Lesson 1

Inverse of a
Function
Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly determine whether a function is one-to-

one;

● correctly solve for the inverse of a function; and

● correctly represent real-life situations using inverse

functions.
 Essential Questions

● How can you determine whether a function is one-to-one?

● How can you solve for the inverse of a function?

 Learn about It!

Inverse Function
1 A function 𝑔 is the inverse function of 𝑓 if the ordered pairs of 𝑔 are the ordered
pairs of 𝑓 written in reversed order.

Example:
Consider the functions 𝑓 and 𝑔, where 𝑓 = { 1,2 , −3,5 , 5,7 }
and 𝑔 = { 2,1 , 5, −3 , 7,5 }. Then 𝑔 is the inverse function
of 𝑓 since the ordered pairs of 𝑔 are the ordered pairs of 𝑓
written in reversed order.
 Learn about It!

One-to-one Function
2 A function is one-to-one if every second element is paired to only one first
element. Moreover, a function has an inverse function if and only if it is one-to-
one.

Example:
The function {(3,4), (5, −2), (−1, −1), (4,7)}
is one-to-one since every second
element is paired to only one first
element.
 Learn about It!

Steps in Obtaining the Inverse of a Function 𝒇

3 1. Change 𝑓 𝑥 to 𝑦.
2. Interchange the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦.
3. Solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.
4. Change 𝑦 from Step 3 to 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).

Example:
Consider the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 5. Let us find its inverse.

1. Change 𝑓(𝑥) to 𝑦.
𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 5 → 𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 5
 Learn about It!

2. Interchange 𝑥 and 𝑦.
𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 5 → 𝑥 = 3𝑦 + 5

3. Solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.

𝑥−5
𝑥 = 3𝑦 + 5 → 𝑦=
3

4. Change 𝑦 from Step 3 to 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).

𝑥−5 −1
𝑥−5
𝑦= → 𝑓 =
3 3
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the inverse of the function described by the

set of ordered pairs
{ 3, −2 , 1,0 , 5,7 , 4, −4 , 10,2 }.
 Try It!

Example 1: Find the inverse of the function described by the

set of ordered pairs
{ 3, −2 , 1,0 , 5,7 , 4, −4 , 10,2 }.
Solution:
To find the inverse of the given function, interchange the
coordinates of each ordered pair.
3, −2 → −2,3 ,
1,0 → 0,1 ,
5,7 → 7,5 ,
4, −4 → −4,4 ,
10,2 → 2,10 .
 Try It!

Therefore, the inverse of the given function is described by

the set of ordered pairs { −𝟐, 𝟑 , 𝟎, 𝟏 , 𝟕, 𝟓 , −𝟒, 𝟒 , 𝟐, 𝟏𝟎 }.
 Try It!

Example 2: Which of the following sets of ordered pairs has

an inverse function?
a. 𝐴 = { 1, −1 , 0,0 , 2,4 , −3,1 , 5,10 }
b. 𝐵 = { 3,4 , 4,3 , 0, −3 , 2,4 , 1,9 }
 Try It!

Example 2: Which of the following sets of ordered pairs has

an inverse function?
a. 𝐴 = { 1, −1 , 0,0 , 2,4 , −3,1 , 5,10 }
b. 𝐵 = { 3,4 , 4,3 , 0, −3 , 2,4 , 1,9 }
Solution:
a. By interchanging the coordinates of the ordered pairs in 𝐴,
we get the inverse { −1,1 , 0,0 , 4,2 , 1, −3 , 10,5 }.
Moreover, this set is a function since every 𝑥-coordinate is
paired to only one 𝑦-coordinate. Thus, 𝑨 has an inverse
function.
 Try It!

b. The inverse of 𝐵 is { 4,3 , 3,4 , −3,0 , 4, −4 , 10,2 }. Since

the ordered pairs (4,3) and (4, −4) share the same 𝑥-
coordinate, this set is not a function. Hence, 𝑩 has no
inverse function.
Key Points

Inverse Function
1 A function 𝑔 is the inverse function of 𝑓 if the ordered pairs of 𝑔 are the ordered
pairs of 𝑓 written in reversed order.

