Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 1
Recall the following de nitions of relations and functions.
.
De nition: A relation is an assignment between elements of a non-empty set called domain and another
set called the range. We usually denote relations by lower case letters such as f or g.
.
De nition: A function is an assignment between elements of a non-empty set called domain and another
set called the range, with one restriction: that to each element of the domain, only one thing
can be assigned. We usually denote relations by lower case letters such as f or g.
The picture above shows two relations, f and h. While f is a function, h is not, because more than one values are assigned
to 1 under h. The distinction between functions and relations that are not functions will be important later.
The main idea about the inverse is the intention of traveling backward along the assignments.
.
De nition: Suppose that f is a function. The inverse relation, denoted by f 1 is an assignment that is
the reversal of the assignment of f .
Consider the function f shown on the picture below. The inverse relation, denoted by f 1 is obtained by reversing the
assignments de ned by f .
So the statement f (1) = 1 can be re-phrased as f 1 ( 1) = 1; the statement f (2) = 1 as f 1 (1) = 2; the statement
f (3) = 5 as f 1 (5) = 3; and so on, f 1 (7) = 5 and f 1 (11) = 7.
Note 1: It is important to notice that the domain and range of f swap roles under the inverse relation: the domain of f is
the range of f 1 and the range of f is the domain of f 1 . This fact will be useful later.
c Hidegkuti, 2013 Last revised: October 27, 2019
Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 2
Note 2: The notation for inverse relation and reciporocal are similar but not quite the same. f 1 (7) denotes the inverse
relation while f (7) 1 denotes reciprocal. So,
1 1 1 1
f (7) = 5 and f (7) = =
f (7) 11
Needless to say, it will be very important for us not to confuse the two notations.
Given the graph of a function f , how do we graph the inverse relation? There are two methods to graph the inverse: by
transposing coordinates on the graphs of f and by re ecting the graph of f to the line y = x.
Example 1. Graph the inverse relation f 1 for the function f (x) = x2 .
Solution: Let us rst graph y = x2 rst. Since the inverse literally reverses the assignment of f , x becomes y and y
becomes x under the inverse relation. So if (3; 9) and ( 3; 9) are points on the graph of f , then switching the
two coordinates gives us points on the graph of the inverse. So, (9; 3) and (9; 3) are points on the graph of
the inverse. We apply this method to more points:
points on f (0; 0) (1; 1) ( 1; 1) (2; 4) ( 2; 4) (3; 9) ( 3; 9) (4; 16) ( 4; 16)
points on f 1 (0; 0) (1; 1) (1; 1) (4; 2) (4; 2) (9; 3) (9; 3) (16; 4) (16; 4)
We now plot these points and connect them.
graph of f graph of f 1
We can graph these two Although it appears that this is a rotation
together to better see the by 90 , this is not what happens, because
symmetry. the point (3; 9) becomes (9; 3) on the inverse
graph and the point ( 3; 9) becomes (9; 3).
The fact that this is generally not a rotation
will be more clear after the next example.
graphs of f and f 1
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Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 3
1 1
Example 2. Graph the inverse relation g for the function g (x) = x + 3.
2
Solution: We will again collect a few points on the graph of g and transpose their coordinates to obtain points on the
graph.
5 7 9
points on g ( 2; 2) 1; (0; 3) 1; (2; 4) 3; (4; 5)
2 2 2
1 5 7 9
points on g (2; 2) ; 1 (3; 0) ;1 (4; 2) ;3 (16; 5)
2 2 2
graph of g graph of g 1
We can graph these two Notice that g 1 turned out to be a function
together to better see the but not f 1 . Since f (3) = f ( 3) = 9, the
symmetry: inverse relation f 1 will fail to be a function
because both 3 and 3 will be assigned to 9
under f 1 . Indeed, if a function assigns the
same y value to two different x values, then
the inverse relation will fail to be a function.
graphs of g and g 1
.
Theorem: Suppose that f is a function. The inverse relation, denoted by f 1 is a function if and only
if the function is one-to-one.
Recall that a function f is one-to-one if to each element of its domain a different element of the range is assigned.
.
De nition: A function f is one-to-one (or injective) if for all a and b in its domain, if a 6= b, then
f (a) 6= f (b).
