Calculus 1 (Math 105)

1.4 Inverse Functions

Page 1 of 25 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Outline:

Chapter 5: Inverse Functions, Exponential, and Logarithmic

Functions
5.1 Inverse Functions

5.1.1 One-To-One Function

5.1.2 Inverse Functions

5.1.3 Finding an Inverse Function

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5.1.1 One-To-One Function
 Recall that a function is a relation in which no two ordered pairs
that have the same first coordinate have different second
coordinates.

Definition 1: One-to-One Function

A function is one-to-one if no two ordered pairs in the function have the

same second component and different first components.

Example 1

Determine whether the following functions are one-to-one.

(a)

(b) {(−2,6), (−1,3), (0,2), (1,5), (2,8)}

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Solution

(a)

The function is not one-to-one because there are two different inputs,

55 and 61, that correspond to the same output, 38.

(b)

The function is one-to-one because no two different inputs correspond

to the same output.

Definition 2: Horizontal Line Test for a One-To-One Function

If every horizontal line intersects the graph of a function at most once,

then the graph is the graph of a one-to-one function.

Left Graph: Some horizontal lines intersect this graph at more than one

point. This is NOT a graph of a one-to-one function.

Right Graph: Every horizontal line intersects this graph at most once.

This is the graph of a one-to-one function.

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Definition 3: One-to-One (Injection)

A function 𝑓: 𝐷 → 𝑅 is said to be one-to-one if

𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ⇒ 𝑥 = 𝑥 (1)
for all elements 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ 𝐷.
Equivalently,
A function 𝑓: 𝐷 → 𝑅 is said to be one-to-one if
𝑥 ≠ 𝑥 ⇒ 𝑓(𝑥 ) ≠ 𝑓(𝑥 ) (2)
for all elements 𝑥 , 𝑥 ∈ 𝐷.

Note that:

• A one-to-one function is also called an injection, and we call a function

injective if it is one-to-one.

• A function that is not one-to one is referred to as many-to-one.

• Let A function 𝑓: 𝐷 → 𝑅.

There exists 𝑥 ≠ 𝑥 in 𝐷 such that 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑥 ).

Then 𝑓 is not one-to-one.

Page 5 of 25 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

To prove a function is One-to-One

To prove 𝑓: 𝐷 → 𝑅 is one-to-one:

 Assume 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑥 )

 Show it must be true that 𝑥 = 𝑥

Example 2

Prove the function 𝑓: ℝ → ℝ defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2 is one-to-one.

Solution

Let 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑥 )

⇒ 3𝑥 + 2 = 3𝑥 + 2.

⇒ 3𝑥 = 3𝑥

⇒𝑥 =𝑥 .

We have shown if 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑥 ) then 𝑥 = 𝑥 .

Therefore 𝑓 is one-to-one, by definition of one-to-one.

Checkpoint 1

Prove the function 𝑔: ℝ → ℝ defined by 𝑔(𝑥) = 5 − 7𝑥 is one-to-one.

Solution

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Definition 4: Increasing and Decreasing Functions

 A function that is increasing on an interval 𝐼 is a one-to-one function

on 𝐼.
 A function that is decreasing on an interval 𝐼 is a one-to-one
function on 𝐼.

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 5.1.2 Inverse Functions
 Let 𝑓 be a one-to-one function with domain 𝐷 and range 𝑅.
 Thus, for each number 𝑦 in 𝑅, there is exactly one number 𝑥 in 𝐷
such that

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥),

as illustrated by the arrow in the Figure below.

 We may, therefore, define a function 𝑔 from 𝑅 to 𝐷 by means of the

following rule:

𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑦)

 As in the Figure below, 𝑔 reverses the correspondence given by 𝑓.

We call 𝑔 the inverse function of 𝑓, as in the next definition.

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Definition 5: Definition of an Inverse Function

If the ordered pairs of a function 𝑔 are the ordered pairs of a function 𝑓

with the order of the coordinates reversed, then 𝑔 is the inverse function
of 𝑓.
For example,

If an ordered pair (𝑎, 𝑏) is in 𝑓, then (𝑏, 𝑎) is in 𝑔.

Example 3

Find the inverse of the following one-to-one function:

{(−3, −27), (−2, −8), (−1, −1), (0,0), (1,1), (2,8), (3,27)}

State the domain and the range of the function and its inverse.

Solution

The inverse of the given function is found by interchanging the entries in

each ordered pair and so is given by

{(−27, −3), (−8, −2), (−1, −1), (0,0), (1,1), (8,2), (27,3)}

The domain of the function is {−3, −2, −1,0,1,2,3}.

The range of the function is {−27, −8, −1,0,1,8,27}.

The domain of the inverse function is {−27, −8, −1,0,1,8,27}.