One-to-one Function
2 A function is one-to-one if every second element is paired to only one first
element. Moreover, a function has an inverse function if and only if it is one-to-
one.

Steps in Obtaining the Inverse of a Function 𝒇

3 1. Change 𝑓 𝑥 to 𝑦.
2. Interchange the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦.
3. Solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.
4. Change 𝑦 from Step 3 to 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).
Lesson 2

Representing
Inverse Functions
through Tables
and Graphs
Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly determine whether a function is one-to-

one through the use of the horizontal line test; and

● correctly represent the inverse of a function using

graph and table of values.
 Learn about It!

Representing Inverse Functions through Table of

1 Values
We can interchange the 𝑥- and 𝑦-coordinates in a table of values of a function to
come up with a table of values for its inverse function.

Example:
Consider the function 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 1. This function has the
following table of values.
 Learn about It!

By interchanging the 𝑥- and 𝑦-coordinates of each ordered

pair, we get the following table of values for the inverse
function of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 1.
 Learn about It!

Representing Inverse Functions using Graphs

2 We can draw the graph of an inverse function by plotting the points from its table
of values.

Example:

Using the table of values for 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 1 and its inverse, we

can draw its graph.
Learn about It!
 Learn about It!

Horizontal Line Test

3 If any horizontal line drawn anywhere on the graph intersects the graph exactly
once, then the graph is one-to-one. Otherwise, it is not one-to-one.

Example:
The graph on the right represents a
one-to-one function since if we draw a
horizontal line anywhere on the
graph, it intersects the graph at only
one point.
 Learn about It!

Example:
The graph on the right does
not represent a one-to-one
function since we can find a
horizontal line that intersects
the graph more than once.
Thus, the function
represented by this graph
does not have an inverse
function.
 Try It!

Example 1:

Determine whether the function

represented by the given graph
has an inverse function by
performing the horizontal line test.
 Try It!

Solution:

If we draw a horizontal line on the

graph as illustrated, it intersects
the graph more than once.

It follows that the function

represented by this graph is not
one-to-one and does not have an
inverse function.
 Try It!

Example 2:

Sketch the graph of 𝑓 −1 given

the graph of the function 𝑓.
 Try It!

Solution:

The graph passes through the ordered

pairs (−1,0.667), (0,1), (1,1.5), and (4,5).
We can put these points in a table of
values.
 Try It!

Solution:

By interchanging the 𝑥- and 𝑦-

coordinates of each ordered pair, we
get a table of values for 𝑓 −1 as shown
below.
 Try It!

Solution:

We can now plot the points from this

table of values and then connect
these points using a smooth curve.
Key Points

Representing Inverse Functions through Table of

1 Values
We can interchange the 𝑥- and 𝑦-coordinates in a table of values of a function to
come up with a table of values for its inverse function.

Representing Inverse Functions using Graphs

2 We can draw the graph of an inverse function by plotting the points from its table
of values.

Horizontal Line Test

3 If any horizontal line drawn anywhere on the graph intersects the graph exactly
once, then the graph is one-to-one. Otherwise, it is not one-to-one.
 Synthesis

● How do you represent an inverse function using graph or

table values?

● In what real-life context can you relate the concept of

inverse function?

● How can you use the graph of a function to graph its

inverse?
Lesson 3

Graph of an Inverse
Function
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● accurately compare the graphs of a function and its

inverse;

● correctly determine the domain and range of the

inverse of a function; and

● correctly graph the inverse of a function.

 Learn about It!

1 Line of Symmetry of the Graphs of a Function and

its Inverse
The line 𝒚 = 𝒙 serves as the line of symmetry between the graphs of a function
and its inverse.

Example:
The graphs of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 (in blue)
and its inverse 𝑓 −1 𝑥 = 3 𝑥 (in
green) are symmetric along the line
𝑦 = 𝑥 (in orange) as shown on the
right.
 Learn about It!

