As stated in the previous lesson, when changing from a function to its

inverse the inputs and outputs of the original function are switched. This
is because when we find an inverse function, we are taking some original
function and solving for its input 𝑥𝑥; so what used to be the input becomes
the output, and when used to be the output becomes the input. This means
the domain of some original function 𝑓𝑓 is the range of its inverse function
𝑓𝑓 −1 . This also means that the range of the original function 𝑓𝑓 is the
domain of its inverse function 𝑓𝑓 −1 .

In this lesson we will review how to find an inverse function (which we

covered in Lesson 27), and we will also review how to find the domain of
a function (which we covered in Lesson 18). In addition to those two
topics which we’ve already covered in previous lessons, we’ll also find the
range of a function algebraically, either by finding the inverse of the
function and using its domain, or by making an input/output table.

Remember from Lesson 18 there are two ways the domain of a function
can be restricted. One way is to have a function that is defined by a
fraction, and the other is two have a function that is defined by a square
root.

When a function is defined by a fraction, the denominator of that

fraction cannot be equal to zero
1
- if 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥+2, then the denominator 𝑥𝑥 + 2 ≠ 0, so 𝑥𝑥 ≠ −2;
therefore the domain of 𝑓𝑓 is (−∞, −2) ∪ (−2, ∞)
- this means the range of 𝑓𝑓 −1 will also be (−∞, −2) ∪ (−2, ∞),
because the domain of an original function 𝑓𝑓 is the range of its
inverse function 𝑓𝑓 −1

Since the domain of a function is the range of its inverse, and the range of
a function is the domain of its inverse, one way to find the range of an
original function is to find its inverse function, and the find the domain of
its inverse. We’ll see examples of this on the next page.
Example 1: List the domain and range of each of the following functions.
Then find the inverse function and list its domain and range.
1 2
a. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥+2 b. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = − 1−𝑥𝑥
b.

Domain of 𝒇𝒇: Domain of 𝒇𝒇:

Range of 𝒇𝒇: Range of 𝒇𝒇:

1
𝑓𝑓 = 𝑥𝑥+2

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 + 2) = 1

𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑓𝑓 = 1

𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 1 − 2𝑓𝑓

1−2𝑓𝑓
𝑥𝑥 = 𝑓𝑓

1−2𝑥𝑥
𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥

𝟏𝟏−𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐
𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙
𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) =

Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

 2−𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥+5
c. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥+1 d. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 7−2𝑥𝑥

𝑥𝑥 + 1 ≠ 0
𝑥𝑥 ≠ −1
Domain of 𝒇𝒇: Domain of 𝒇𝒇:
(−∞, −𝟏𝟏) ∪ (−𝟏𝟏, ∞)
Range of 𝒇𝒇: Range of 𝒇𝒇:
2−𝑥𝑥
𝑓𝑓 = 𝑥𝑥+1

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 + 1) = 2 − 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑓𝑓 = 2 − 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 = 2 − 𝑓𝑓
𝑥𝑥(𝑓𝑓 + 1) = 2 − 𝑓𝑓
2−𝑓𝑓
𝑥𝑥 = 𝑓𝑓+1
2−𝑥𝑥
𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝑥𝑥+1 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) =

𝑥𝑥 + 1 ≠ 0
𝑥𝑥 ≠ −1
Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :
(−∞, −𝟏𝟏) ∪ (−𝟏𝟏, ∞)
Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

2−𝑥𝑥
The function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥+1 is a special case where the function and its
inverse are identical.
Another way that the domain of a function could be restricted is by having
a function that is defined by a radical with an even root, such as a square
root.
When a function is defined by a square root, the radicand of that
square root cannot be negative
- if 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 − 5, then the radicand 𝑥𝑥 − 5 ≥ 0, so 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 5; therefore
the domain of 𝑓𝑓 is [5, ∞)
- this means the range of 𝑓𝑓 −1 will also be [5, ∞)
As we’ll see on the next example, sometimes finding the inverse function
does nothing to help us determine its domain, or the range of the original
function.
Example 2: List the domain and range of each of the following functions.
Then find the inverse function and list its domain and range.
a. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 − 5 ; this function is defined by a square root,
so the radicand must be non-negative
𝑥𝑥 − 5 ≥ 0
𝑥𝑥 ≥ 5
Domain of 𝒇𝒇: [𝟓𝟓, ∞) Range of 𝒇𝒇:

𝑓𝑓 = √𝑥𝑥 − 5
𝑓𝑓 2 = 𝑥𝑥 − 5
𝑓𝑓 2 + 5 = 𝑥𝑥
𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟓𝟓 ; in this case the inverse function is quadratic, so
it doesn’t help us in determining the domain of 𝑓𝑓 −1 or the range of 𝑓𝑓.
Therefore we’ll need to find those using some other method.

Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : [𝟓𝟓, ∞)

(remember that the domain of 𝑓𝑓 is the range of 𝑓𝑓 −1 )
Since finding the inverse function didn’t help us in determining the range
of the function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 − 5, I will try using an input/output table to
determine the range of 𝑓𝑓 and the domain of its inverse..
The domain The outputs
of the
Inputs Outputs for the
function 𝑓𝑓 function 𝑓𝑓
is [5, ∞), 𝑥𝑥 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 − 5 start at 0
so that is (𝑓𝑓(5) = 0)
why I 5 𝑓𝑓 (5) = √5 − 5 = √0 = 0 and
started at proceeded
𝑥𝑥 = 5 and 6 𝑓𝑓 (6) = √6 − 5 = √1 = 1 to get larger
proceeded and larger
to plug in from there.
larger and
7 𝑓𝑓 (7) = √7 − 5 = √2 So that
larger means the
𝑥𝑥-values 8 𝑓𝑓 (8) = √8 − 5 = √3 range of 𝑓𝑓 is
from there. [0, ∞). This
Since 𝑓𝑓 is 9 𝑓𝑓 (9) = √9 − 5 = √4 = 2 makes sense
defined by because a
a square 14 𝑓𝑓(14) = √14 − 5 = √9 = 3 square root
root, some should
inputs don’t produce
produce
21 𝑓𝑓 (21) = √21 − 5 = √16 = 4 only non-
nice negative
outputs. 30 𝑓𝑓 (30) = √30 − 5 = √25 = 5 outputs.

This input/output table shows that as I plug in 𝑥𝑥-values (inputs) from the
domain, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, …, I get function values (outputs) that start at 0
and get larger and larger (1, 2, 3, 4, … ). So range of 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 − 5 is
[0, ∞). That means the domain of 𝑓𝑓 −1 is also [0, ∞).

𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) = √𝒙𝒙 − 𝟓𝟓 Domain of 𝒇𝒇: [𝟓𝟓, ∞) Range of 𝒇𝒇: [𝟎𝟎, ∞)

𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟓𝟓 Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : [𝟎𝟎, ∞) Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : [𝟓𝟓, ∞)

As shown in this example, the inverse of a square root function is a

quadratic function. And since the domain of a quadratic function is
usually unrestricted, we had to use another method to find its domain and
the range of the original function.
 b. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = −√3 − 𝑥𝑥 c. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 1 − √1 + 𝑥𝑥
c.

Domain of 𝒇𝒇: Domain of 𝒇𝒇:

Range of 𝒇𝒇: Range of 𝒇𝒇:

𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) =

Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

 4−𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥+2
d. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 5 + � 3
e. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 3 − � 5
e.

Domain of 𝒇𝒇: Domain of 𝒇𝒇:

Range of 𝒇𝒇: Range of 𝒇𝒇:

𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) =

Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

Ways to find the range of a function (or the domain of its inverse):
1. find the inverse of the function, and then find the domain of the
inverse (this is what we did on Example 1)
a. I will use this method anytime the original function is rational
(defined by a fraction) or quadratic
2. use an input/output table (this is what we did in Example 2)
a. I will ONLY use this method when the original function is
defined by a square root
There are other options as well such as graphing which you’re welcome to use.

Remember that one-to-one functions and their inverses never change

direction, they are either ALWAYS increasing or ALWAYS decreasing.
This is why using an input/output table is a good option, because once you
determine whether the outputs are increasing or decreasing, they will
ALWAYS continue to move in that direction.
The input/output table on
Inputs Outputs the left is from part c. of
Example 2. It shows
𝑥𝑥 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 1 − √1 + 𝑥𝑥 some inputs and outputs
for the function
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 1 − √1 + 𝑥𝑥.
−1 𝑓𝑓(−1) = 1 − �1 + (−1) = 1 Notice that when the
smallest input of the
0 𝑓𝑓(0) = 1 − √1 + 0 = 0 function (−1) is plugged
into the function, we get
1 𝑓𝑓(1) = 1 − √1 + 1 = 1 − √2 the largest output (1).
From there the inputs get
2 𝑓𝑓(2) = 1 − √1 + 2 = 1 − √3 larger (0, 1, 2, 3, … ) and
the outputs get smaller
3 𝑓𝑓 (3) = 1 − √1 + 3 = −1 �0, −√2, −√3, −1, −2, … �
. This input/output table
demonstrates that one-to-
8 𝑓𝑓 (8) = 1 − √1 + 8 = −2 one functions, such as
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 1 − √1 + 𝑥𝑥 , are
15 𝑓𝑓 (15) = 1 − √1 + 15 = −3 either decreasing (like 𝑓𝑓 )
or always increasing, but
24 𝑓𝑓 (24) = 1 − √1 + 24 = −4 they never change
direction.
Remember that when changing from a function to its inverse, the
inputs and outputs of the original function are switched. This means
the following are true:
- the domain of a function is the range of its inverse
- the range of a function is the domain of its inverse