As it turns out, inverse functions are extremely important for mathematicians. Even if a function is not one-to-one, we
would still like to de ne an inverse function (and not just a relation), we restrict its domain until it becomes one-to-one and
then take the inverse.
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Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 4
For example, f (x) = x2 is not one-to-one on its full domain, the set of all real numbers. So we restrict its domain to [0; ∞).
On this smaller domain, the function is now one-to-one and so the inverse relation is a function.
graph of f graph of f 1 graphs of f and f 1
1 (x) p
This inverse function is the square root function, f = x.
Given a function f , how do we compute the formula for the inverse? While f gives an assignment from the x values to
the y values, the inverse establishes an assignment from y back to x. The following is the algorithm to nd the formula
for the inverse function.
Step 1. Remove the function notation ( f (x)) and replace it with y.
Step 2. Solve for x in the equation for f .
Step 3. To switch to the inverse, swap x and y in the equation.
Step 4. Remove y and replace it with function notation ( f 1 (x)).
p
Example 3. Find the equation for the inverse of f (x) = 2 3 x + 1 3
p
Solution: We will write rst y = 2 3 x + 1 3. Then we solve for x in terms of y.
p
y = 2 3 x+1 3 add 3
p
y+3 = 2 3 x+1 divide by 2
y+3 p
= 3 x+1 raise to the third power
2
3
y+3
= x+1 subtract 1
2
3
y+3
1=x
2
3
y+3
The assignment of function f is x = 1. Under the inverse, x and y are now swapped.
2
3 3
y+3 x+3 1.
x= 1 under f =) y= 1 under the inverse, f
2 2
3
1 (x) x+3
and so the inverse of f is f = 1.
2
c Hidegkuti, 2013 Last revised: October 27, 2019
Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 5
Note: if we say 'the inverse of f 0 ; without specifying whether it is the inverse function or the inverse relation, we always
mean the inverse function.
There is one more important and useful property of inverse functions.
Example 4. Suppose that f (x) = 3x 8:
a) Find the inverse relation of f . b) Is f 1 a function? c) Compute f f 1 (7) and f 1(f (7)).
Solution: a) As before, we drop the function notation, solve for x, and swap x and y.
y = 3x 8
y + 8 = 3x
y+8 x+8
x = in the inverse, y =
3 3
x+8
1 (x)
Therefore, f .
=
3
b) Suppose that f 1 (x1 ) = f 1 (x2 ).
x1 + 8 x2 + 8
= multiply by 3
3 3
x1 + 8 = x2 + 8 subtract 8
x1 = x2
This computation shows that under f 1 , if two function values are equal, then they belong to the same number in the
domain. In short, only identical numbers are mapped to the same number. This means that f is one-to-one.
1 (7) 7+8
c) f f =f = f (5) = 3 5 8=7
3
1(f 1 (3 1 (13) 13 + 8
d) f (7)) = f 7 8) = f = =7
3
.
Theorem: Suppose that f is a one-to-one function. Then f 1 is a function such that for all x,
1 1
f ( f (x)) = x and f f (x) = x
Another way to state this is: f f 1 = id and f 1 f = id where id (x) = x for all x (the
identitiy function).
Enrichment
Suppose that f is not a one-to-one function. So we restrict its domain until it does become one-to-one. Then
we take the inverse function. One statement from f 1 ( f (x)) = x and f f 1 (x) = x is still true. Which one?
Give an example for how one if these two fails to be true.
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Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 6
Sample Problems
1. The given picture shows the graph of f (x) = x (x 2). Graph the
inverse relation in the same coordinate system.
2. Find an equation for the inverse for each of the function given.
a) f (x) = 3x + 2 d) f (x) = log5 (2x 1)
