4.

1 Inverse Functions
Inverse Operations
One-to-One Functions
Inverse Functions
Equations of Inverses

4.1 - 1
 One-to-One Functions
Suppose we define the function

F  {( 2, 2), ( 1,1), (0, 0), (1, 3), (2, 5)}.

We can form another set of ordered pairs
from F by interchanging the x- and
y-values of each pair in F. We call this
set G, so

G  {(2, 2), (1, 1), (0, 0), (3,1), (5, 2)}.

4.1 - 2
 One-to-One Functions

To show that these two sets are related, G

is called the inverse of F. For a function 
to have an inverse,  must be a one-to-one
function. In a one-to-one function, each
x-value corresponds to only one y-
value, and each y-value corresponds
to only one x-value.

4.1 - 3
One-to-One Functions

This function is not one-

to-one because the y-
value 7 corresponds
to two x-values, 2 and 3.
That is, the ordered
pairs (2, 7) and (3, 7)
both belong to the
function.

4.1 - 4
One-to-One Functions

This function one-to-one.

4.1 - 5
 Horizontal Line Test
As shown in Example 1(b), a
way to show that a function is
not one-to-one is to produce a
pair of different numbers that
lead to the same function
value.
There is also a useful graphical
test, the horizontal line test,
that tells whether or not a
function is one-to-one.

4.1 - 6
Horizontal Line Test
If any horizontal line intersects the
graph of a function in no more than
one point, then the function is one-to-
one.

4.1 - 7
 Note In Example 1(b), the graph of
the function is a semicircle, as shown in
Figure 3. Because there is at least one
horizontal line that intersects the graph in
more than one point, this function is not
one-to-one.

4.1 - 8
 Example 2 USING THE HORIZONTAL LINE
TEST
Determine whether each graph is the graph
of a one-to-one function.
a. Solution
Each point where the
horizontal line intersects the
graph has the same value of
y but a different value of x.
Since more than one (here
three) different values of x
lead to the same value of y,
the function is not one-to-
one.
4.1 - 9
 Example 2 USING THE HORIZONTAL LINE
TEST
Determine whether each graph is the graph
of a one-to-one function.
b. Solution

Since every horizontal

line will intersect the
graph at exactly one
point, this function is
one-to-one.

4.1 - 10
 One-to-One Functions
Notice that the function
graphed in Example 2(b)
decreases on its entire
domain. In general, a
function that is either
increasing or
decreasing on its
entire domain, such as
(x) = – x, (x) = x3, and
g(x) = x , must be
one-to-one.
4.1 - 11
Tests to Determine Whether a
Function is One-to-One
1. In a one-to-one function every y-value
corresponds to no more than one x-value. To
show that a function is not one-to-one, find at
least two x-values that produce the same y-
value. (Example 1(b))

4.1 - 12
Tests to Determine Whether a
Function is One-to-One
2. Sketch the graph and use the horizontal line
test. (Example 2)
3. If the function either increases or decreases on
its entire domain, then it is one-to-one. A sketch
is helpful here, too. (Example 2(b))

4.1 - 13
Inverse Function
Let  be a one-to-one function. Then g
is the inverse function of  if
(f g )( x )  x for every x in the
domain of g,
and
(g f )( x )  x for every x in the
domain of .

4.1 - 14
 Example 3 DECIDING WHETHER TWO
FUNCTIONS ARE INVERSES
Let functions  and g be defined by f ( x )  x 3  1
and g ( x )  x  1 , respectively.
3

Is g the inverse function of ?

Solution The horizontal line
test applied to the graph
indicates that  is one-to-one,
so the function does have an
inverse. Since it is one-to-
one, we now find
( ◦ g)(x) and (g ◦ )(x).

4.1 - 15
 Example 3 DECIDING WHETHER TWO
FUNCTIONS ARE INVERSES
Let functions  and g be defined by f ( x )  x 3  1
and g ( x )  x  1 , respectively.
3

Is g the inverse function of ?

Solution

 
3
(f g )( x )  f ( g ( x ))  3
x 1 1

 x  1 1
x

4.1 - 16
 Example 3 DECIDING WHETHER TWO
FUNCTIONS ARE INVERSES
Let functions  and g be defined by f ( x )  x 3  1
and g ( x )  x  1 , respectively.
3

Is g the inverse function of ?

Solution
f ( x )  x 3  1;
(g f )( x )  g ( f ( x ))  ( x  1)  1
3 3
g( x )  3 x  1

 x3
3

x
Since ( ◦ g)(x) = x and (g ◦ )(x) = x, function g is the
inverse of function .
4.1 - 17
 Special Notation

A special notation is used for inverse

functions: If g is the inverse of a function ,
then g is written as -1 (read “-inverse”).
For (x) = x3 – 1, f 1( x )  3 x  1.

