Determining the Inverse Function of a FunctiOn

Example11
Let f: R> R be a function defined by
f:r> 2r - 5.
(a) Find its inverse
functionf.
() Make a sketch of the
function and its inverse function.

Solution
(a) Given f:x>2r- 5
then f.
y= 2x-5 is the defining equation for
Interchanging x and y: =2y-5
Add 5 both sides:
to
X+5 2y
Divide both sides by 2: = y which is the defining equation for f-l

Thus f:x
124
(b) Since y= 2x-5
when x= 0 then y -5
= = (0, -5)
and when y=0 then
0 2r-5
So 2x= 5

x= 2, o
Since
when
x=0 then
and when y = 0 then y==|0, 25
0=+5
So
+5 0D
X=-5 -5, 0)
 inverse
fun tion is shown lelow
and its
s e t e h
the tune tion

fx) 2x Sy

4 6 7

The graph of f x)=

ne
is the reflection and
of the graph ot f) 215 in the line
ICeversà.The graphs are symmetric about the line y=.
iromthe graph:
f: 2x-5
Domain: Ox6 Domain: -5
Range: 5y7 Range:0 6
Find the inverse function i of each of the
following functions.
28. (a) f:x>xe R, x*0
(b) f:x - 3 xER,x#0
1
29. (a) f : x > 3 , * ER, x 2
1
(b) f:x -2XE R, x 22
3
30. (a) f:x r+4tE R, x <0
43 ER, x>0
(b) f:x
 4.5 Composition of Two Functions
Let A
{-2, -1, 0, 1, 21, B {0,
=

1, 4) and C={-3,-2,
=
17.
The function f:
A> B is defined by
the function g f:x>* and
: B>C is defined by
g:xX*
Since f(x) x? =

then f2)=22 4 =

f(1) = 1 = 1
f(0) = 0 = 0
(-1)= (-1P =1
and f-2) (-2P =4.
=

n e domain of the function fis A = {-2, -1, 0, 1, 2} and the range ot t is B = {0, 1, 4

Since g(r) =x -3
then g4)=4-3 =1
g)=1-3 =-2
|132 and g(0) = 0 - 3 = -

The domain of the function g is {0, 1, 4} and the range of g is -3, -2, 1}.

The relation diagrams tor these two functions are shown below.

A B

4 B
C
4
-1 0
-2 -2

-3
Many-to-one function-f(t)
fr)=? t-3
One-to-one function-g(x)
g(r) =x -3
 combined relatiOn diagam is shown below

gx)
Thus fx) =
x and glr) x 3
g(fx)) =x -
= -

3.
Since f2) = 4 and g(4) =1
g(f(2)) =1
1)= 1 and g(1) =-2 g((1)) = -2
f0)= 0 and g0)=-3 g(f(O)) = -3
f-1)= 1 and g(1)=-2
g-1)=-2
and -2)= 4 and g2)= 1 = g(f(-2)) = 1.

A further combined relation diagram is shown below.

A C

-2

-1 -3

h
Many-t0-one function-h()

Thus hx)=x'- 3 = gx))= gllv).

Since h2) 1 =
g(2)) g/(2)
h1)--2 g)) gl)
h0)=3 gMO)) gO)
h-1)=-2 g(-)) gl-D
and h-2)-1 g-2).
g-2))
 domain of f)
and the range C
th range

The resulting tunction h has the domain A (which is the which

is the range ot gB)
are combined to give a resulting functior
e r e , the functions f and g
function of
and 8 ana it is
denote.
ted
function h, from A to C, is the composite
esuiting
by gt.
a) st.

the result of finding

ne composition gf of the two functions fandg is
of f must be a oset
subs. of the
ction, the range
In general, for the composition gf to be a

domain of g.

Note that gtix) = gfx)

and fglx) = figix).

figir)) is read as 'fof g of r.

Algebraically:
Since sr fr) = *

134
and -3 glx) =x-3
then gtix) = gf(x) = g(r) =x*-3

and tgtr) =
figlx) =
fx-3) =(r 3) -

= x - 6r -

Hence gfix) iglx).

Composite functions are non-commutative.

B A C

fit) )

h =
gf and h(x) =
gfr)
B

egr)
fg(x)
+fg(t)

h-fg and h(v) =fs)

2nd fytet
o e ritten as g A and ) respectivelv.
Example 15
7 composition g of
is read as
1 and g:x>x
(fo g)r) by f :r>2x + 1.
-

are defin
Functions and g function
the composite
Determine
(a) (i) gfix)
) 1gr)
(b) H e n c e , c a l c u l a t e

i) gfi3)
) fg3)

Solution
Given flx) = 2x -

1
(a) )
and glx) = + 1
then fgx) =2(r + 1) -

1 Substitute r +1
= 2x+2-1 for x in flx)
2x2+1
(i)Given f)=2r-1
and glr) =?+1
then gfl) = (2x -1+1 Substitute 2x- 1 for x in gl
= 4x-4x+1+1
= 4r-4r +2
Method 1

(b) () Since fglr) =2x +1

then fg(3) =2(3) +1
2(9)+1
= 18+1

= 19
(i) Since gfix) = 4x -
4x +2
then gf(3) =4(3)2 4(3) +2 -

=
4(9) -

12 2
36 10
= 26
or g3) = (2x - 1) +1
= (2 x 3 -1) +1
= (6-1) +1
= 5 +1
= 25+1
= 26
 Method 2
(b)() Since gx) x+
then g(3)=3+1-9+1= 10
Since x)=2x- 1
then g(3) = f(10)
2(10) 1
20-1
= 19
(i) Since lx)= 2x - 1
then (3)= 2(3) -1-6-1 =5
Since glx) = x'+ 1
then gf3)=g5)
5 +1
25+1
26

Example 16
A function fis defined 3x
by f: x -
4TXt-
(a) Obtain an expression for f
(b) State the value of x for which the function fx) is not defined.

