Lesson 3.

3: Derivative of an inverse function

(Take Home, Watch Videos, Quiz graded from this packet and given in class. There will be no retakes).
Submit this online—absolutely no extensions on this packet.

Name: Date: Period:

−1
Let g ( x) = f ( x ) be the inverse of the function f ( x ) an increasing or a decreasing function on its
domain. The relationship between the derivative of g(x) and f(x) is as follows.

1
g (b, a) =
f (a, b)
or

1
( f −1 )(b, a) =
f (a, b)
See the Video proof on slides, which is on CANVAS.

In other words, the derivative of the inverse at the ordered pair (b, a ) is the reciprocal of the function's
derivative at the ordered pair. ( a, b)

THE STRATEGY TO FIND THE DERIVATIVE OF AN INVERSE WILL BE TO MAKE SEPARATE TABLES FOR
FUNCTIONS AND THE INVERSE. WHEN YOU FIND THE DERIVATIVE OF THE INVERSE, TAKE THE RECIPROCAL
OF THE FUNCTION DERIVATIVE.

TAKING DETAILED NOTES (Example 1 to Example 3) ON THIS HANDOUT WILL BE SOME POINTS FOR THE
ASSIGNMENT.

Example 1: The table below represents a differentiable increasing function f(x) with some table entries for
the function at different points on its graph and its derivative. Let f −1 ( x) be the inverse of the function
f ( x) . Evaluate the following. Watch the Video on slides to understand.

(a) ( f −1 )(3)

(b) Equation of the tangent line to the graph of f −1 ( x) at x = 2 .

Example 2: Given an increasing function f ( x) = x 3 + x + 6 and f −1 ( x) is the inverse of f ( x ) for all real
numbers. Find ( f −1 )(8) . Show all work with the setup. Watch the Video on slides to understand.

Example 3: The graph of f ( x ) and its tangent line at the point (2,5) is shown below. Let g ( x) = f −1 ( x) .
Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of g(x) at x = 5. Show all work with the set up.

Problem sets for practice. Any three issues will be graded as quiz. Show set up and all work. As the videos
suggest, it is instructive to make a table to get a handle on the problem. Also, there will be another quiz
counterpart assigned to the next class in the class, and there will be no retake.
6) Let f and g be inverse functions that are differentiable for all x. Given f (3) = −2 and g (2) = −4 . Find
the tangent line equation to the f graph at x = 3.
7) The graph of the decreasing differentiable function f is shown below. Also shown is the line tangent to the
graph of f at the point (4,6). Let the function g represent the inverse of the function f. Find the equation of
the tangent line to the graph of g(x) at the point (6,4).

8) Let f be the increasing function defined by f ( x) = x 3 + 2 x 2 + 4 x + 5 and g ( x) be the inverse of f. Find

g (2)

Multiple Choice Questions: Show all work for the problems below.
1
9) Given ( f −1 )(10) = − for a decreasing function f ( x ) . Which one of the following could be the function
8
f ( x) ?
A) f ( x) = −5 x + 15
B) f ( x) = −2 x 3 − 2 x + 14
C) f ( x) = − x 5 − 4 x + 15
D) f ( x) = e −2 x − x + 9

10) A decreasing function satisfies g (4) = 6 and g (4) = −2 . Which of the following statements about the
inverse of g of must be true?
A) ( g −1 )(6) = 4
B) ( g −1 )( −2) = 4
C) ( g −1 )(6) = −2
1
D) ( g −1 )(6) = −
2
11) Let f and g be differentiable inverse functions for all x. Given f (−5) = 7 and g (7) = 3 . Which of the
following statements must be false?

1 1 1
I) f (3) = − II) f (−5) = III) f (7) =
3 3 3
A) I only

B) II only

C) III only

D) I and III only

12) The table above gives selected values for a differentiable and decreasing function f and its
derivative. Let g ( x ) = f
−1
( x) for all x, which of the following is a correct expression for g (2) .

Summary of the Lesson.

Explain in detail how you will find the derivative of an inverse function given a function, the point on the
function's graph, and its slope. Write the mathematical relationship between the derivatives of the function
and the derivative of the inverse function.