2 Domain of an Inverse Function

The domain of an inverse function is the range of the original function.

Example:

1
The range of 𝑓 𝑥 = + 1 is 𝒚 𝒚 ≠ 𝟏}. It follows that the
𝑥
1
domain of its inverse function 𝑓 −1 𝑥 = 𝑥−1
is 𝒙 𝒙 ≠ 𝟏}.
 Learn about It!

3 Range of an Inverse Function

The range of an inverse function is the domain of the original function.

Example:

3
The domain of 𝑓 𝑥 = is 𝒙 𝒙 ≠ 𝟎}. It follows that the range
𝑥
3
of its inverse function 𝑓 −1 𝑥 = is 𝒚 𝒚 ≠ 𝟎}.
𝑥
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 and its inverse.

 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 and its inverse.

Solution: Let us determine the inverse of 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥.

First, change 𝑓(𝑥) to 𝒚.

𝒚 = 3𝑥

Interchange the variables 𝒙 and 𝒚.

𝒙 = 3𝒚
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 and its inverse.

Solution: Then, solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.
𝑥 = 3𝑦
𝑥
=𝑦
3
𝑥
𝑦=
3
Change 𝑦 to 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙).
𝑥
𝒇−𝟏 𝒙 =
3
 Try It!

Example 1: Graph the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 and its inverse.

𝒙
Solution: Thus, the inverse of 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 is 𝒇−𝟏 𝒙 = 𝟑
.

Let us graph the two functions in one

coordinate plane.

It can be observed that 𝑓(𝑥) (in blue)

and 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) (in green) are symmetric
along the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 (in orange).
 Try It!
2
Example 2: Graph the function 𝑔 𝑥 = and its inverse.
𝑥+1
Determine the domain and range of the inverse.
 Try It!
2
Example 2: Graph the function 𝑔 𝑥 = and its inverse.
𝑥+1
Determine the domain and range of the inverse.
2
Solution: Let us determine the inverse of 𝑔 𝑥 = .
𝑥+1

First, change 𝑔(𝑥) to 𝒚.

2
𝒚=
𝑥+1
Interchange the variables 𝒙 and 𝒚.
2
𝒙=
𝒚+1
 Try It!
2
Example 2: Graph the function 𝑔 𝑥 = and its inverse.
𝑥+1
Determine the domain and range of the inverse.
Solution: Solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.
2
𝑥=
𝑦+1
𝑥 𝑦+1 =2
𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 = 2
𝑥𝑦 = 2 − 𝑥
2−𝑥
𝑦=
𝑥
 Try It!
2
Example 2: Graph the function 𝑔 𝑥 = and its inverse.
𝑥+1
Determine the domain and range of the inverse.
Solution: Change 𝑦 to 𝒈−𝟏 (𝒙).
2−𝑥
𝒈−𝟏 𝒙 =
𝑥
2 𝟐−𝒙
It follows that the inverse of 𝑔 𝑥 = x+1
is 𝒈−𝟏 𝒙 = 𝒙
.
 Try It!
2
Example 2: Graph the function 𝑔 𝑥 = and its inverse.
𝑥+1
Determine the domain and range of the inverse.
Solution: Graph the functions
2 2−𝑥
𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥+1 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 in one
−1

coordinate plane.

It can be observed that 𝑔(𝑥) (in blue)

and 𝑔−1 (𝑥) (in green) are symmetric
along the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 (in orange).
 Try It!
2
Example 2: Graph the function 𝑔 𝑥 = and its inverse.
𝑥+1
Determine the domain and range of the inverse.
Solution: It can be observed that the graph of 𝑔−1 (𝑥) is
asymptotic to the line 𝑥 = 0. Thus, the domain of 𝑔−1 (𝑥) is
−∞, 𝟎 ∪ (𝟎, ∞) or 𝒙 𝒙 ≠ 𝟎}.

