3.

3 Derivative of Inverse
Functions
-Determine the derivative of an inverse function
The Derivative of an Inverse Function
Let f be a function that is differentiable on an interval. If f has an inverse
function g, then g is differentiable at any x for which f '( g ( x ))  0 , and
1
g '( x) 
f '( g ( x))
Proof:
Ex 1
Let f(x) = 2x + 5. Find (f -1)’(9).
Ex 2 1 3
Let f ( x )  x  x  1 . What is the value of (f -1)’(3)?
4
Ex 3
Values of f(x), f’(x), and f -1(x) are given in the table below.
Determine (f -1)’(6).
x 2 3 4 6
f(x) 6 11 18 38
f’(x) 4 6 8 12

f -1(x) 0 1 1.4 2
 WS 3.3
The derivative of f -1(x) at (b,a) is equal to the reciprocal of the derivative
of f(x) at (a,b)

1
 f  ' b   f '  a 
1