One-to-One Functions;
Inverse Function
A function f is one-to-one if for each x in the
domain of f there is exactly one y in the range
and no y in the range is the image of more than
one x in the domain.
A function is not one-to-one if two different
elements in the domain correspond to the same
element in the range.
x1 y1 x1 y1
x2 y2
x3 x2
x3
y3
Domain Range y3
Domain
Range
One-to-one
function NOT One-to-one
function
x1 y1
y2
x3
y3 Not a
Domain Range
function
M: Mother Function is NOT one-one
Joe
Samantha Laura
Anna Julie
Ian Hilary
Chelsea Barbara
George Sue
Children Mothers
S: Social Security function IS one-one
Joe 123456789
Samantha 223456789
Anna 333456789
Ian 433456789
Chelsea 533456789
George 633456789
Americans SSN
Is the function f below one – one?
1 10
2 11
3 12
4 13
5 14
6 15
7 16
Theorem Horizontal Line Test
If horizontal lines intersect the
graph of a function f in at most
one point, then f is one-to-one.
Use the graph to determine whether
the function f ( x ) 2 x 5 x 1
2
is one-to-one.
Not one-to-one.
Use the graph to determine whether the
function is one-to-one.
One-to-one.
The inverse of a one-one function is
the role of x and
obtained by switching
y. Denoted by
𝑓 (𝑥) ={( 1,1 ) , ( 2,4 ) , (3,9 )}
−1
𝑓 ( 𝑥) ={( 1,1 ) , ( 4 ,2 ) ,( 9 ,3) }
1
S The inverse of the social security function
123456789 Joe
223456789 Samantha
333456789 Anna
433456789 Ian
533456789 Chelsea
633456789 George
SSN Americans
Theorem
The graph of a function f and the
1
graph of its inverse f are symmetric
with respect to the line y = x.
6 f y=x
4
1
f
(0, 2)
2
(2, 0)
2 0 2 4 6
2
Finding the inverse of a 1-1 function
• y f (x)
f 1 ( x)
Find the inverse of
Find the inverse of
Find the inverse of