EI

Chapter 5: Functions and Graphs

IW
O
KO
5.3 Inverse Functions
G
N
KA

Prepared by: Kang Kooi Wei

 Learning Outcomes

EI
(a) Show whether a function has an inverse and find the
inverse of the function

IW
* Use algebraic or graphical approach.
* Emphasize that the inverse exists only for one-to-one

O
and onto functions.

KO
(b) Compute the inverse of a function.
𝒇 ∙ 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒈 ∙ 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙 . 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒈
G
(c) Identify the domain and range of an inverse function.
𝒇 −𝟏
(d) Sketch the graph of the function and its inverse 𝒇 on
N

the same axes.

KA

Bloom: Understanding
KangKooiWei@KMK
 Inverse functions

EI
The inverse of a function 𝒇 exists if and only if 𝒇 is a
one-to-one function.

IW
*Refer SDL 5.1 to determine one-to-one function using algebraic method or horizontal line test.

O
Domain and Range of Inverse Function

Domain of 𝒇−𝟏 = Range of 𝒇 KO

G
Range of 𝒇−𝟏 = Domain of 𝒇
N
KA

𝒇−𝟏 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) = 𝒙

Bloom: Remembering
KangKooiWei@KMK Bloom: Understanding
 Inverse Functions

EI
Relationship between graphs of a function and its inverse

IW
𝒇

O
𝒙, 𝒚 𝒚, 𝒙

KO
G
𝒇−𝟏
N
−𝟏
The graph of 𝒇 is obtained by reflecting the graph of 𝒇 in
KA

the line 𝒚 = 𝒙 . The points 𝒙, 𝒚 and 𝒚, 𝒙 are at the

same distances from the line 𝒚 = 𝒙 .
Bloom: Remembering
KangKooiWei@KMK Bloom: Understanding
 Example

EI
1. The function 𝒇 is defined by 𝒇: 𝒙 → 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏, 𝒙 ∈ 𝑹 .

IW
(a) Show that 𝒇 is a one-to-one function.
(b) Find 𝒇−𝟏 .
(c) Verify that 𝒇 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) = 𝒙 .

O
KO
𝟐
𝟏
2. Find the inverse for the function 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙 + 𝒙 − 𝟐, 𝒙 ≥ − 𝟐
and state the domain and the range for the inverse function.
G
Sketch the graph of 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒚 = 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) in the same
N

diagram.
KA

Bloom: Understanding
KangKooiWei@KMK
 Solution

EI
1. (a) 𝒇 𝒙𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒙𝟐 ) Let 𝒇 𝒙𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒙𝟐 ) .

IW
𝟐𝒙𝟏 − 𝟏 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏
𝒙𝟏 = 𝒙𝟐

O
Hence 𝒇 is one-to-one function.

KO
(b) 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 = 𝒚 Let 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒚 .
𝒚+𝟏
G
∴ 𝒙= Rearranging to let x in term of y .
𝟐
N

−𝟏
𝒚+𝟏
∴ 𝒇 𝒚 =𝒙=
KA

𝟐
−𝟏
𝒙+𝟏
Hence, 𝒇 𝒙 =
𝟐
Bloom: Understanding
KangKooiWei@KMK
 Solution

EI
1. (c) −𝟏
𝒙+𝟏 Composite function definition.
𝒇 𝒇 (𝒙) = 𝒇

IW
𝟐
𝒙+𝟏
=𝟐 −𝟏

O
𝟐

KO
=𝒙
𝟐
𝟏
2. 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙 + 𝒙 − 𝟐, 𝒙 ≥ −
G
𝟐
N
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 + − −𝟐 Completing the square.
KA

𝟐 𝟐
𝟐
𝟏 𝟗 𝟏 𝟗
= 𝒙+ − Minimum point = − , − .
𝟐 𝟒 𝟐 𝟒

KangKooiWei@KMK Bloom: Understanding

 Solution

EI
2. Continue… From minimum point,
𝟏
𝒇 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) = 𝒙

IW
Domain f = ൤− , ∞)
𝟐
𝟐
−𝟏
𝟏 𝟗 𝟗

O
𝒇 (𝒙) + − =𝒙 Range f = ൤− , ∞)
𝟐 𝟒 𝟒

KO
−𝟏
𝟏 𝟗 𝑫𝒇−𝟏 = 𝑹𝒇
𝒇 𝒙 =− ± 𝒙+
𝟐 𝟒
G
𝑹𝒇−𝟏 = 𝑫𝒇
N
𝟏
Since, 𝑹𝒇−𝟏 = 𝑫𝒇 = ൤− , ∞) 𝟗
𝟐
KA

∴ 𝑫𝒇−𝟏 = ൤− , ∞)
𝟒
−𝟏
𝟏 𝟗 𝟏
∴𝒇 𝒙 =− + 𝒙+ 𝑹𝒇−𝟏 = ൤− , ∞)
𝟐 𝟒 𝟐
Bloom: Understanding
KangKooiWei@KMK
 Solution

EI
2. Continue…
𝒚

IW
𝒇−𝟏

O
KO
𝒇
-2 𝒙
𝟗 𝟏
0
G
− ,−
𝟒 𝟐
-2
N

𝟏 𝟗
KA

− ,−
𝒚=𝒙 𝟐 𝟒

KangKooiWei@KMK Bloom: Understanding

 Self-check

EI
1. The function 𝒇 is defined by 𝒇: 𝒙 → 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏, 𝒙 ∈ 𝑹 .

IW
(a) Show that 𝒇 is a one-to-one function.
(b) Find 𝒇−𝟏 .
(c) Verify that 𝒇 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) = 𝒙 .

O
KO
2. Find the inverse for the function 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑, 𝒙 ≥ −𝟏
and state the domain and the range for the inverse function.
G
Sketch the graph of 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒚 = 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) in the same
N

diagram.
KA

Bloom: Applying
KangKooiWei@KMK
 Answer Self-check

EI
𝟏
−𝟏
1. (b) 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙+𝟏 𝟑

IW
2. 𝒇−𝟏 𝒙 = −𝟏 + 𝒙 − 𝟐

O
𝑫𝒇−𝟏 = ሾ𝟐, ∞)
𝑹𝒇−𝟏 = ሾ−𝟏, ∞)
KO
G
N
KA

Bloom: Applying
KangKooiWei@KMK
 Summary

EI
The inverse of a function 𝒇 exists if and only if 𝒇 is a

IW
one-to-one function.

O
KO
𝑫𝒇−𝟏 = 𝑹𝒇 The graphs of 𝒇
Inverse Function and 𝒇−𝟏 are
𝒇−𝟏 reflecting on the
𝑹𝒇−𝟏 = 𝑫𝒇 line 𝒚 = 𝒙 .
G
N
KA

𝒇−𝟏 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) = 𝒙

KangKooiWei@KMK Bloom: Remembering

 Key Terms

EI
• Inverse Functions

IW
• Domain
•

O
Range

KO
• Composite Functions
• Function
G
N
KA

KangKooiWei@KMK