Solution
3x
(a) Given1:x 2x+1
then '(x) x)

211+1
2x+1

6x21
2+

2 1 4+ 1
 Exercise 4.5
9. A function is defined by f: x -3,
2
x
x+ 0.
by
Find f2(x) and hence evaluate f-1).
defined
are

Functions
f and g
g : t > x - 1 .

1.
f:x>+
1 and function 10. The functions f and g are defined
for real
the composite
(a)
Determine
x by f: x>4x -1 and g:x>*+7.
(i) gflx) the functions tg and gf in similar
) 1g) Express
(b) Hence, c a l c u l a t e
form.
) 1g(2)
(i) gf2) 11. Two functions are defined by
defined by
2. Functions
f and g a r e f:x> 2x - 5 and g:x X -1
and g:x>x'+1. Find the composite functions tgl) and
f:x2x -1
the following
Find an expression for gftr).
composite functions
12. A function is defined by f:x>z+ 1,
(a)f (b) fg (c) 8 (d) gf X#0. Find f2(x) and hence evaluate
3. Iff:rX+3 andg:x>4x - 3, find the f-4).
composite functions fg and gf.
13. For the functions f:x > x* 2 and
4. Given that f: x > 2x - 1 and

g:x3x +2, find the composite g:x>4 -5x, find the composition of
functions
functions (fo g)x) and (go f)).
tg and gf.
5. Given the 14. The functions fand g are defined as
functions f: x - x = O, and
8:x3r -2, find in similar form follows:
(a) fog f:x x E R, x*0 and
(b) gof
6. 8:X 2-x, x E R.
If g:x-?x+0, find the function
State the value of g. Write down expressions tor tg(r) and
7.
g(-1).
The function h: x > , X# 1.
gflx).
function h*. X= Find the
15. Given f : x - > 5 , - 2 and
8. If
tne
f:x->x+5 andg:x->x +3x +1, find gl) 2x - 5, find
=

g fx).
composition of functions (fo g)(x) and (a) gf (b) fg
(c) f (d) g.
Hence find the
g f2). values of (f o
g)(2) and
 its Inverse
0Composition of a Function and
he inverse of a function reverses the process done by a functton.

T Suppose b then

f(a) = b fb)=a

Thus b and eb

f'f
38 fa) =b and f tb)=a f(b)=a and f(a)=b
f)=

Hence, ff '()=ff (t))= and r ) =1 ( ) ) =.

Each of the two composite functions t1 andr
' maps an elementx in its domain to itselt
g l - t tor all x in the domain of g.
This fact allows us to tind the inverse tunction ot
a given tunction.

Example17
Afunction f is detined as t: 2x-5. Find the inverse
ff (x)=. function f, using the fact that

Solution
Given fr)-2 5
y ) 2y = -

5
Then
which is the
Let defining equation for fix).
then
=frx
SO =2-5
5-2y
 tor / ( .
which is the defining equation
r)=
+

Example18
defined as
f:r-
function
fis
A which f is not defined.
the value of x tor
(a) State which fx) = 0.
value of X for
Find the
b)
Determine
the inversefunction f, by using ff-(r) = x.

(c) domain of f-1

the
(d) State

Solution
(a) Given fx)=4x-5
x-8 0
then fis not defined when
i.e. when x=8.

(b) Given fx) = and flr) =

0,

then
So 4x 5 0
i.e. 4x= 5
5
x=
4y-5
(c) Given fx) = 4r-5
x-8 fy)=-8
Then y 5 which is the defining equation tor flx).
8
Let y=f(x)
then x= ff-(x)
ff-x)
= f(y)

SO X
4y-5
y-8
I.e. xly -8) = 4y - 5
xy 8x = 4y - 5

xy-4y= 8x - 5
4)y8x - 5
y= x-5 is the defining equation
tor
t
t
which
-4

(x)
x)r5 A
-4
 (d) Since :r ör-5
r -4 '
then r -

4 #0
So #4.
The domain of f- is {r e R:x*4}.

Exercise 4.6
the value of
(b) Hece, find
non-zero r

1. A function f is defined as f: x > 4x- 7.

the
for which f2 =
f-l
Find the inverse function f , using
2r and g : x - r - 8 , find
fact that ff-(x) =X 4. If f:x
2. A function f is defined as f:x> (a) f-1 (b) g
(c)fg (d) g'f-
State the value of x for which fis not
(a)
defined. 5. If f:x> 7 r - 1 and g:x>*+5, find
value of x for which fx) =0 fg andg'f.
(b) Find the Calculate the values of fg-3) and
Determine the inverse function f1, by
(c)
g-3).
using ff (x) x.
=

f-.
(d) State the domain of
40
40
3. The function fis defined by f: r
for x 5.

(a) Find an expression for

(ii) f1