Year 11 Mathematics.

Unit 4: Equations and Functions.

Inverse Functions.
Learning objective: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
function f(x).
Keywords: function, substitute, solve, inverse, composite.

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

What is an inverse function?

Look at the two functions below.

Notice that and .

Also notice that and

If I substitute any number into , the result substituted into will return me to the number that I originally started with.
The functions and are called inverse functions.

The inverse of is usually denoted by

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Examples.

Given that , find an expression for .

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Examples.

Given that , find an expression for .

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Examples.

Given that:

Solve .

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Exercise.

1. For each of the following functions, find

(a) (b)
(c) (d)
(e) (f)
(g) (h)
(i) (j)
(k) (l)

2. Given that:

(a) Find (b) Find

(c) Solve .

3. Given that:

Solve:

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Answers.

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Some functions, specifically ones where appears twice like quadratics and algebraic fractions involving in the
denominator and the numerator, are more difficult to find inverses for.
Examples.

Find .

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Some functions, specifically ones where appears twice like quadratics and algebraic fractions involving in the
denominator and the numerator, are more difficult to find inverses for.
Examples.

Find .

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Some functions, specifically ones where appears twice like quadratics and algebraic fractions involving in the
denominator and the numerator, are more difficult to find inverses for.
Examples.

Find .

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Exercise.
1. For the following functions, find .

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e) (f)

2. For the following functions, find .

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e) (f)

Maths!
 L.O.: TBAT find the inverse function, f-1(x), when given a
Inverse Functions. function f(x).

Answers.

Maths!