Inverse functions

Contents Objectives: to be able to,

1. Linear inverses. • find inverses of linear and quadratic

functions,
2. Domain and range of a function and it’s
inverse. • understand the relationship between a
function, it’s inverse and the domain and
3. Inverses of quadratics. range.

4. Mixed questions. Prior knowledge: you should already know

how to,

• understand the term function, domain

and range,

• be able to substitute numbers into a

function,

• change the subject of an equation,

• complete the square of a quadratic.

 Linear inverse functions – changing the subject
Find the inverse of each of the following.
f (x) 5x - 3, x  
Remember to use correct notation.
The inverse of f (x) is written as f  1 (x).
1. f (x) 4 x -1, x  
To find the inverse we replace f (x) with y,
and make x the subject of the equation.
x 1
Finally replace the y with an x. f  1 x  
4
f (x) 5x  3
3x  4
y 5x  3 2. g(x)  , x
5

y  3 5x 5x  4
g  1 x  
3

y 3
x 5  2x
5 3. g(x)  , x 
3
x 3 5  3x
f  1 x   h 1  x  
5 2
 Domain and Range
f (x) 5x - 3, x  

4 17

2 7

-2 -13

0 -3

Domain of f (x) Range of f (x)

Range of f  1 ( x) Domain of f  1 ( x)

x 3 Now substitute the numbers

1
f x  
5 17, 7, -13, and -3 into f  1 ( x).
 Quadratic inverse functions
2
2
1. f (x) x  4, x 0. 2. g(x) 2  x  9   1, x 9.

Find f  1 (x). Find g  1 (x).

2
y 2  x  9   1
y x 2  4
2
y  1 2  x  9 
y  4 x 2
y 1 2
 x  9 
2
x y 4
y 1
x  9
2
f  1 x   x  4
y 1
x 9
2

x 1
f  1 (x)  9
2
 Quadratic inverse functions
3. h(x) x 2  2 x  8, x 1. Start again – but this time complete the
Find h 1 (x). square first.
y x 2  2 x  8

y x 2  2 x  8
2
y  x  1  9 Now find the inverse.

y  8 x 2  2 x
2
y  9  x  1 
y  8 x  x  2 
y  9 x  1

y 8
x  2 y  9 1 x
x

At this point it gets difficult to isolate f  1 (x)  x  9  1

the x term.
 Questions
2
Find the inverse of each of the following 4. f (x) 4  x  2   3, x 2
functions.
f  1 (x)  x  9  1
1. f (x) 3x 2  4, x 0

5. g(x) x 2  4 x  7, x 2
x 4
f  1 (x) 
3
g  1 x   x  3  2
2. g(x) x 3  12, x 0

See solution
g  1 (x) 3 x  12
6. h(x) 2 x 2  12 x  17, x  3
2
3. h(x) 3  x  5  , x  5
x 1
h 1 ( x)  3
x 2
h 1 ( x)  5
3
See solution
 Worked answer 5
5. g(x) x 2  4 x  7, x 2
x  y  3 2
2
y x  4 x  7

g  1 x   x  3  2
Complete the square.

2
Return
y  x  2   3

2
y  3  x  2 

y  3 x  2
 Worked answer 6

6. h(x) 2 x 2  12 x  17, x  3
y 1
x  3
2
y 2 x 2  12 x  17

y 1
 3 x
Complete the square. 2

2
y 2  x  3   1 x 1
h 1 ( x)  3
2

2
y  1 2  x  3 
Return

y 1 2
 x  3
2