Inverse Functions
An inverse function goes the other way!
Let us start with an example:
Here we have the function f(x) = 2x+3, written as a flow diagram:
The Inverse Function goes the other way:
So the inverse of: 2x+3 is: (y-3)/2
The inverse is usually shown by putting a little "-1" after the function name, like
this:
f-1(y)
We say "f inverse of y"
So, the inverse of f(x) = 2x+3 is written:
f-1(y) = (y-3)/2
(I also used y instead of x to show that we are using a different value.)
Back to Where We Started
The cool thing about the inverse is that it should give us back the original value:
When the function f turns the apple into a banana,
Then the inverse function f-1 turns the banana back to the apple
Example:
Using the formulas from above, we can start with x=4:
f(4) = 2×4+3 = 11
We can then use the inverse on the 11:
f-1(11) = (11-3)/2 = 4
And we magically get 4 back again!
We can write that in one line:
f-1( f(4) ) = 4
"f inverse of f of 4 equals 4"
So applying a function f and then its inverse f-1 gives us the original value back
again:
f-1( f(x) ) = x
We could also have put the functions in the other order and it still works:
f( f-1(x) ) = x
Example:
Start with:
f-1(11) = (11-3)/2 = 4
And then:
f(4) = 2×4+3 = 11
So we can say:
f( f-1(11) ) = 11
"f of f inverse of 11 equals 11"
Solve Using Algebra
We can work out the inverse using Algebra. Put "y" for "f(x)" and solve for
x:
The function: f(x) = 2x+3
Put "y" for "f(x)": y = 2x+3
Subtract 3 from both sides: y-3 = 2x
Divide both sides by 2: (y-3)/2 = x
Swap sides: x = (y-3)/2
Solution (put "f-1(y)" for "x") : f-1(y) = (y-3)/2
This method works well for more difficult inverses.
Fahrenheit to Celsius
A useful example is converting between Fahrenheit and Celsius :
To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius:f(F) = (F - 32) × 59
The Inverse Function (Celsius back to Fahrenheit):f-1(C) = (C × 95) + 32
For you: see if you can do the steps to create that inverse!
Inverses of Common Functions
It has been easy so far, because we know the inverse of Multiply is Divide, and
the inverse of Add is Subtract, but what about other functions?
Here is a list to help you:
Inverses Careful!
<=>
<=> Don't divide by zero
1x <=> 1y x and y not zero
x2 <=> x and y ≥ 0
n not zero
(different rules when n is
xn <=> or odd, even, negative or
positive)
ex <=> ln(y) y>0
ax <=> loga(y) y and a > 0
sin(x) <=> sin-1(y) -π/2 to +π/2
cos(x) <=> cos-1(y) 0 to π
tan(x) <=> tan-1(y) -π/2 to +π/2
(Note: you can read more about Inverse Sine, Cosine and Tangent .)
Careful!
Did you see the "Careful!" column above? That is because some inverses
work only with certain values.
Example: Square and Square Root
When we square a negative number, and then do the inverse, this happens:
Square:( −2 )2 = 4
Inverse (Square Root):√(4) = 2
But we didn't get the original value back! We got 2 instead of −2. Our fault for
not being careful!
So the square function (as it stands) does not have an inverse
But we can fix that!
Restrict the Domain (the values that can go into a function).
Example: (continued)
Just make sure we don't use negative numbers.
In other words, restrict it to x ≥ 0 and then we can have an inverse.
So we have this situation:
x2 does not have an inverse
but {x2 | x ≥ 0 } (which says "x squared such that x is greater than or
equal to zero" using set-builder notation) does have an inverse.
No Inverse?
Let us see graphically what is going on here:
To be able to have an inverse we need unique values.
Just think ... if there are two or more x-values for one y-value, how do we
know which one to choose when going back?
General Function
No Inverse
Imagine we came from x1 to a particular y value, where do we go back to?
x1 or x2?
In that case we can't have an inverse.
But if we can have exactly one x for every y we can have an inverse.
It is called a "one-to-one correspondence" or Bijective , like this
Bijective Function
Has an Inverse
A function has to be "Bijective" to have an inverse.
So a bijective function follows stricter rules than a general function, which
allows us to have an inverse.
