) = 2 x x 1

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f ( x ) = 2 x + 3 5 x + 4

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For the following exercises, find a domain on which each function f is one-to-one and non-decreasing. Write the domain in interval notation. Then find the inverse of f restricted to that domain.

f ( x ) = ( x + 7 ) 2

domain of f ( x ) : [ 7 , ) ; f 1 ( x ) = x 7

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f ( x ) = x 2 5

domain of f ( x ) : [ 0 , ) ; f 1 ( x ) = x + 5

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Given f ( x ) = x 3 5 and g ( x ) = 2 x 1 x :

  1. Find f ( g ( x ) ) and g ( f ( x ) ) .
  2. What does the answer tell us about the relationship between f ( x ) and g ( x ) ?

a.   f ( g ( x ) ) = x and g ( f ( x ) ) = x . b. This tells us that f and g are inverse functions

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Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
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Sir
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Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, College algebra. OpenStax CNX. Feb 06, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11759/1.3
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