Inverse Functions

Inverse Functions
One-to-one
One-to-one
Suppose fff ::: A
Suppose A⇥
A !B
—* B isis aaa function.
B function. We
function. We call fff one-to-one
We call
call one-to-one ifif every
every distinct
distinct
pair of
pair of objects
objects in A isis assigned
in A
A assigned to to aaa distinct
to distinct pair
distinct pair of
pair of objects
objects in B. In
in B. In other
other
words, each
words, each object
object of
of the target has
the target
target has at
has at most
at most one
most one object
one object from
from the
the domain
domain
assigned
assigned to to it.
it.
There
There isis aa way
way of
of phrasing
phrasing the previous definition
the previous
previous definition in
definition in aa more
more mathematical
mathematical
language: fff isis one-to-one
language:
language: one-to-one ifif whenever
whenever we we have
we have two
have two objects 2e AA with
objects a,a,cc ⇤ with
aa ⌅=
~ c,
6= c, we are
c, we are guaranteed
guaranteed thatthat fff(a)
(a) ⌅=
(a) $ fff(c).
6= (c).
(c).

Example. fff ::: R

Example.
Example. R !R
IR ⇥ R
JR where
—* where fff(x)
(x)
(x) =
= x
= xx222 is not one-to-one
is not
not one-to-one because
because 33 ⌅=
6 ~ —3
3
and
and yet fff(3)
yet
and yet (3)
(3) = ff(—3)
= f
= (( 3) since fff(3)
3) since (3) and fff(—3)
(3) and
and (( 3) 3) both equal 9.
both equal 9.

Horizontal line
Horizontal line test
test
If aa horizontal
If horizontal line
line intersects
intersects the the graph
graph of of fff(.x) in more
(x) in
(x) more than
than one
one point,
point,
then ff(z)
then f(x) is
(x) is not
is not
not one-to-one.
one-to-one.
reason ff(x)
reason
The reason
The f(x) would not
(x) would not bebe one-to-one
one-to-one is that the
is that the graph
graph would
would contain
contain
two points
two that
points that have the
that have the same
same second
second coordinate
coordinate – for
— for example,
example, (2, (2,3) and
3) and
(4,3).
(4,3).
(4, That
3). That would
That would
would mean that fff(2)
mean that and fff(4)
(2) and
(2) (4) both
(4) equal 3,
both equal 3, and
and one-to-one
one-to-one
functions can’t
functions can’t assign
can’t assign two di↵erent
two different objects in
different objects in the
the domain
domain to to the
the same
same object
object
of the
of the target.
target.
every horizontal
If every
If horizontal line
line inin RJR222 intersects
R intersects the
the graph
graph ofof aa function
function at most
at most
once,
once, then
once, then the
the function
function is is one-to-one.
one-to-one.

R
of ff ::: R !R R where ff(z) 22
Examples. Below
Examples. Below is
is the
the graph
graph of JR ⇥ R where
—, (x) = z2.
= x . There
There isis aa
horizontal line
horizontal line that
that intersects this graph
intersects this graph in in more
more than
than one
one point,
point, soso ff isis not
not
one-to-one.
one-to-one.

\~. )L2

90
66
66
 Below is the graph of g R 1W where gQr) = x3. Ally horizontal line that
—~

3
Below
Below
could be is
Below
Below is
drawn
is the
isthe
the
the graph
would
graph
graph of
graph ofg :
gg ::gR
ofintersect
of R
RR R1Wwhere
R
! the
R where
graph
where g(x)
whereg(x)
gQr)
of
g(x) g= =in=x
=
=
—~ x33at
xx .... Any
3x3. Any
most
Any
Any horizontal
Ally horizontal
one line
line
point,line
horizontal
horizontal
horizontal so
line
line gthat
that
that
that that
is
could bebedrawn
couldbe
one-to-one
could
could be drawn
drawn would
drawnwould
would intersect
wouldintersect
intersect the
intersectthe
the graph
thegraph
graph ofof
graphof
of gggg gin
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at
at most
most
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point,so
point,
point, so
so is is
is
is
one-to-one.
one-to-one
one-to-one.
one-to-one.

Onto
Onto
Onto f : A
Onto
Suppose —~ B is a function. We call f onto if the range of f equals
Supposefff f::: A
Suppose
B Suppose
Suppose A
: A! B
A BBBis
—~
isisaaa afunction.
is function.
function.We
function. We
We Wecall callfff fonto
call
call onto
ontoififif ifthe
onto the range
therange
the rangeof
range ofoffff fequals
of equals
equals
equals
B.
B.
B. B other words, f is onto if every object in the target has at least one object
In
from InInother
In
In other
the
other words,
domain
other words,
words,
words, fff fis
isisonto
assigned
is onto
onto
onto toif if
ifif it by f.
every
every
every
every object
objectin
object
object ininthe
in the
the target
thetarget
targethas
target has atatleast
hasat
has at least
least one
leastone
one object
oneobject
object
object
from
from the
fromthe
from domain
thedomain
the assigned
domainassigned
domain assignedto
assigned to
totoitit by
ititby f .
bybyff..f.
Examples. Below is the graph of f 1W —> 1W where f(x) = z2. Using
2
Examples.
Examples.
techniques
Examples.
Examples. learnedBelow
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is the
isthe
thethe graph
graph
graphof
chapter
graph of
of offff f::: R
“Intro RR
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where wefff(x)
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techniques learned
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ofofff fis [0,
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andand[0,[0, ⇥)
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⇥)oo)⇤= ⇤
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6 ⇤=$R R so f
sosoff fis
R1Wso is not
isisnot
not onto.
notonto.
onto.
onto.

BelowBelowis the graph

is the of gof g1W R 1W where
graph 1W where
—~ g(x)
gQr)= = x3.x3.The function
Ally g hasline
horizontal thethat
3
—~

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* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Onto *
*** **** **** **** *** **** 67**** **** **** *** * *** * *** * *** *
Suppose f : A B is —~ a*function. 67 We call f onto if the range of
91
67
67
f equals
67
B
In other words, f is onto if every object in the target has at least one object
from the domain assigned to it by f.
What an inverse function is
Suppose f : A ! B is a function. A function g : B ! A is called the
inverse function of f if f g = id and g f = id.
If g is the inverse function of f , then we often rename g as f 1 .

Examples.

• Let f : R ! R be the function defined by f (x) = x + 3, and let

g : R ! R be the function defined by g(x) = x 3. Then

f g(x) = f (g(x)) = f (x 3) = (x 3) + 3 = x

Because f g(x) = x and id(x) = x, these are the same function. In symbols,
f g = id.
Similarly

g f (x) = g(f (x)) = g(x + 3) = (x + 3) 3=x

so g f = id. Therefore, g is the inverse function of f , so we can rename g

1
as f , which means that f 1 (x) = x 3.

• Let f : R ! R be the function defined by f (x) = 2x + 2, and let

g : R ! R be the function defined by g(x) = 12 x 1. Then

⇣1 ⌘ ⇣1 ⌘
f g(x) = f (g(x)) = f x 1 =2 x 1 +2=x
2 2

Similarly

1⇣ ⌘
g f (x) = g(f (x)) = g(2x + 2) = 2x + 2 1=x
2

Therefore, g is the inverse function of f , which means that f 1

(x) = 12 x 1.
92
The Inverse of an inverse is the original
If f 1 is the inverse of f , then f 1 f = id and f f 1 = id. We can see
from the definition of inverse functions above, that f is the inverse of f 1 .
That is (f 1 ) 1 = f .

Inverse functions “reverse the assignment”

The definition of an inverse function is given above, but the essence of an
inverse function is that it reverses the assignment dictated by the original
function. If f assigns a to b, then f 1 will assign b to a. Here’s why:
If f (a) = b, then we can apply f 1 to both sides of the equation to obtain
the new equation f 1 (f (a)) = f 1 (b). The left side of the previous equation
involves function composition, f 1 (f (a)) = f 1 f (a), and f 1 f = id, so
we are left with f 1 (b) = id(a) = a.
The above paragraph can be summarized as “If f (a) = b, then f 1 (b) = a.”

Examples.

1
• If f (3) = 4, then 3 = f (4).

1
• If f ( 2) = 16, then 2=f (16).

1
• If f (x + 7) = 1, then x + 7 = f ( 1).

1
• If f (0) = 4, then 0 = f ( 4).

1
• If f (x2 3x + 5) = 3, then x2 3x + 5 = f (3).

In the 5 examples above, we “erased” a function from the left side of the
equation by applying its inverse function to the right side of the equation.

When a function has an inverse

A function has an inverse exactly when it is both one-to-one and onto.
This will be explained in more detail during lecture.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
93
Using inverse functions
Inverse functions are useful in that they allow you to “undo” a function.
Below are some rather abstract (though important) examples. As the semes-
ter continues, we’ll see some more concrete examples.

Examples.
• Suppose there is an object in the domain of a function f , and that
this object is named a. Suppose that you know f (a) = 15.
If f has an inverse function, f 1 , and you happen to know that f 1 (15) = 3,
then you can solve for a as follows: f (a) = 15 implies that a = f 1 (15). Thus,
a = 3.
• If b is an object of the domain of g, g has an inverse, g(b) = 6, and
1
g (6) = 2, then
b = g 1 (6) = 2
1
• Suppose f (x + 3) = 2. If f has an inverse, and f (2) = 7, then
1
x+3=f (2) = 7
so
x=7 3=4

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Graph of an inverse

If f is an invertible function (that means if f has an inverse function), and
if you know what the graph of f looks like, then you can draw the graph of
f 1.
If (a, b) is a point in the graph of f (x), then f (a) = b. Hence, f 1 (b) = a.
That means f 1 assigns b to a, so (b, a) is a point in the graph of f 1 (x).
Geometrically, if you switch all the first and second coordinates of points
in R2 , the result is to flip R2 over the “x = y line”.