b) f (x) = (5x 1)3 e) f (x) = e5x 1
x+4
c) f (x) =
3x 5
3. Prove that the inverse of a linear function is also linear and the two slopes are reciporcals of each other.
Practice Problems
1. The following pictures show the graphs of functions. In each case, graph the inverse relation.
1
a) f (x) = x + 1 c) f (x) = x3 e) f (x) = (x + 1)3
2
b) f (x) = x2 2 d) f (x) = 2x f) f (x) = x2 + 2
2. Find an equation for the inverse of each of the following functions.
p
3 x 5 2x + 5
a) f (x) = 35x 1 c) f (x) = ln (2x 1) e) f (x) = g) f (x) =
2 3x 2
2x 7 1
b) f (x) = d) f (x) = 1
3x + 5 3x + 1 f) f (x) = log3 x 7
2
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Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 7
Answers
Sample Problems
1. f and f 1
1 (x) = 1 1 x
2. a) f (x 2) d) f 1 (x) =(5 + 1)
3 2
1 p 1
b) f 1 (x) = ( 3 x + 1) e) f 1 (x) = (ln x + 1)
5 5
1 (x) = 5x + 4
c) f
3x 1
3. see solutions
Practice Problems
1
1. a) f (x) = x + 1 c) f (x) = x3 e) f (x) = (x + 1)3
2
b) f (x) = x2 2 f) f (x) = x2 + 2
d) f (x) = 2x
1 (x) = 1 1 (x) = x+1 1 (x) = 2x + 5
2. a) f (log3 x + 1) d) f g) f
5 3x 3x 2
1 (x) = 5x + 7 2x + 5 2
b) f e) f 1 (x) =
3x + 2 3
1 x 1 (x) = 2
c) f 1 (x) = (e + 1) f) f 3x + 14
2
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Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 8
Sample Problems Solutions
1. The given picture shows the graph of f (x) = x (x 2). Graph
the inverse relation in the same coordinate system.
Solution: Let us nd some points on the function. Substituting
easy values for x, we obtain the following points on the graph
of f .
( 2; 8) ; ( 1; 3) ; (0; 0) ; (1; 1) ; (2; 0) ; (3; 3) ; (4; 8)
To obtain points on the graph of the inverse, we simply
transpose the coordinates in each points. Thus the following
are points on the graph of the inverse:
(8; 2) ; (3; 1) ; (0; 0) ; ( 1; 1) ; (0; 2) ; (3; 3) ; (8; 4)
We graph these points and connect the points. It is also useful
to keep in mind that the graphs should be symmetrical to the
line y = x.
2. 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
y 2 = 3x divide by 3
y 2 x 2 1 1
= x swap x and y y= f (x) = (x 2)
3 3 3
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 = (5x 1)3 take 3rd root of both sides
p
3 y = 5x 1 add 1
p
3 y+1 = 5x divide by 5
p
3 y+1 1 p 1 1 p
= x swap x and y y= 3
x+1 f (x) = 3
x+1
5 5 5
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Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 9
x+4
c) f (x) = .
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.
x+4
y = multiply by 3x 5
3x 5
y (3x 5) = x + 4 distribute
3xy 5y = x + 4 add 5y; subtract x
3xy x = 5y + 4 factor out x
x (3y 1) = 5y + 4 divide by 3y 1
5y + 4 5x + 4 1 5x + 4
x = swap x and y y = f (x) =
3y 1 3x 1 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 = log5 (2x 1) re-write it as an exponential statement
y
5 = 2x 1 add 1
5y + 1 = 2x divide by 2
5y + 1 1 1 x
= x swap x and y y = (5x + 1) f 1
(x) = (5 + 1)
2 2 2
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 = e5x 1
take the natural logarithm of both sides
5x 1
ln y = ln e ln e5x 1
= 5x 1
ln y = 5x 1 add 1
ln y + 1 = 5x divide by 5
ln y + 1 1 1 1
= x swap x and y y = (ln x + 1) f (x) = (ln x + 1)
5 5 5
3. 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 = mx + b solve for x
y b = mx m 6= 0
y b 1 b 1 1 b
= x =) x= y =) f (x) = x
m m m m m
1
The inverse is a line with slope .
m
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Lecture Notes Inverse Functions page 10
Solution for the enrichment problem:
p
Let f (x) = x2 . We reduce its domain to [0; ∞), and then the inverse function is f 1 (x) = x:
p 2 p
f f 1 (x) = ( x) = x is still true, but f 1 ( f (x)) = x2 = x is false.
q p
Consider f 1 ( f ( 3)) = ( 3)2 = 9 = 3. We started with 3 and landed on 3. Therefore, this composition of
p
functions is not the identitiy function. In fact, f 1 ( f ( 3)) = x2 = jxj.
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