4.1 - 18
 Caution Do not confuse the – 1 in
-1 with a negative exponent. The symbol
1
 (x) does not represent f ( x ) ;it represents
-1

the inverse function of .

4.1 - 19
 Inverse Function
By the definition of inverse function,
the domain of  is the range of -1,
and the range of  is the domain of -1 .

4.1 - 20
 Example 4 FINDING THE INVERSES OF
ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
Find the inverse of each function that is
one-to-one.
a. F  {( 2,1), ( 1,0), (0,1), (1,2), (2,2)}
Solution Each x-value in F corresponds to just
one y-value. However, the y-value 2 corresponds
to two x-values, 1 and 2. Also, the y-value 1
corresponds to both – 2 and 0. Because some y-
values correspond to more than one x-value, F is
not one-to-one and does not have an inverse.

4.1 - 21
 Example 4 FINDING THE INVERSES OF
ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
Find the inverse of each function that is
one-to-one.
b. G  {(3,1), (0,2), (2,3), (4,0)}
Solution Every x-value in G corresponds to only
one y-value, and every y-value corresponds to
only one x-value, so G is a one-to-one function.
The inverse function is found by interchanging the
x- and y-values in each ordered pair.
G 1  {(1,3), (2,0), (3,2), (0,4)}
Notice how the domain and range of G becomes the range
and domain, respectively, of G-1.
4.1 - 22
 Example 4 FINDING THE INVERSES OF
ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
Find the inverse of each function that is
one-to-one.
Number of
c. If the Air Quality Index (AQI), Year Unhealthy
an indicator of air quality, is Days

between 101 and 150 on a 2000 25

particular day, then that day is 2001 40
classified as unhealthy for 2002 34
sensitive groups. The table
2003 19
shows the number of days in
Illinois that were unhealthy for 2004 7
sensitive groups for selected 2005 32
years. 4.1 - 23
 Example 4 FINDING THE INVERSES OF
ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
Find the inverse of this function that is one-
to-one.
Number of
c. Let  be the function Year Unhealthy
defined in the table, with Days

the years forming the 2000 25

domain and the numbers 2001 40
of unhealthy days forming 2002 34
the range.
2003 19
2004 7
2005 32
4.1 - 24
 Example 4 FINDING THE INVERSES OF
ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
Find the inverse of this function that is one-
to-one.
Number of
Solution Each x-value in  Year Unhealthy
corresponds to only one y- Days

value and each y-value 2000 25

corresponds to only one x- 2001 40
value, so  is a one-to-one 2002 34
function. The inverse
2003 19
function is found by
interchanging the x- and y- 2004 7
values in the table. 2005 32
4.1 - 25
 Example 4 FINDING THE INVERSES OF
ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
Find the inverse of this function that is one-
to-one.
Solution

f 1( x )  {(25,2000), (40,2001), (34,2002), (19,2003), (7,2004), (32,2005)}

4.1 - 26
 Equations of Inverses

By definition, the inverse of a one-to-one

function is found by interchanging the x-
and y-values of each of its ordered pairs.
The equation of the inverse of a function
defined by y = (x) is found in the same
way.

4.1 - 27
Finding the Equation of the
Inverse of y = (x)
For a one-to-one function  defined by an
equation y = (x), find the defining equation
of the inverse as follows. (You may need to
replace (x) with y first.)
Step 1 Interchange x and y.
Step 2 Solve for y.
Step 3 Replace y with -1(x).

4.1 - 28
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES

Decide whether each equation defines a

one-to-one function. If so, find the equation
of the inverse.
a. f ( x )  2x  5
Solution The graph of y = 2x + 5 is a non-
horizontal line, so by the horizontal line
test,  is a one-to-one function. To find the
equation of the inverse, follow the steps in
the preceding box, first replacing (x) with y.

4.1 - 29
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES

Solution y  2x  5 y = (x)

x  2y  5 Interchange x and y.

2y  x  5 Solve for y.
x 5
y
2
1 1 5
f (x)  x  Replace y with -1(x).
2 2

4.1 - 30
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES

Solution

In the function, the value of y is found by

starting with a value of x, multiplying by 2,
and adding 5. The first form for the equation
of the inverse has us subtract 5 and then
divide by 2. This shows how an inverse is
used to “undo” what a function does to the
variable x.