Also keep in mind that ONLY one-to-one functions have an inverse. So a

function such as 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = ±√𝑥𝑥 + 2 would not have an inverse (and could
not be an inverse) because it is not one-to-one (𝑓𝑓 (7) = 3 and − 3). So to
make it a one-to-one function, we need to restrict it to either
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 + 2 or 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = −√𝑥𝑥 + 2. We will see how to determine
which restriction to go with in the next example.

Example 3: List the domain and range of each of the following functions.
Then find the inverse function and list its domain and range.
a. 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥 ) = 5 − 𝑥𝑥 2 ; 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 0 b. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 3; 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 0
b.
Domain of 𝒇𝒇: Domain of 𝒇𝒇:

Range of 𝒇𝒇: Range of 𝒇𝒇:

𝑓𝑓 = 5 − 𝑥𝑥 2

𝑥𝑥 2 = 5 − 𝑓𝑓

𝑥𝑥 = ±�5 − 𝑓𝑓 ; at this point we need to determine whether to keep the + sign or

the – sign (keeping both means this would not be a one-to-one function). Since we
were given that 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 5 − 𝑥𝑥 2 ; 𝒙𝒙 ≥ 𝟎𝟎, that means we will keep the + sign.
𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) =

Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

 c. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 3(𝑥𝑥 − 2)2 + 4; 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 2 d. 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥 ) = −(𝑥𝑥 + 5)2 − 2; 𝑥𝑥 ≥ −5
d.
Domain of 𝒇𝒇: Domain of 𝒇𝒇:

Range of 𝒇𝒇: Range of 𝒇𝒇:

𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) = 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 (𝒙𝒙) =

Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Domain of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 : Range of 𝒇𝒇−𝟏𝟏 :

Answers to Exercises:
1a. 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, −2) ∪ (−2, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞); 𝑓𝑓 −1(𝑥𝑥) = 1−2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
, 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, −2) ∪ (−2, ∞)

1b. 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 1) ∪ (1, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞); 𝑓𝑓 −1(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥+2
𝑥𝑥
, 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 1) ∪ (1, ∞)
2−𝑥𝑥
1c. 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, −1) ∪ (−1, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, −1) ∪ (−1, ∞); 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥) = , 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, −1) ∪ (−1, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, −1) ∪ (−1, ∞)
−1
𝑥𝑥+1
7 7 1 1 7𝑥𝑥−5 1 1 7 7
1d. 𝐷𝐷: �−∞, � ∪ � , ∞� , 𝑅𝑅: �−∞, − � ∪ �− , ∞� ; 𝑓𝑓 (𝑥𝑥) = , 𝐷𝐷: �−∞, − � ∪ �− , ∞� , 𝑅𝑅: �−∞, � ∪ � , ∞�
2 2 2 2
−1
1+2𝑥𝑥 2 2 2 2

2a. 𝐷𝐷: [5, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: [0, ∞); 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 5, 𝐷𝐷: [0, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: [5, ∞)
2b. 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 3], 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 0]; 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 3 − 𝑥𝑥 2 , 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 0], 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 3]
2c. 𝐷𝐷: [−1, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 1]; 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥) = (𝑥𝑥 − 1)2 − 1, 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 1], 𝑅𝑅: [−1, ∞)
2d. 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 4], 𝑅𝑅: [5, ∞); 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥) = −3(𝑥𝑥 − 5)2 + 4, 𝐷𝐷: [5, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 4]
2e. 𝐷𝐷: [2, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 3]; 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥) = 5(𝑥𝑥 − 3)2 + 2, 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 3], 𝑅𝑅: [2, ∞)
3a. 𝐷𝐷: [0, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 5]; 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = √5 − 𝑥𝑥, 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 5], 𝑅𝑅: [0, ∞)
3b. 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 0], 𝑅𝑅: [3, ∞); 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = √𝑥𝑥 − 3, 𝐷𝐷: [3, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 0]
𝑥𝑥−4
3c. 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, 2], 𝑅𝑅: [4, ∞); 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥 ) = 2 − � 3
, 𝐷𝐷: [4, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, 2]
3d. 𝐷𝐷: [−5, ∞), 𝑅𝑅: (−∞, −2]; 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥) = −5 + √−𝑥𝑥 − 2, 𝐷𝐷: (−∞, −2], 𝑅𝑅: [−5, ∞)