Inverse Function
Inverse Function
I. Introductory Concept
X y X y X y
Mrs. Cruz John -2 0
Peter -1 Philippines Manila
Mrs. Lee Oscar 0 1 Japan Tokyo
Ella 1 Indonesia Jakarta
Lyn 2 4 South Korea Seoul
Fig. 1 Mother to her Fig. 2 A number to its Fig. 3 Country to its capital
Children Relation square relation relation
Questions:
1. Which of the figures illustrate a function?
• Figure 1 is not a function since one element in the first column is paired with more
than one element in the 2nd column.
• Figure 2 illustrates many-to-one function since more than one element in the first
column is paired to one element in the 2nd column.
• The third figure shows one-to-one function since each element in the first column is
paired to only one element in the 2nd column.
Definition: The function f is one-to-one if for any 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 in the domain of f, then f(x1) ≠
f(x2). That is, the same y-value is never paired with two different x-values.
Illustration 1:
In the diagram below, observe that each student is paired to a unique Student ID number.
Since, each 1st element (name of student) is paired to a unique 2nd element (student ID
number). That is, every item from the first set has exactly one partner on the other set. Thus,
this diagram shows one-to-one function.
Examples 1-3 are illustrating one-to-one functions and not one-to-one functions.
Solution: Each SSS member is assigned to a unique SSS number. Thus, the relation is a
function. Further, two different members cannot be assigned the same SSS number. Thus,
the function is one-to-one.
Solution. Each real number has a unique perfect square. Thus, the relation is a function.
However, two different real numbers such as 2 and –2 may have the same square. Thus, the
function is not one-to-one.
Solution. Since each airport has a unique airport code, then the relation is a function. Also,
since no two airports share the same airport code, then the function is one-to-one.
Example 5.
Solution:
If you draw a horizontal line to
any part of the graph, observe that
the horizontal line (solid horizontal
line) passes through only one point
on the graph. Thus, this graph
represents one-to-one function.
_____ 4. _______ 5.
Let f be a one-to-one function with domain 𝐴 and range 𝐵. Then the inverse of 𝒇
denoted 𝒇−𝟏 is a function with domain 𝐵 and range 𝐴 denoted by 𝑓 −1 (𝑦) = 𝑥 if and only if
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦 for any 𝑦 in 𝐵.
Illustration:
Example 1. Let 𝐴 = {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4,5)}. The inverse of 𝐴 denoted by 𝐴−1 can be
obtained by interchanging the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦, that is
Example 2. Let 𝐵 = {(−2, −4), (−1, −2), (0,0), (1, 2), (2, 4)}, the inverse of 𝐵 is
𝑦 -1 0 1 2 3
The inverse of 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1 is
𝑥 -1 0 1 2 3
𝑦 -2 -1 0 1 2
𝑥−1
Therefore, the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 1 is 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 3
.
The equation 𝑦 = ±√𝑥 + 6 − 2 does not represent a function because there are some 𝑥-
values that correspond to two different y-values (e.g. if 𝑥 = 3, 𝑦 can be 1 or – 5.) Therefore,
the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 – 2 has NO INVERSE FUNCTION.
𝑥−1
Example 6. Find the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥+1
Solution:
𝑥−1
a. the equation of the function is 𝑦 = 𝑥+1
.
𝑦−1
b. interchange 𝑥 and y variables 𝑥 = 𝑦+1
c. solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥
𝑦−1
𝑥=
𝑦+1
𝑥(𝑦 + 1) = 𝑦 − 1 (𝑏𝑦 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝑦 + 1) 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠)
𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 = 𝑦 − 1 (𝑏𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)
𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 = −𝑥 − 1 (𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠)
𝑦(𝑥 − 1) = −𝑥 − 1 (𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔)
−𝑥 − 1
𝑦= (𝑏𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝑥 − 1)𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠)
𝑥−1
𝑥−1 −𝑥−1
Therefore, the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
is 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 𝑥−1
.
Notes:
The function has its inverse:
The 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑏 , where 𝑎 ≠ 0 and 𝑛 is an odd whole number.