The graph of 𝑔−1 (𝑥) is asymptotic to the line 𝑦 = −1. Thus,

the range of 𝑔−1 (𝑥) is −∞, −𝟏 ∪ (−𝟏, ∞) or 𝒚 𝒚 ≠ −𝟏}.
Key Points

1 Line of Symmetry of the Graphs of a Function and

its Inverse
The line 𝒚 = 𝒙 serves as the line of symmetry between the graphs of a function
and its inverse.

2 Domain of an Inverse Function

The domain of an inverse function is the range of the original function.

3 Range of an Inverse Function

The range of an inverse function is the domain of the original function.
Lesson 4

Solving Problems
Involving Inverse
Functions
Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly determine whether two functions are

inverses of each other;

● accurately interpret the inverse of a given function;

and

● correctly solve word problems involving inverse of a

function.
 Learn about It!

1 Inverse Function Property

Two functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverses of each other if and only if 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 =𝒙
and 𝒈 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙.

Example:
𝑥
To verify whether 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 4 and 𝑔 𝑥 = − 2 are inverses 2
of each other, we should check whether 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒙 and
𝒈 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙.
 Learn about It!

1 Inverse Function Property

Two functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverses of each other if and only if 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 =𝒙
and 𝒈 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙.

Example:
𝑥
𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 =𝑓 −2
2
𝑥
=2 −2 +4
2
=𝑥−4+4
=𝑥
 Learn about It!

1 Inverse Function Property

Two functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverses of each other if and only if 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 =𝒙
and 𝒈 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙.

Example:
𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑔 2𝑥 + 4
2𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 + 4 − 4
= −2=
2 2
2𝑥
=
2
=𝑥
 Learn about It!

1 Inverse Function Property

Two functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverses of each other if and only if 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 =𝒙
and 𝒈 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙.

Example:

Since 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 and 𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverses

of each other.
 Try It!

Example 1: Determine whether 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 − 5 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 5𝑥 + 4

are inverses of each other.
 Try It!

Example 1: Determine whether 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 − 5 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 5𝑥 + 4

are inverses of each other.
Solution: To determine whether 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverses
of each other, we must show that both 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 and
𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 hold.

𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 5𝑥 + 4
= 4 5𝑥 + 4 − 5
= 20𝑥 + 16 − 5
= 20𝑥 + 11
 Try It!

Example 1: Determine whether 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 − 5 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 5𝑥 + 4

are inverses of each other.
Solution:

Since 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏𝟏, we need not check whether

𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 holds. It follows that 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are not
inverses of each other.
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is 𝑓 𝑥

= 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the number of
cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) to
determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution: Let us determine the inverse of 𝒇(𝒙).

First, change 𝑓(𝑥) to 𝒚.

𝒚 = 25𝑥 − 1 500
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution: Next, interchange 𝒙 and 𝒚.

𝒙 = 25𝒚 − 1 500
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution: Then, solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.
𝑥 = 25𝑦 − 1 500
𝑥 + 1 500 = 25𝑦
𝑥 + 1 500
=𝑦
25
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution: Then, solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.

𝑥 + 1 500
𝑦=
25
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution: Lastly, change 𝑦 to 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).

−𝟏
𝑥 + 1 500
𝒇 (𝒙) =
25
The inverse function 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) represents the number of
cupcakes sold in terms of the total cost 𝒙 of the business.
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution: Now, let us determine the number of cupcakes
sold if the total cost is ₱8 000.

Let 𝑥 = 8 000 and then solve for the value of 𝒇−𝟏 𝒙 .

 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution:
−1
8 000 + 1 500
𝑓 8 000 =
25
9 500
=
5
= 380
 Try It!

Example 2: The monthly total cost in selling cupcakes is

𝑓 𝑥 = 25𝑥 − 1 500, where 𝑥 represents the
number of cupcakes sold. Use the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥)
to determine the number of cupcakes sold if the
total cost for this month is ₱8 000.
Solution:

Thus, there are 380 cupcakes sold.

Key Points

1 Inverse Function Property

Two functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverses of each other if and only if 𝒇 𝒈 𝒙 =𝒙
and 𝒈 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙.