Lesson 2

Representing
Inverse Functions
through Tables and
Graphs
Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly determine whether a function is one-to-

one through the use of the horizontal line test; and

● correctly represent the inverse of a function using

graph and table of values.
 Essential Questions

● How do you perform the horizontal line test?

● How do you represent the inverse of a function using table

of values and graph?
 Warm Up!

Before we discuss thoroughly how to represent an inverse

function using table of values and graph, let us observe how
the graphs of a function and its inverse are related by using
an applet.

(Click the link to access the applet.)

Boyadzhiev, Irina. “Inverse Function.” Geogebra. Retrieved 21

March 2019 from https://www.geogebra.org/m/BXGpVsKJ.
 Guide Questions

● How is the graph of a function related to the graph of its

inverse?

● How can you represent the inverse of a function when its

graph is given?

● Given the graph of a function, how can you draw the graph
of its inverse?
 Learn about It!

Representing Inverse Functions through Table of

1 Values
We can interchange the - and -coordinates in a table of values of a function to
come up with a table of values for its inverse function.

Example:
Consider the function . This function has the following table
of values.
 Learn about It!

By interchanging the - and -coordinates of each ordered pair,

we get the following table of values for the inverse function of
.
 Learn about It!

Representing Inverse Functions using Graphs

2 We can draw the graph of an inverse function by plotting the points from its table
of values.

Example:

Using the table of values for and its inverse, we can draw its
graph.
Learn about It!
 Learn about It!

Horizontal Line Test

3 If any horizontal line drawn anywhere on the graph intersects the graph exactly
once, then the graph is one-to-one. Otherwise, it is not one-to-one.

Example:
The graph on the right represents a
one-to-one function since if we draw a
horizontal line anywhere on the graph,
it intersects the graph at only one
point.
 Learn about It!

Example:
The graph on the right does
not represent a one-to-one
function since we can find a
horizontal line that intersects
the graph more than once.
Thus, the function
represented by this graph
does not have an inverse
function.
 Try It!

Example 1:

Determine whether the function

represented by the
given graph has an
inverse function by
performing the
horizontal line test.
 Try It!

Solution:

If we draw a horizontal line on the

graph as illustrated, it
intersects the graph
more than once.

It follows that the function

represented by this
graph is not one-to-
one and does not have
an inverse function.
 Try It!

Example 2:

Sketch the graph of given the

graph of the
function .
 Try It!

Solution:

The graph passes through the ordered

pairs , , , and . We can put these points
in a table of values.
 Try It!

Solution:

By interchanging the - and -coordinates

of each ordered pair, we get a table of
values for as shown below.
 Try It!

Solution:

We can now plot the points from this

table of values and then connect
these points using a smooth curve.
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

1. Perform the horizontal line test to

determine whether the function
represented by the given graph is
one-to-one.
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

2. Draw the graph of the function represented by following

table of values by connecting the points using a smooth
curve. Then, draw the graph of its inverse.
 Let’s Practice!

Group Practice: To de done in groups of four.

Find the inverse of . Then, draw its graph and the graph of its
inverse.
Key Points

Representing Inverse Functions through Table of

1 Values
We can interchange the - and -coordinates in a table of values of a function to
come up with a table of values for its inverse function.

Representing Inverse Functions using Graphs

2 We can draw the graph of an inverse function by plotting the points from its table
of values.

Horizontal Line Test

3 If any horizontal line drawn anywhere on the graph intersects the graph exactly
once, then the graph is one-to-one. Otherwise, it is not one-to-one.
 Synthesis

● How do you represent an inverse function using graph or

table values?

● In what real-life context can you relate the concept of

inverse function?

● How can you use the graph of a function to graph its

inverse?