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So How Do We Find The Inverse of A Function?

The document discusses inverse functions and logarithmic functions. It defines an inverse function as the "undo" function of another function, where the inverse takes the output and returns the original input. For a function to have an inverse function, it must be one-to-one. The inverse is found by swapping the x and y values of the ordered pairs. Logarithmic functions are inverse functions of exponential functions, where the logarithm "undoes" the exponential. Common characteristics of logarithmic graphs are that they are asymptotic to the y-axis and increase/decrease depending on the base.

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71 views6 pages

So How Do We Find The Inverse of A Function?

The document discusses inverse functions and logarithmic functions. It defines an inverse function as the "undo" function of another function, where the inverse takes the output and returns the original input. For a function to have an inverse function, it must be one-to-one. The inverse is found by swapping the x and y values of the ordered pairs. Logarithmic functions are inverse functions of exponential functions, where the logarithm "undoes" the exponential. Common characteristics of logarithmic graphs are that they are asymptotic to the y-axis and increase/decrease depending on the base.

Uploaded by

sherryl v flores
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Inverse Function

A function and its inverse function can be described as the


"DO" and the "UNDO" functions. A function takes a starting
value, performs some operation on this value, and creates an
output answer. The inverse function takes the output answer,
performs some operation on it, and arrives back at the
original function's starting value.
This "DO" and "UNDO" process can be stated as a composition of functions. If
functions f and g are inverse functions,
. A function
composed with its inverse function yields the original starting value. Think of them as
"undoing" one another and leaving you right where you started.

So how do we find the inverse of a


function?
Basically speaking, the process of finding an inverse is simply the swapping of
the x and y coordinates. This newly formed inverse will be a relation, but
may not necessarily be a function.
Consider this subtle difference in terminology:
Definition: INVERSE OF A FUNCTION: The relation formed when the
independent variable is exchanged with the dependent variable in a given
relation. (This inverse may NOT be a function.)
Definition: INVERSE FUNCTION: If the above mentioned inverse of a function is
itself a function, it is then called an inverse function.

Remember:

The inverse of a function may not a

The original function must be a one-to-one function to gua


its inverse will also be a function.

Definition: A function is a one-to-one


function if and only if each second element
corresponds to one and only one first
element. (each x and y value is used only once)
Use the horizontal line test to determine
if a function is a one-to-one function.
If ANY horizontal line intersects your original
function in ONLY ONE location, your function
will be a one-to-one function and its inverse
will also be a function.
The function y = 3x + 2, shown at the right, IS a
one-to-one function and its inverse will also be
a function.
(Remember that the vertical line test is used to show
that a relation is a function.)

Definition: The inverse of a function is the set of ordered pairs obtained by


interchanging the first and second elements of each pair in the original function.

Should the inverse of function f (x) also be a function,


this inverse function is denoted by f -1(x).
Note: If the original function is a one-to-one function, the inverse will be a function.
[The notation f -1(x) refers to "inverse function". It does not algebraically mean
1/f (x).]
If a function is composed with its inverse function,
the result is the starting value. Think of it as the
function and the inverse undoing one another when composed.
Consider the simple function f (x) = {(1,2), (3,4), (5,6)}
and its inverse f -1(x) = {(2,1), (4,3), (6,5)}

More specifically:
The answer is the starting value of 2.

"So, how do we find inverses?"


Consider the following three solution
methods:
Swap ordered pairs:

If your function is defined as a list of ordered pairs,


simply swap the x and y values. Remember, the inverse relation will be
a function only if the original function is one-to-one.

Examples:
a. Given function f, find the inverse relation.

Is the inverse relation also a function?

Answer:
Function f is a one-to-one function since the x and y values are used only once. Since
function f is a one-to-one function, the inverse relation is also a function.
Therefore, the inverse function is:

b. Determine the inverse of this function.


x
f (x)

1
2

-2
0

-1
3

0
-1

Is the inverse also a function?


2
3
4
-3
1
-2
5
1

Answer: Swap the x and y variables to create the inverse relation. The inverse relation will
be the set of ordered pairs:
{(2,1), (0,-2), (3,-1), (-1,0), (1,2), (-2,3), (5,4),(1,-3)}
Since function f was not a one-to-one function (the y value of 1 was used twice), the inverse
relation will NOT be a function (because the x value of 1 now gets mapped to two
separate y values which is not possible for functions).

Logarithmic Functions

Let's examine the


function
Check out the table
and the graph.
Remember that x must
be positive.

f (x) = y

1/4
1/2
1
2
3
4

Most logarithmic graphs resemble this same shape.


This graph is very, very close to the y-axis but does not cross
it. The graph increases as it progresses to the right (as seen in
the graph at the right).

In a straight line, the "rate of change" remains the same across the graph. In these graphs, the "rate of
change" increases or decreases across the graphs.

Characteristics: Such logarithmic graphs of the form


characteristics in common:

have certain

graph crosses the x-axis at (1, 0)


when b > 1, the graph increases
when 0 < b < 1, the graph decreases
the domain is all positive real numbers
(never zero)
the range is all real numbers
graph passes the vertical line test - it is a function
graph passes the horizontal line test - its inverse
Logarithmic functions are one-to-one functions.

is also a function.
graph is asymptotic to the y-axis - gets very, very
close to the y-axis but does not touch it or cross it.

Natural Logarithmic Function:


The function defined by
is called the natural logarithmic function.
(e is an irrational number, approximately
2.71828183, named after the 18th century
Swiss mathematician, Leonhard Euler .)
Notice how the characteristics of this graph
are similar to those seen above.
This function is simply a "version" of
where b >1.

While the graph may "appear" to STOP near -4


on the y-axis, it does NOT stop. It continues
extremely close to the y-axis heading to
negative infinity.

Definition
If a is any positive number other than 1, then f(x) = ax, the exponential
function with base a, is one-to-one, and hence has an inverse. For a review
of these concepts, see the section on inverse functions. We can see that f
has an inverse by looking at its graph and noting that it passes the horizontal
line test. In other words, no horizontal line hits the graph of f in more than
one point. Take another look at the applet from the last section that shows
the graphs of exponential functions.
Drag the point that is initially at (1,2) to see graphs of other exponential
functions.
In all cases except when the base is 1, the graph passes the horizontal line
test.

Definition
The logarithmic function with base a, written loga(x), is the inverse of
the exponential function ax.
Recall that the inverse of a function just undoes what the functions did,
and this idea can be expressed through function composition. The fact that
loga(x) is the inverse of ax can be expressed with the following two identities.
logarithmic
identity 1
logarithmic
identity 2

Exponential Function
An exponential function is a mathematical function of the following
form: f ( x ) = a x. where x is a variable, and a is a constant called the base of
the function. The most commonly encountered exponential-function base
is the transcendental number e , which is equal to approximately 2.71828.

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