94
 New How points in graph of f(x) visual effect
New
function
New How points
Howbecome in
in graph
points points
graphof of
of ff(x)
new graph
(x) visual
visual effect
e↵ect
function
function become points of new graph
become points of new graph

f’(x) (a, b) (b, a) flip over the “x = y line”

ff 11(x)
(x) (a, b) ⇥
⇤ (b, a)
(a, b) 7! (b, a) flip
flip over
over the
the “x
“x =
= yy line”
line”

Example.
Example.
Example.

(3, s),
c(z)

(s, 3’)

(a,-a)

(-3~.-5)

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
71
95
How to find an inverse
If you know that f is an invertible function, and you have an equation for
f (x), then you can find the equation for f 1 in three steps.
Step 1 is to replace f (x) with the letter y.
Step 2 is to use algebra to solve for x.
Step 3 is to replace x with f 1 (y).
After using these three steps, you’ll have an equation for the function
f 1 (y).

Examples.
• Find the inverse of f (x) = x + 5.

Step 1. y =x+5

Step 2. x=y 5
1
Step 3. f (y) = y 5
2x
• Find the inverse of g(x) = x 1.

2x
Step 1. y= x 1

y
Step 2. x= y 2

y
Step 3. g 1 (y) = y 2

Make sure that you are comfortable with the algebra required to carry out
step 2 in the above problem. You will be expected to perform similar algebra
on future exams.
You should also be able to check that g g 1 = id and that g 1 g = id.

96
 Exercises
In #1-6, g is an invertible function.

1.) If g(2) = 3, what is g 1 (3)?

2.) If g(7) = 2, what is g 1 ( 2)?

3.) If g( 10) = 5, what is g 1 (5)?

4.) If g 1 (6) = 8, what is g(8)?

5.) If g 1 (0) = 9, what is g(9)?

6.) If g 1 (4) = 13, what is g(13)?

For #7-12, solve for x. Use that f is an invertible function and that
1
f (1) = 2
1
f (2) = 3
1
f (3) = 2
1
f (4) = 5
1
f (5) = 7
1
f (6) = 8
1
f (7) = 3
1
f (8) = 1
1
f (9) = 4
1
Remember that you can “erase” f by applying f to the other side of the
equation.

7.) f (x + 2) = 5 8.) f (3x 4) = 3 9.) f ( 5x) = 1

10.) f ( 2 x) = 2 11.) f ( x1 ) = 8 12.) f ( x 5 1 ) = 3

97
 Each
Eachofof
Each the
ofthe functions
thefunctions
functionsgivengiven
giveninin #13-18
#13-18isis
in#13-18 invertible.
isinvertible. Find
invertible. Find the
Findthe equations
theequations for
equationsfor
for
their
their inverse
inverse
Each of
their inverse functions.
functions.
the functions given in #13-18 is invertible. Find the equations for
functions.
their inverse functions.
13.)
13.)fff(x)
13.) (x)
(x)== =3x 3x
3x++ +222
14.) g(x)13.) f(z) = 3x + 2
14.) g(x)==
14.)g(x) = xxx++ +555
15.) h(x)14.)=1g(z)
1
1
= —x + 5
15.) h(x) =
15.) h(x) =x x x

16.) 15.) h(z)

xx
16.)fff(x)
(x)
(x)==
—

16.) =xxx1x11 2J

2x+3
17.)
17.) g(x)
g(x)==
17.)g(x)
2x+3
= 2x+3
xxx
2x+3
18.) 17.)= g(x)
h(x) xxx = x
18.)
18.)h(x)
h(x)==444xxx
18.)h(x)=~
19.)
19.) Below
Belowisis
19.)Below the
isthe graph
thegraph offff: ::RR
graphofof R!⇥ (0, ⇤).
(0,1).
⇥(0, Does
Doesfffhave
⇤).Does have an
havean inverse?
aninverse?
inverse?
19.) Below is the graph of f R —÷ [0, oo). Does f have an inverse?

20.)
20.) Below
Belowisis
20.)Below the
isthe graph
graphofof
thegraph ofggg: ::(0,
(0, ⇤)
(0,1)
⇤)!⇥ R.
⇥R. Does
Doesggghave
R.Does have an
havean inverse?
aninverse?
inverse?
20.) Below is the graph of g : [0, oo) —÷ 1W. Does g have an inverse?

9874
74

74
 111
21.) Below
21.) 21.)
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21.) are
are the
Below
Below aregraphs
the
are graphs of
of ff(x)
the graphs
the graphs (x) and
and fand
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are the coordinates
the coordinates
11
of the
of the points
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the points
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ongraph of
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are
the graphs
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graphsg(x) and
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