IB MATHEMATICS APPLICATIONS AND

INTERPRETATION
Intersection of Functions, Inverse Functions & One-to-one
Functions

STUDENT WORKBOOK

Contents
3.5 Intersection of functions ............................................................................................................ 2
3.6 Inverse functions ........................................................................................................................ 5
3.6.1 How to find an inverse function algebraically .................................................................... 5
3.6.2 One-to-one functions ......................................................................................................... 6
3.6.3 Inverse functions revisited ................................................................................................. 8
3.6.4 Graphs of inverse functions .............................................................................................. 10

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3.5 INTERSECTION OF FUNCTIONS
Let’s say you are given two graphs, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥), then the intersection points of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
and 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥), are values of 𝑥 for which 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥).
There are two ways in which we can do so;

• The first method is simply to graph both functions and see where they intersect. This can be done
easily using your TI-Nspire calculator.
• The second method is by solving the equation 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) algebraically.

Example 1:
Find the intersection point for the following pairs of functions and record what buttons you press on
your TI-Nspire calculator to do this: 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = −2.3𝑥.

Example 2:
Philip Mathews, the owner of Philip’s Dairy, is trying to work out what he should charge for a litre of
chocolate milk. The demand for chocolate milk (a measure of how many litres of chocolate milk are
likely to sell), can be modelled by 𝐷(𝑝) = 15 − 3𝑝, where 𝑝 is the selling price in dollars. The supply
for the chocolate milk (the number of litres that can be made) can be modelled by 𝑆(𝑝) = 4𝑝.
a) Sketch both functions on the same set of
axes.

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b) Find the equilibrium point of the chocolate milk. (The equilibrium point is where supply and
demand are equal).

c) Comment on the situation in which the selling price is $0.6

d) Contrast your answer to (c) to what happens when the price is $3

Example 3:
When I travelled to Iceland, I sadly needed to rent a car. I had two options:
Option A: 350 Icelandic krona (ISK) per kilometer.
Option B: A fixed cost of ISK 15000 plus ISK 230 per kilometer.
a) Find the cost of renting a car if I travelled 200km for:
i) Option A

ii) Option B

b) Write down, for each option, an expression for the cost of renting the car in terms of the number
of kilometres travelled, 𝑥.

c) I knew that above a certain number of kilometres, 𝑘, Option B is more economical than Option A.
Find the value of 𝑘.

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Example 4:
Consider the functions 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑚𝑥 + 1, where 𝑚 is a constant. The graphs of
these functions intersect at the point (2, 3).
a) Find the value of 𝑚

b) Find the point of intersection of the graph 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) with the 𝑥-axis.

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3.6 INVERSE FUNCTIONS
If the function itself is considered a "DO" action, then the inverse is the "UNDO".
Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2
We can write this function using a flow diagram as follows:
×𝟑 +𝟐
𝒙→ 𝟑𝒙 → 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
To find the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2, we start with 𝑥 and perform the inverse operations in reverse
order.

𝒙−𝟐 ÷𝟑 −𝟐
← 𝒙 − 𝟐← 𝒙
𝟑
𝑥−2
The inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) is written as 𝑓 −1 (𝑥), so if 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2, 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = .
3

3.6.1 HOW TO FIND AN INVERSE FUNCTION ALGEBRAICALLY

Find the inverse of the following function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2

Example 1:
Find the inverse function 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) for the following:
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 4 𝑥−2
b) 𝑓(𝑥) =
4

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3.6.2 ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
A one to one function is where each 𝑥 value (or each domain value) has its own personal 𝑦 value (or
range value). In other words, for every value of 𝑥, there will be a unique value of 𝑦.
Example 2:
State which of the following mapping diagrams represent functions.
Recall: A function is a specific type of a relation where each 𝒙-coordinate is matched with only one 𝑦-
coordinate.
a) b) c)

Identify a mapping diagram that represents a one-to-one function.

Example 2:
State which of the following graphs represent functions.
Remember a vertical line test: If any vertical line drawn through the graph cuts the graph at more
than one point, then the relation is not a function.
a) b) c)

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There is a similar method for testing if a function is one-to-one, it is called the horizontal line test.
Consider the graphs below, if you draw a horizontal line and it intersects the graph of a function in
only one place, then it will be a one-to-one function.
If it intersects the graph of a function at more than one place, then it will not be a one-to-one
function.
Example 2:
Identify a graph that represents a one-to-one function.
a) b) c)

d) e) f)

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3.6.3 INVERSE FUNCTIONS REVISITED
The inverse of a function can only exist if the original function is a one-to-one function.
Example 3:
Which of these has an inverse function and give a reason why.
a) b) c)

Another thing to note is that the domain and range are

swapped around for the inverse function.
Therefore, for the one-to-one function alongside, the
domain and range for its inverse function will be:

Domain:

Range:

Example 4:
State which of the following functions has an inverse, giving a reason in each case:
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 5 maps A = {-1, 0, 1, 2} onto a set B.

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2 maps A = {-1, 0, 1, 2} onto a set B.

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Example 5:
The diagram shows a function 𝑓.

a) Explain why 𝑓 −1 exists.

b) Write down the values of:

i) 𝑓(−2) ii) 𝑓(8) iii) 𝑓 −1 (0) iv) 𝑓 −1 (18)

c) Construct a mapping diagram for 𝑓 −1 .

Example 6:
The diagram shows the graph of a function 𝑓 from A to B.
a) Write down the set A.

b) Write down the set B.

c) State whether 𝑓 is a one-to-one function, giving a reason

for your answer.

d) Find the values of:

i) 𝑓(1) ii) 𝑓 −1 (1) iii) 𝑓 −1 (−1)

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3.6.4 GRAPHS OF INVERSE FUNCTIONS
A functions inverse can be sketched by reflecting the function in the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
Example 7:
Sketch the inverse functions of the following:
a) b)

c) d)

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Example 8:
1
Consider 𝑓(𝑥) = − 𝑥 + 2 for 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4
2

a) Draw the graph of 𝑓 on a pair of axes. Use the same scale on both axes.

b) Point A lies on the graph of 𝑓 and has coordinates (2, b). Find the value of b.

c) Complete the table:

Function Domain Range

𝑓 0≤𝑥≤4
𝑓 −1

d) Draw the graph of 𝑓 −1 on the same set of axes as (a).

e) Find the coordinates of the point that lies on the graph of 𝑓 −1 and on the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.

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Example 9:
The one-to-one function f maps A = {𝑥: 𝑥 ≥ 0} onto B = {𝑦: −2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1}; 𝑓(1) = −1 and
𝑓(0) = −1.5.
a) Write down the domain and range of 𝑓 −1 , the inverse function of 𝑓.

b) Write down the value of 𝑓 −1 (−1.5).

c) Determine whether f is an increasing or a decreasing function.

d) Solve the equation 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 1.

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