4.1 - 31
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES
Decide whether each equation defines a one-to-one
function. If so, find the equation of the inverse.
b. y  x 2  2
Solution The equation has a parabola opening up as
its graph, so some horizontal lines will intersect the
graph at two points. For example, both x = 3 and
x = – 3 correspond to y = 11. Because of the x2-term,
there are many pairs of x-values that correspond to
the same y-value. This means that the function
defined by y = x2 + 2 is not one-to-one and does not
have an inverse.
4.1 - 32
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES
Decide whether each equation defines a one-to-one
function. If so, find the equation of the inverse.
b. y  x 2  2
Solution If we did not notice this, then following the
steps for finding the equation of an inverse leads to
y  x 22

Remember x  y 22
Interchange x and y.
both roots.
x 2 y 2
Solve for y.

 x  2  y. Square root property

4.1 - 33
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES
Decide whether each equation defines a one-to-one
function. If so, find the equation of the inverse.
b. y  x 2  2
Solution If we did not notice this, then following the
steps for finding the equation of an inverse leads to
y  x  2 The last step shows that
2

there are two y-values for

Remember x  y  2 each choice of x greater
2
both roots.
x 2 y 2
than 2, so the given function
is not one-to-one and cannot
 x  2  y. have an inverse.
4.1 - 34
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES
Decide whether each equation defines a one-to-one
function. If so, find the equation of the inverse.
c. f ( x )  ( x  2)3
Solution Refer to Sections 2.6 and 2.7 to see that
translations of the graph of the cubing function are
one-to-one.
f ( x )  ( x  2) 3

y  ( x  2) 3
Replace (x) with y.

x  ( y  2) 3
Interchange x and y.
4.1 - 35
 Example 5 FINDING EQUATIONS OF
INVERSES
Solution

Take the cube root on

3
x  ( y  2)
3 3
each side.

3
x  y 2
3
x 2 y Solve for y.

f 1( x )  3 x  2 Replace y with -1(x).

4.1 - 36
 Inverse Function
One way to graph the
inverse of a function 
whose equation is known
is to find some ordered
pairs that are on the graph
of , interchange x and y
to get ordered pairs that
are on the graph of -1,
plot those points, and
sketch the graph
of -1 through the points.
4.1 - 37
 Inverse Function

A simpler way is to
select points on the
graph of  and use
symmetry to find
corresponding points
on the graph of -1.

4.1 - 38
 Inverse Function

For example,
suppose the point
(a, b) shown here is
on the graph of a
one-to-one function .

4.1 - 39
 Inverse Function

Then the point (b, a) is on

the graph of -1. The line
segment connecting (a, b)
and (b, a) is perpendicular
to, and cut in half by, the
line y = x. The points (a, b)
and (b, a) are “mirror
images” of each other with
respect to y = x.

4.1 - 40
 Inverse Function

Thus, we can find

the graph of -1 from
the graph of  by
locating the mirror
image of each point
in  with respect to
the line y = x.

4.1 - 41
 Example 6 GRAPHING THE INVERSE

In each set of axes, the graph of a one-to-

one function  is shown in blue. Graph -1
in red.
Solution The graphs of two functions  are
shown in blue. Their inverses are shown in
red. In each case, the graph of -1 is a
reflection of the graph of  with respect to
the line y = x.

4.1 - 42
 Example 6 GRAPHING THE INVERSE

Solution

4.1 - 43
 Example 7 FINDING THE INVERSE OF A FUNCTION
WITH A RESTRICTED DOMAIN
1
Let f ( x )  x  5. Find ( x ).
f

Solution First, notice that the domain of  is

restricted to the interval [– 5, ). Function 
is one-to-one because it is increasing on its
entire domain and, thus, has an inverse
function. Now we find the equation of the
inverse.

4.1 - 44
 Example 7 FINDING THE INVERSE OF A FUNCTION
WITH A RESTRICTED DOMAIN
Solution

f ( x )  x  5, x  5
y  x  5, x  5 y = (x)

x  y  5, y  5 Interchange x and y.

 
2
x 
2
y 5 Square both sides.

y  x 5 2
Solve for y.

4.1 - 45
 Example 7 FINDING THE INVERSE OF A FUNCTION
WITH A RESTRICTED DOMAIN

Solution However, we cannot define -1

as x2 – 5. The domain of  is [– 5, ), and its
range is [0, ).The range of  is the domain
of -1, so -1 must be defined as
1
f ( x )  x  5,
2
x  0.

4.1 - 46
 Example 7 FINDING THE INVERSE OF A FUNCTION
WITH A RESTRICTED DOMAIN

As a check, the range of -1, [– 5, ), is the domain of

. Graphs of  and -1 are shown. The line y = x is
included on the graphs to show that the graphs are
mirror images with respect to this line.

4.1 - 47
Important Facts About
Inverses
1. If  is one-to-one, then -1 exists.
2. The domain of  is the range of -1,and the
range of  is the domain of -1.
3. If the point (a, b) lies on the graph of , then
(b, a) lies on the graph of -1, so the graphs of
 and -1 are reflections of each other across
the line y = x.
4. To find the equation for -1, replace (x) with y,
interchange x and y, and solve for y.
This gives -1 (x).
4.1 - 48