4.

1 Inverse Functions

Unit 4 Inverse, Exponential, and Logarithmic

Functions
Concepts & Objectives
 Inverse Functions
 Review composition of functions

 Identify 1-1 functions

 Find the inverse of a 1-1 function

Composition of Functions
 If f and g are functions, then the composite function, or
composition, of g and f is defined by
 g f  x   g  f  x  
 The domain of g  f is the set of all numbers x in the
domain of f such that f x is in the domain of g.
Composition of Functions (cont.)
4
 Example: Let f  x   2x  1 and g  x   .
x 1

a) Find  f g 2

b) Find  g f  3
Composition of Functions (cont.)
4
 Example: Let f  x   2x  1 and g  x   .
x 1

a) Find  f g 2
4
g  2  4 f g 2  f  g 2   f  4 
21
 2 4   1  7

b) Find  g f  3
f  3  2 3  1  7
4 4 1
g  7   
7  1 8 2
Composition of Functions (cont.)
4
 Example: Let f  x   2x  1 and g  x   .
x 1

c) Write  f g  x  as one function.

Composition of Functions (cont.)
4
 Example: Let f  x   2x  1 and g  x   .
x 1

c) Write  f g  x  as one function.

f g  x   f  g  x  
 4  8
 2  1  1
 x 1  x 1
8 x 1 8  x 1
  
x 1 x 1 x 1
9 x

x 1
One-to-One Functions
 In a one-to-one function, each x-value corresponds to
only one y-value, and each y-value corresponds to only
one x-value. In a 1-1 function, neither the x nor the y can
repeat.

A function is a one-to-one function if, for

elements a and b in the domain of f,

a≠b implies f a ≠ f b.

 We can also say that f a = f b implies a = b.

One-to-One Functions (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether f  x   3x  7 is one-to-one.
One-to-One Functions (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether f  x   3x  7 is one-to-one.

We want to show that f a = f b implies that a = b:

f  a  f  b 
3a  7  3b  7
3a  3b
ab
Therefore, f is a one-to-one function.
One-to-One Functions (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether f  x   x 2  2 is one-to-one.
One-to-One Functions (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether f  x   x 2  2 is one-to-one.

This time, we will try plugging in different values:

f 3  32  2  11
f  3   3  2  11
2

Although 3 ≠ ‒3, f 3 does equal f ‒3. This means that

the function is not one-to-one by the definition.
One-to-One Functions (cont.)
 Another way to identify whether a function is one-to-one
is to use the horizontal line test, which says that if any
horizontal line intersects the graph of a function in more
than one point, then the function is not one-to-one.

 

one-to-one not one-to-one

Inverse Functions
 Some pairs of one-to-one functions undo one another.
 For example, if

x 5
f  x   8x  5 and g x  
8

then f 10  8 10  5  85 (for example)

85  5 80
g  85    10
8 8
This is true for any value of x. Therefore, f and g are
called inverses of each other.
Inverse Functions (cont.)
 More formally:

Let f be a one-to-one function. Then g is the inverse

function of f if

f g  x   x for every x in the domain of g,

and  g f  x   x for every x in the domain of f.

Inverse Functions (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether g is the inverse function of f .

f  x   x3  1 g x   3 x  1
Inverse Functions (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether g is the inverse function of f .

f  x   x3  1 g x   3 x  1

f  g x    
3
3
x 1 1
 x 11
x
g  f  x   3 x3  1  1
 3 x3 yes
x
Inverse Functions (cont.)
 If g is the inverse of a function f , then g is written as f -1
(read “f inverse”).

 In our previous example, for f  x   x 3  1 ,

f 1  x   3 x  1
Finding Inverses
 Since the domain of f is the range of f -1 and vice versa, if
a set is one-to-one, then to find the inverse, we simply
exchange the independent and dependent variables.

 Example: If the relation is one-to-one, find the inverse of

the function.
F   2,1 ,  1,0 , 0,1 , 1,2 , 2,2 not 1-1
G  3,1 , 0,2 , 2,3 ,  4,0 1-1
G 1  1,3 , 2,0 , 3,2 , 0,4 
Finding Inverses (cont.)
 In the same way we did the example, we can find the
inverse of a function by interchanging the x and y
variables.
 To find the equation of the inverse of y = f x:
 Determine whether the function is one-to-one.

 Replace f x with y if necessary.

 Switch x and y.

 Solve for y.

 Replace y with f -1x.

Finding Inverses (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether each equation defines a one-
to-one function. If so, find the equation of the inverse.

a) f  x   2x  5
Finding Inverses (cont.)
 Example: Decide whether each equation defines a one-
to-one function. If so, find the equation of the inverse.

a) f  x   2x  5 one-to-one
y  2x  5 replace f x with y
x  2y 5 interchange x and y
2y  x 5 solve for y
x 5
y
2
1 5
f x  x 
1
replace y with f -1x
2 2
Graphing Inverses
 Back in Geometry, when we studied reflections, it turned
out that the pattern for reflecting a figure across the line
y = x was to swap the x- and y-values.
 x, y   y, x
 It turns out, if we were to graph our inverse functions,
we would see that the inverse is the reflection of the
original function across the line y = x.
 This can give you a way to check your work.
Graphing Inverses

f  x   2x  5 f  x    x  2
3

1 5
f x  x 
1
f 1  x   3 x  2
2 2
Classwork
 College Algebra
 Page 413: 42-50, page 384: 22-30, page 352: 58-68