Math-115 Chapter 1: Graphs and Functions Fall 2024

1.9: Inverse Functions

Functions describe a special sort of relationship between numbers; namely one where each number in
the first set is associated with exactly one in the second set. When a function satisfies an even-stronger
property, called being one-to-one, then its reverse is itself a function. These special reverse functions are
often very important when the exist, and are given a special name: inverses.

Learning Goals. By the end of this section, students will be able to...

• define what it means for a function to be one-to-one,

• determine when a function is one-to-one from its correspondence diagram, its graph, or its equation,

• define the inverse of a function and distinguish it from its reciprocal,

• check if a proposed inverse is correct by taking a function composition,

• find the inverse of a given function.

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Math-115 Chapter 1: Graphs and Functions Fall 2024

Combination of Functions

An function is a relationship between two sets (a domain and a range) where each element of the domain
is associated to element of the range.

Definition. A function is one-to-one if no two elements of the domain are assigned to the same value

This is equivalent to saying that each element of the is associated with exactly
one element of the .
Example: For each correspondence diagram, which is that of a function? Which of these are correspon-
dence diagrams of one-to-one functions?

6 6 6

1 1 1
14 14 -100 14
-100 -100
2 2 2
-7 -7 -7
9 9 9
8 1 8 1 8 1

3 3 3
2 2 2
74 74 74

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Math-115 Chapter 1: Graphs and Functions Fall 2024

To determine if a graph of a relationship is the a graph of a function, we can appeal to the

A one-to-one function must further satisfy the .

Example: Each of the following are graphs of functions. Which are graphs of one-to-one functions?

We can also test for the one-to-one quality given a function as an expression. Suppose we are given
f (x) = 3x − 2 (and we didn’t know what the graph looks like). Then f being a one-to-one function is just
the claim that for any x1 , x2 in the domain of f , f (x1 ) = f (x2 ) only when .

Try this same test for g(x) = x2 + 4

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Math-115 Chapter 1: Graphs and Functions Fall 2024

Inverse Functions

Definition. Let f be a one-to-one function. The inverse of f is the function f −1 . The domain of f −1
is the range of f , and the range of f −1 is the domain of f . We define the inverse such that f −1 (y) = x
whenever f (x) = y.

This definition has a lot of parts; you should go back to this and make sure they all make sense later.
Basically, the inverse function undoes the effect of f . It swaps the roles of y and x; switching the role of
domain and range and the direction of the correspondences.

Example: Draw the correspondence diagram for the inverse of the one-to-one correspondence diagram
from page 2

Inverse functions satisfy the following properties:

f −1 (f (x)) = x for every x in the domain of f

f (f −1 (x)) = x for every x in the range of f

Example: Check that f (x) = 3x − 2 and g(x) = x + 2

3 are inverses. ie, show that g = f
−1

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Finding the Inverse of a one-to-one function

Rules for Inverting a function

- When the function is given as a correspondence diagram, reverse the arrows and draw with the new
domain on the left

- When the function is given as a set of ordered pairs, switch the independent and dependant variable
in each pair

- When the function is given as a graph, reflect the graph over the line y = x

- When the function is given as an expression, replace f (x) with y, then interchange x and y, and
finally solve in terms of y

Example: Find the inverse of f (x) = x +x 10 .

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Math-115 Chapter 1: Graphs and Functions Fall 2024

Problem. Use the same procedure to find the inverse of g(x) = −10x
x−1

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Math-115 Chapter 1: Graphs and Functions Fall 2024

Application

(problem 92 in textbook from section 1.9): The boiling point of water is 373 K, or 212°F; the freezing
point of water is 272 K, or 32 °F. The relationship between Kelvin and Fahrenheit temperature is linear.

a. Write a linear function expressing K(F ) in terms of F

b. Find the inverse of the function in part a. What does it mean?

c. A normal human body temperature if 98.6 °F. What is the corresponding Kelvin temperature?

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