𝑎𝑥+𝑏
The 𝑓(𝑥) = , where 𝑎 ≠ 0, 𝑐 ≠ 0 and 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑 are constants.
𝑐𝑥+𝑑
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ACTIVITY 1: Do I have an Inverse?
Classify the following functions whether they have an inverse or they don’t have.
______________
Directions:
List the letter of the functions with inverse on the WI column and those without inverse on
the WOI column.
1. 𝐸 = {(2, 4), (3, 6), (4, 8), (5, 10)}
2. 𝑄 = {(0,1), (1, 4), (2, 7), (3, 10)}
3. 𝑈 = {(−2, −8), (0,0), (2,8), (4,64), (6,216)}
4. 𝐼 = {(−2, −7), (−1, 0), (0,1), (1,2), (−2,9)}
2 1
5. 𝑃 = {(−1, − 3) , (0, − 4) , (1, 0)}
WI WOI
___________
Directions: Write the word TRUE if the 2nd function is the inverse of the 1st function; write
the word FALSE if it is not.
𝑋+1
1. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 – 1; 𝑦 −1 =
3
5 𝑋
2. 𝑦 = 5𝑥 5 ; 𝑦 −1 = √ 5
𝑋+2
3. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 – 2; 𝑦 −1 =
2
3
4. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 – 1; −1
𝑦 = √𝑥 + 1
𝑥+1 3𝑥+1
5. 𝑦 = 2𝑥−3 ; 𝑦 −1 = 2𝑥−1
Directions: Find the inverse of each function, if it exists. If it does not exist, write No Inverse.
___________
1. 𝐴 = {(0, −1), (1,0), (2,3), (3,8), (4,15)}
2. 𝐵 = {(−2,5), (0, −3), (1, −1)}
3. 𝑦 = 7𝑥 4 – 8
3
4. 𝑦 = √1 − 𝑥
4
5. 𝑦 =
𝑥−1
In the previous lesson, you were able to find the inverse of a function given an
equation. In this lesson, we will represent the inverse of a function given the table of values
and given a graph.
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Representing an Inverse Function through Table of Values
Given a function represented through a table of values, the inverse can be determined
by interchanging the values of 𝒙 and 𝒚.
Example 1. Determine the inverse of the one-to-one function 𝑦 given the table of values.
𝑥 -2 -1 0 1 1.5
𝑦 -3 -1 1 3 4
Solution: By interchanging the values of x and y we get 𝑦 −1
𝑥 -3 -1 1 3 4
𝑦 −1 -2 -1 0 1 1.5
Example 2. Determine the inverse of the one-to-one function 𝑓(𝑥) given the table of values
𝑥 0 1 2 3 4
𝑓(𝑥) 0 1 4 9 16
Solution: By interchanging the values of x and 𝑓(𝑥) we get 𝑓 −1 (𝑥)
x 0 1 4 9 16
−1
𝑓 (𝑥) 0 1 2 3 4
Looking at these two examples, given a set of ordered pairs and a table, we can determine
the inverse of one-to-one functions by interchanging the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦.
Given the graph of a one-to-one function, the graph of its inverse can be obtained by
reflecting the graph about the line 𝒚 = 𝒙.
Example 3. Represent the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 whose graph is shown below.
Solution:
Let us consider the table of values for the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1
x -2 -1 0 1 2
𝑓(𝑥) -3 -1 1 3 5
By interchanging the values of x and y in the table above, we get the inverse of
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏, whose table is shown below.
x -3 -1 1 3 5
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𝑓 −1 (𝑥) -2 -1 0 1 2
Plotting the points on the coordinate plane, we get the graph of the inverse of
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏
If we put the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 and its inverse in one coordinate plane, we will
have the figure below. The solid line is the graph of the original function 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1
while the dashed line is the graph of its inverse.
𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓 −1 (𝑥)
Observe that if we draw a line 𝑦 = 𝑥 (shown by the dotted line), it can be noted that
the graph of the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 is a reflection of the graph of the original
function through the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
Thus, to represent the graph of the inverse of the given function, we simply draw the
line 𝑦 = 𝑥 (shown by the dotted line) and reflect the given graph across the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
3
Example 4. Represent through graph the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1 using the given graph.