The range of the inverse function is {−3, −2, −1,0,1,2,3}.

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Definition 6: Condition for an Inverse Function

Let 𝑓: 𝐷 → 𝑅 be a function with domain 𝐷 and range 𝑅. A function 𝑓 has

an inverse function, denoted 𝑓 , if and only if 𝑓 is a one-to-one
function.

Definition 7: Alternative Condition for an Inverse Function

Let 𝑓: 𝐷 → 𝑅 be a function with domain 𝐷 and range 𝑅. If 𝑓 is an

increasing function or a decreasing function on it’s domain, then 𝑓 has
an inverse function.

 If 𝑓 is NOT one-to-one, then 𝑓 have NOT an inverse and 𝑓

does not exist.

Example 4

Which of the functions graphed below has an inverse function

 If 𝑓 is a one-to-one function, then

Page 10 of 25 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

 𝟏
Definition 8: Graphs of 𝒇 and 𝒇

 There is a relationship between the graph of a one-to-one

function, 𝑓, and its inverse, 𝑓 .
 Because inverse functions have ordered pairs with the
coordinates interchanged, if the point (𝑎, 𝑏) is on the graph of 𝑓,
then the point (𝑏, 𝑎) is on the graph of 𝑓 . The points (𝑎, 𝑏) and
(𝑏, 𝑎) are symmetric with respect to the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
 Thus, the graph of 𝑓 is a reflection of the graph of 𝑓 about the
line 𝑦 = 𝑥. This is illustrated in the Figure below.

Page 11 of 25 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

Checkpoint 2

If 𝑓 is a one-to-one function and 𝑓(4) = 5, what is 𝑓 (5) ?

Example 6

Does the function 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 + 5 have an inverse?

Solution

Note that 𝑓: ℝ → ℝ (Domain = ℝ , Range = ℝ).

𝑓 has an inverse iff 𝑓 is one-to-one. So, we need to prove that

𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑥 ) ⇒ 𝑥 = 𝑥 , where 𝑥 and 𝑥 in domain of 𝑓.

Let 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑓(𝑥 )

⇒𝑥 +5=𝑥 +5

⇒𝑥 =𝑥

𝑥 =𝑥

⇒ 𝑓 is one-to-one.

Therefore, 𝑓 has an inverse.

We see later, how to find this function.

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Composition of a Function and Its Inverse

Definition 9: Composition of Inverse Functions Property

Let 𝑓 be a one-to-one function. Then g is the inverse function of 𝑓 if

and only if

 (𝑓 ∘ g)(𝑥) = 𝑓[g(𝑥)] = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of g ,

and

 (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = g[𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓.

Therefore 𝑔 = 𝑓 .

CAUTION:

 Be careful not to confuse inverse notation and reciprocal

notation. For numbers, a superscript of −1 means reciprocal:
2 = .

 For functions, a superscript of −1 means inverse: 𝑓 (𝑥) is the

inverse of 𝑓(𝑥), which is not the same as .
( )

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Example 7

Use composition of functions to show that

g(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 6 is the inverse function of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2.

Solution

We must show that 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑥 and 𝑔[𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑥.

𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 + 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 6

* 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥 )] = [3𝑥 − 6] + 2

𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑔.

*𝑔[𝑓 (𝑥 )] = 3 𝑥+2 −6

𝑔[𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑓.

⇒ 𝑔 is the inverse 𝑓 and 𝑔 = 𝑓 .

Checkpoint 3

Use composition of functions to determine whether 𝑓 and 𝑔 are inverses

of one another.

(a) 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 3𝑥; 𝑔(𝑥) = (b) 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 − ; 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3

Solution

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 5.1.3 Finding an Inverse Function
If a one-to-one function 𝑓 is defined by an equation, then we can use the
following method to find the equation for 𝑓 .

Steps for Finding the Inverse of a Function

To find the equation of the inverse 𝑓 of the one-to-one function 𝑓,

follow these steps.

 Substitute 𝑦 for 𝑓(𝑥).

 Interchange 𝑥 and 𝑦.
 Solve, if possible, for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.
 Substitute 𝑓 (𝑥) for 𝑦.

Example 8

Find the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 8.

Solution

𝑓(𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 + 8

𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 8 (Replace 𝑓(𝑥 ) with 𝑦.)

𝑥 = 3𝑦 + 8 Interchange 𝑥 and 𝑦.

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3𝑦 + 8 = 𝑥

3𝑦 = 𝑥 − 8 Solve for 𝑦

𝑥−8
𝑦=
3

𝑓 (𝑥 ) = = − Replace 𝑦 with 𝑓 .

The inverse function is given by 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 − .

Checkpoint 4

Find 𝑓 (𝑥). State any restrictions on the domain of 𝑓 (𝑥).

(a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 4 (b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 8

Solution

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