6.

4 INVERSE FUNCTION

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INVERSE FUNCTION

If f :x y is a function that maps x to y,

−1
then the inverse function is denoted byf
−1
where f is a function that maps y back to x.

f Note :
1
x y f-1 ≠ f (x )
−1
f

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 Suppose,

f (x) = y then f-1(y) = x

Df = Rf-1

Rf = Df-1

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  An inverse function of f exists only if the
function f is a ‘ one to one ‘ function.

 Method to test wether a function is 1-1 :

i. Algebraic approach.
- if f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 ) ,
then x1 = x2

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ii) Horizontal line test ( graphical approach)
 If the horizontal line intersects the
graph of the function only once , then
the function is one – to- one.

a b)
)

The
The horizontal
horizontal line
line
intersects
intersects
one-to-one the graph Not
at one one-to-one
point.
the graph at two points.

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 Example 1

Show that the following functions

are one – to - one functions.

• f(x) = 3x – 2 , x ∈ R

b) g ( x ) = x3 + 7 , x ∈ R

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 a) f ( x ) = 3x – 2 , x ∈ R

Method 1 : Use f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 ) to
show x1 = x2
f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 )
Therefore, 3x1 - 2 = 3x2 - 2
3x1 = 3x2
x1 = x2
Hence , f ( x ) is one – to – one function
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 Method 2 : Horizontal Line Test

y y = 3x - 2

x
y = k
The horizontal line intersects
the graph y = 3x - 2 at one point only
Hence , f ( x ) is one – to – one function
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 b) g(x) = x3 + 7 , x ∈ R

Method 1 : Use f ( x1 ) = f ( x2 ) to
show x1 = x2
Thus , x1 3 + 7 = x2 3 + 7
x1 3 = x2 3
x1 = x2

Hence , f ( x ) is one – to – one function

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 Method 2 : Horizontal Line Test

y
y = x3 + 7

y = k
The horizontal linentersects
the graph y = x +7 at one
3

point only x

Hence , f ( x ) is one – to – one function

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 Method Of Finding The Inverse Function

1) Using Formula f [ f -1(x) ] = x

Note :
i) (f-1)-1 = f
ii) f-1(f(x)) = x and f(f-1(x)) = x
iii) (fοg)-1 = g-1 ο f-1

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 Example 2 :
Given f(x) = 4 . Find f-1(x)
x −3

Solution :
f[f −1(x )] = x
4
=x
f −1(x ) − 3
−1
xf (x ) − 3x = 4
−1 4 + 3x
∴ f (x ) =
x
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 Example 3 :
Find the inverse for each of the following
function :

a ) f ( x ) = 2 x − 1ε,x R
b ) f ( x ) = 2 x3 + 1ε,x R
3 2
c ) f ( x ) = − x + ,xεR
3
x −1
d ) f(x)= ,x ≠ −2
x+2

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Solution :
a ) f ( x ) = 2 x − 1ε,x R
1
f [ f ( x )]  x
2 f 1( x )  1  x
1 x 1
 f (x)
2
3
b ) f ( x )  2 x  1ε,x R
1 3
2( f ( x ))  1  x
1 x 1
 f (x) 3
2

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 3 2
c ) f ( x )   x  ,xεR
3
f [ f 1( x )]  x
1 3 2
 [ f ( x )]   x
3
1 3 2
 [ f ( x )]  x 
3
1 3 2
[ f ( x )]   x
3
1 2
 f (x) 3 x
3

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 OR 3 2
f ( x )   x  ,xεR
3
1
f [ f ( x )]  x
Let f 1( x )  y
f( y) x
3 2
y   x
3
2
y x 3
3
1 2
 f (x) 3 x
3
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 x 1
d ) f(x) ,x  2
x2

f [ f 1( x )]  x

Let f 1( x )  y
Expand and let y
f( y) x
be a subject
y 1
x matter
y2
y  1  x( y  2 )
2x 1 2x 1
y 1
 f (x)
1 x 1 x
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 Example 4 :
Given that f (x) = 3x + 5. Find
(a) (f –1 )2
(b) (f 2)-1

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 Solution :
(a) (f-1) 2
(f -1 )2 (x) =f -1[f -1(x)]
f(x) = 3x + 5  x −5
= f  −1

f [ f 1( x )]  x  3 
x −5
−5
3 f 1( x )  5  x = 3
3
1 x 5 x − 20
f (x) =
3 9
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(b) (f 2) -1

f 2(x) = f [f (x)]
= f(3x + 5)
= 3(3x + 5) +5
= 9x + 20

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 Let f 2 ( x )  f ( x )

1
f [ f ( x )]  x
1
9 f ( x )  20  x

1 x  20
f (x)
9
2 1
( f ) ( x ) 
x  20 •Note that : f ( ) =(f )
−1 2 2 −1

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Example 5 :
The functions f and g are defined by
f : x → 2x + 3 and g : x → x – 1. Find

a) f -1
and g -1

−1 −1
b) g  f and f  g
c) ( f  g) −1

−1 −1
d) g f

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Solution :
a) f : x → 2x + 3 g : x → x – 1.

1
f [ f ( x )]  x 1
g[ g ( x )]  x
2 f 1( x )  3  x 1
g ( x ) 1  x
x 3 ∴ g -1(x) = x + 1
f 1
 x 
2

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 −1 −1
b) gf f g

 
g  f 1  x   g  f 1  x  
 
 
f  g 1  x   f  g 1  x  
 x − 3
= g  = f ( x + 1)
 2 
= 2( x + 1) + 3
x −3
= −1 = 2x + 5
2
x −5
=
2

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 c) ( f  g) −1
Let ( f  g )( x )  f ( x )

f [ f 1( x )]  x
 f  g   x  f  g  x 
2 f 1( x )  1  x
= f ( x − 1) x 1
1
f (x)
= 2( x − 1) + 3 2
1 x 1
= 2x + 1  f  g   x 
2

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 d) g−1  f −1
 x −3
(g −1
f −1
) ( x) = g 
−1

 2 
x −3
= +1
2
x −1
=
2

Note that ( f  g) −1 −1
=g f −1

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 Exercise :
1
Given that f (x) = 1 – x and g (x) = ,x ≠ -2.
Find (f  g)−1
(x ) x + 2

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 Example 6

x p
Given the function f (x) = x  3 ,(x≠3),
where p is a constant. Find
1
• The value of p if f ( 5 ) = 12
• f -1

• the value of x for which f -1

is
undefined.

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 Solution :

5 +p 1
a) f (5) = =
5 −3 2 5+ p
5−3
1
2

5+p = 3
p = -2

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 (b) From (a),

x2 y2
f(x) x
x3 y 3
1
f [ f ( x )]  x 2  3x  3x  2
y
1 1 x x 1
Let f (x) y

f( y) x Therefore,
1 3x  2
f (x)
x 1

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 • f is undefined for x =1
-1

(This means that there is no

value
of x in the original domain which
had an image of 1.)

So, 1 does not exist in the range

and therefore cannot be used.

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 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
A FUNCTION AND ITS INVERSE

The graph of an inverse function, f-1(x) of

the function f(x) can be obtained by
reflecting the graph f(x) about the line x=
y.
Note :

Df = Rf-1

Rf = Df-1
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Example 7 :

Sketch the graph of f and f-1 on the same axes.

Then find the domain and range of f and f-1 if
given f(x) = 3x + 2, x R

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Solution :

f(x) = 3x + 2, x∈ R Df = ( -∞, +∞ ) = Rf-1

x −2
−1
f (x ) = Rf = ( -∞, +∞ ) = Df-1
3

f y=x

2
f-1
2

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Example 8 :

For each of the function below, find the

inverse function and state the domain and
range of f-1. Sketch the graph of f and f-1
on the same axes.

•f(x) = -x2 + 5, x ≥ 5
b) f (x ) = x − 2
2
c) f (x ) = ,x > 3
x −3
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 a) f(x) = -x2 + 5 , x ≥ 0

The horizontal line

intersects
the graph at two points.

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 a) f(x) = -x2 + 5, x ≥ 0 Df = [ 0, +∞ ) = R
f-1

f −1(x ) = 5 − x Rf = ( -∞, 5 ] = Df-1

y=x
5
f-1

5
f
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 b) h(x) = x − 2 , x ≥ 2 Dh = [ 2, +∞ ) = R -1
h

h −1( x ) = x2 + 2 Rh = [ 0, +∞ ) = Dh-1

h-1
y=x
2 h

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 2
c) f(x) = ,x>3
x −3 Df = ( 3, +∞ ) = Rf-1
−1 2 + 3x
f (x ) = Rf = ( 0, +∞ ) = Df-1
x

f-1

y=x

f
3

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 Example 9 :
3
Find the inverse of f(x)= ( x + 4)(x – 1), x ≥ −
2
and stating its domain. Then, on the same
axes, sketch the graph of f and its inverse.

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 Solution :
3
y = ( x + 4)(x – 1) , x ≥ −
2
= x2 + 3x – 4 By completing the
3 2 25 square
= (x + ) −
2 4
 3 
D f    ,  , R    25 , 
 2  f  4  

Therefore,
25
D    ,  , R    3 , 
f 1  4  f 1  2  

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 f-1 y=x

f
25
−
4 3
−
2
3
−
2
25
−
4

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Example 10 :

Given that f ( x ) = ( x – 9 )2 , x ∈ R , x ≥ 9.
i) Find the inverse of function f .
• Sketch the graph of f and f -1 on
the same plane.
iii) State the domain and range of f-1.

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 a) To find f -1

We may use f [ f -1(x) ] = x

( f -1(x) - 9 ) 2 = x
f -1(x) - 9 = x
( taking the + sign )

f -1(x) = x +9
Hence f- 1 : x x +9
,
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 b) Sketch the graphs
f
y y=k

f-1

9
x
9

c) Domain of f-1 : [ 0 , ∞ ) Range of f-1 : [ 9 , ∞ )

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Example 11 :

The function g is defined by

2
g:x (x +1) − 2 , x ∈R

Explain why g has no inverse.

If the domain of g is x ∈ R , x ≥ 0 ,
find g -1 and sketch the graph of g
and g-1. State the domain and range of g-1.

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 By Horizontal Line Test ,
y

y = ( x + 1)2 - 2

y = k

x
Graph y = k intersects
Min point (-1, -2)
y = (x+1) - 2 at two points
2

It is seen that g(x) is not one – to – one.

Hence, g has no inverse
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 To find g-1 ,
Let y = ( x + 1)2 - 2
y + 2 = ( x + 1)2
x + 1 = ± y +2
( taking the + sign
x = y +2 - 1 because x ≥ 0 )

That is g-1 ( y ) = y + 2 −1

Let y = x Hence g−1(x ) → x + 2 − 1

,
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 y

y = ( x + 1)2 – 2 , x ≥ 0
y

x
Min point (-1, -2)

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 If the domain of g is x ∈ R , x ≥ 0 ,
then g is one – to one - and hence
g -1 exists .
y
y=k
g
g-1

-1 x
-1
Dg = [0,∞) , Rg =[-1, ∞) D = [-1, ∞) , R = [0, ∞)
g−1 g−1

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