𝑓(𝑥)
xx
______________
Directions: Match column A with the corresponding inverse in column B. Write the letter of
your answer on your answer sheet.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. A.
X -2 -1 0 1 2 x -5 -2 1 4 7
Y -5 -2 1 4 7 y -2 -1 0 1 2
2. B.
x 1 2 3 4 5 x 0 5 10 15 20
y 1 1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5 y 0 1 2 3 4
3. C.
x 0 1 2 3 4 x 1 1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5
y 0 5 10 15 20 y 1 2 3 4 5
4. D.
5.
E.
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ACTIVITY 2: Showing My Reflection
______________
Directions: Write the word TRUE if the graph shows inverse functions and FALSE if
otherwise.
1. 2. 3.
4. 5.
Answer: the domain is the list of all 1st elements in the set of ordered pairs while the range is
the list of all 2nd elements in the set of ordered pairs, thus
Domain: {-4, -3, -2, -1, 2}
Range: {4, 2, 1, -1, -3, -5}
2. Table of values
𝑥 -2 -1 0 1 2
𝑦 4 1 0 1 4
Answer: the domain is the list of all x elements in the table while the range is
the list of all y elements in the table, thus
Domain: {−2, −1, 0, 1, 2}
Range: {4, 1, 0, 1, 4}
3. Graph
Answer: Domain: { 𝑥 𝜖 ℝ| − 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2}
Range: { 𝑦 𝜖 ℝ| − 5 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 3}
Looking back at the previous lessons, you have learned that the domain of a function
is the set of all possible values of x and the range is the set of all possible of values of y.
The domain of the inverse function is the range of the original function, and
the range of the inverse function is the domain of the original function.
Illustration:
Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 – 𝑥 where x is restricted to 0, 1, 2, 3.
The table of values is shown below.
𝑥 0 1 2 3
𝑓(𝑥) 1 0 -1 -2
The domain of 𝑓(𝑥) is {0, 1,2,3} while the range of 𝑓(𝑥) is {1, 0, -1, -2}.
𝑥 1 0 -1 -2
𝑓(𝑥) 0 1 2 3
What do you observe about the domain and range of a function and its inverse?
Let’s try the following examples in determining the domain and range of its inverse.
Example 1. 𝐴 = {(−2, −4), (− 1, − 2), (0, 0), (1, 2), (2, 4)}
Solution: The Domain of 𝐴 = {−2, −1, 0, 1, 2} and the Range of 𝐴 = {−4, −2, 0, 2, 4}
Therefore, the Domain of 𝑨 = {−𝟒, −𝟐, 𝟎, 𝟐, 𝟒} and the Range of 𝑨−𝟏 = {−𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐}
−𝟏
Solution:The Domain of 𝑓(𝑥) = {−2, 0, 2, 3, 4} and the Range of 𝑓(𝑥) = {−9, −1, 7, 26, 63}
Thus, Domain of 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) = {−𝟗, −𝟏, 𝟕, 𝟐𝟔, 𝟔𝟑} and the Range of 𝒇−𝟏 (𝒙) = {−𝟐, 𝟎, 𝟐, 𝟑, 𝟒}
Now that you have learned how to determine the domain and range of inverse functions
given a set of ordered pairs and a table, let us now discuss how to determine the domain
and range of inverse functions given the graph of the function.
Given a graph, the domain and range of the inverse of a function can be
determined by inspection of the graph.
Example 3. Find the domain and range of the inverse function of 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 restricted
in the domain {𝑥 | – 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1.5} whose graph is shown below. (the solid line is the graph
of 𝑓(𝑥), the dashed line is the graph of 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) and the dotted line is the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑥 )
Therefore,
The domain of 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) is {𝑥 ∈ ℝ l-3 ≤ x ≤ 4}
The range of 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) is {𝑦 ∈ ℝ l-2 ≤ y ≤ 1.5}
5𝑥−1
Example 4. Consider the rational function 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥+2
whose graph is shown below. Find
the domain and range of its inverse.
Solution:
From our lessons on rational functions, we get the following results.
Domain of 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑥 𝜖 ℝ |𝑥 ≠ 2}
Range of 𝑓(𝑥) = {𝑦 𝜖 ℝ | 𝑦 ≠ − 5}
Therefore,
Domain of 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = {𝑥 𝜖 ℝ | 𝑥 ≠ − 5}
Range of 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = {𝑦 𝜖 ℝ | 𝑦 ≠ 2}
Directions: Find the domain and range of the inverse of each one-to-one function. Pick
the______________
letter of the correct answer from the box below. Write the letter of your answer on your
answer sheet.
1. 𝐴 = {(2, 7), (3, 9), (4, 11), (5, 13), (6, 15)}
2. 𝐵 = {(−2, −6), (− 1, 1), (0, 2), (1, 3), (2, 10)}
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1 restricted to x values 0, 1,2,3 and 4
𝑥 0 1 2 3 4
𝑓(𝑥) -1 2 5 8 11
3
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2 restricted to x values 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4
𝑥 -2 -1 0 1 2
𝑓(𝑥) -10 - 3 -2 -1 6
5. 𝑦 = 4 – 2𝑥 restricted to x = {-1, 0, 1, 2, 3}
𝑥 -1 0 1 2 3
RO_General Mathematics_Grade 11_Q1_LP 4
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𝑦 6 4 2 0 -2
3.
Directions: Determine the Domain and Range of the Inverse of each function.
1. 𝐷 = {(0, 3), (1, 3/2), (2, 1), (3, ¾), (4, 3/5)}
______________
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2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 – 2𝑥 where x is restricted to {-3, -1, 0, 1, 3}
3.
V. Reflection
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. How did you find the lesson?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. What are the difficulties you have encountered in understanding the lesson? How did
you solve them? ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
LESSON 1
Activity 1 1. F 2. D 3. B 4. E 5. C
Activity 2 1. X 2. ✓ 3. X 4. ✓ 5. ✓
Activity 3 Answers may vary.
LESSON 2
Activity 1
WI WOI
E I
RO_General Mathematics_Grade 11_Q1_LP 4
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Q
U
P
Activity 2 1. TRUE 2. TRUE 3. FALSE 4. TRUE 5. TRUE
Activity 3
1. 𝐴−1 = {(−1,0), (0,1), (3,2), (8,3), (15,4)} 2. 𝐵−1 = {(5, −2), (−3,0), (−1,1)}
4+𝑥
3. NO INVERSE 4. 𝑦 −1 = 1 − 𝑥 3 5. 𝑦 −1 = 𝑥
LESSON 3
Activity 1 1.A 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. E
Activity 2 1.TRUE 2. TRUE 3. TRUE 4. TRUE 5. TRUE
Activity 3
1. 𝑥 -24 -5 2 3 4 2. 3.
𝑦 -3 -2 -1 0 1 .
LESSON 4
Activity 1 1. M 2. H 3. S 4. T 5. A
Activity 2
1. Domain: {-6, 1, 2, 3, 10} Range:{-2, -1, 0, 1, 2}
2. Domain: {-1, 2, 5, 8, 11} Range:{0, 1, 2, 3, 4}
3. Domain: { x ∈ ℝ l – 5 ≤ x ≤ 5} Range:{ y ∈ ℝ l – 2 ≤ y ≤ 3}
Activity 3
1. Domain: . { 3, 3/2, 1, ¾, 3/5} Range:{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4}
2. Domain: . { 9, 5, 3, 1, -3} Range:{ -3, -1, 0, 1, 3}
3. Domain: . { x ∈ ℝ l x ≠ 1} Range:{ y ∈ ℝ l y ≠ - 2}
VII. References
Castillo, Leticia L. et.al. College Algebra. Mandaluyong City:National Book Store, 2009
General Mathematics Learner’s Material
General Mathematics Teacher’s Guide
Obaña, Generoso G. and Mangaldan, Edna R. Making Connections in Mathematics IV.
Manila: Vicarish Publication and Trading, Inc., 2004
Meriam Webster Dictionary (smartphone app)