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Section 1.9 Inverse Functions 93

1.9 Inverse Functions

What you should learn
• Find inverse functions infor-
Inverse Functions
mally and verify that two Recall from Section 1.4, that a function can be represented by a set of ordered
functions are inverse functions pairs. For instance, the function f
x  x  4 from the set A  1, 2, 3, 4 to the
of each other. set B  5, 6, 7, 8 can be written as follows.
• Use graphs of functions to
determine whether functions f
x  x  4: 
1, 5,
2, 6,
3, 7,
4, 8
have inverse functions.
In this case, by interchanging the first and second coordinates of each of these
• Use the Horizontal Line Test
ordered pairs, you can form the inverse function of f, which is denoted by f
1.
to determine if functions are
one-to-one.
It is a function from the set B to the set A, and can be written as follows.
• Find inverse functions alge- f
1
x  x
4: 
5, 1,
6, 2,
7, 3,
8, 4
braically.
Note that the domain of f is equal to the range of f
1, and vice versa, as shown in
Why you should learn it Figure 1.92. Also note that the functions f and f
1 have the effect of “undoing”
Inverse functions can be used each other. In other words, when you form the composition of f with f
1 or the
to model and solve real-life composition of f
1 with f, you obtain the identity function.
problems. For instance, in f
f
1
x  f
x
4 
x
4  4  x
Exercise 80 on page 101, an
inverse function can be used f
1
f
x  f
1
x  4 
x  4
4  x
to determine the year in which
there was a given dollar amount
of sales of digital cameras in the f (x) = x + 4
United States. Domain of f Range of f

x f(x)

Range of f −1 Domain of f −1
−1
f (x) = x − 4

FIGURE 1.92

Example 1 Finding Inverse Functions Informally

© Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Find the inverse function of f(x)  4x. Then verify that both f
f
1
x and
f
1
f
x are equal to the identity function.
Solution
The function f multiplies each input by 4. To “undo” this function, you need to
divide each input by 4. So, the inverse function of f
x  4x is
x
f
1
x  .
4
You can verify that both f
f
1
x  x and f
1
f
x  x as follows.

 4   4 4   x
x x 4x
f
f
1
x  f f
1
f
x  f
1
4x  x
4
Now try Exercise 1.
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94 Chapter 1 Functions and Their Graphs

Exploration Definition of Inverse Function

Consider the functions given by Let f and g be two functions such that

f
x  x  2 f
g
x  x for every x in the domain of g

and and

f
1
x  x
2. g
f
x  x for every x in the domain of f.

Evaluate f
f
1
x and Under these conditions, the function g is the inverse function of the func-
f
1
f
x for the indicated tion f. The function g is denoted by f
1 (read “f -inverse”). So,
values of x. What can you f
f
1
x  x and f
1
f
x  x.
conclude about the functions?
The domain of f must be equal to the range of f
1, and the range of f must
be equal to the domain of f
1.
x
10 0 7 45
f
f
1
x
Don’t be confused by the use of
1 to denote the inverse function f
1. In this
f
1
f
x text, whenever f
1 is written, it always refers to the inverse function of the func-
tion f and not to the reciprocal of f
x.
If the function g is the inverse function of the function f, it must also be true
that the function f is the inverse function of the function g. For this reason, you
can say that the functions f and g are inverse functions of each other.

Example 2 Verifying Inverse Functions

Additional Examples 5
Which of the functions is the inverse function of f
x  ?
Determine whether the two functions x
2
are inverse functions of each other. x
2 5
1 g
x  h
x  2
a. f
x  3x
2, g
x  x  2 5 x
3
1 Solution
b. f
x  x
3, g
x  12  4x
4 By forming the composition of f with g, you have
1
c. f
x  2x  4, g
x  x
2
Solution
2
f
g
x  f x
5 2
The functions in parts (b) and (c) are
5 x
2
inverse functions of each other because  Substitute for x.
x
2
 
5
f
g
x  x and g
f
x  x.

2
The functions in part (a) are not inverse 5
functions of each other.
25
  x.
x
12
Because this composition is not equal to the identity function x, it follows that g
is not the inverse function of f. By forming the composition of f with h, you have

 x  2 
5 5 5
f
h
x  f   x.
  
5 5
2
2
x x
So, it appears that h is the inverse function of f. You can confirm this by showing
that the composition of h with f is also equal to the identity function.
Now try Exercise 5.
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Section 1.9 Inverse Functions 95

y y=x The Graph of an Inverse Function

The graphs of a function f and its inverse function f
1 are related to each other
y = f (x) in the following way. If the point
a, b lies on the graph of f, then the point
b, a
must lie on the graph of f
1, and vice versa. This means that the graph of f
1 is
a reflection of the graph of f in the line y  x, as shown in Figure 1.93.
(a, b)
−1
y=f (x)
Example 3 Finding Inverse Functions Graphically
(b, a)
Sketch the graphs of the inverse functions f
x  2x
3 and f
1
x  2
x  3
1

on the same rectangular coordinate system and show that the graphs are reflec-
x
tions of each other in the line y  x.
FIGURE 1.93
Solution
f −1(x) = 1 (x + 3) f (x ) = 2 x − 3 The graphs of f and f
1 are shown in Figure 1.94. It appears that the graphs are
2
reflections of each other in the line y  x. You can further verify this reflective
y
property by testing a few points on each graph. Note in the following list that if
6 the point
a, b is on the graph of f, the point
b, a is on the graph of f
1.
(1, 2)
Graph of f
x  2x
3 Graph of f
1
x  2
x  3
1

(−1, 1) (3, 3)

1,
5

5,
1

(−3, 0) (2, 1)
x
0,
3

3, 0
−6 6
(1, −1)
(−5, −1)
1,
1

1, 1
y=x (0, −3)

2, 1
1, 2
(−1, −5)

3, 3
3, 3
FIGURE 1.94 Now try Exercise 15.

Example 4 Finding Inverse Functions Graphically

Sketch the graphs of the inverse functions f
x  x 2
x ≥ 0 and f
1
x  x on

the same rectangular coordinate system and show that the graphs are reflections
of each other in the line y  x.
Solution
y The graphs of f and f
1 are shown in Figure 1.95. It appears that the graphs are
reflections of each other in the line y  x. You can further verify this reflective
9 (3, 9)
property by testing a few points on each graph. Note in the following list that if
8 f (x) = x 2 the point
a, b is on the graph of f, the point
b, a is on the graph of f
1.
7
6 Graph of f
x  x 2, x≥0 Graph of f
1
x  x
y=x
5
0, 0
0, 0
(2, 4)
4
(9, 3)
1, 1
1, 1
3 (4, 2)
2
2, 4
4, 2
1
(1, 1) f −1(x) = x
3, 9
9, 3
x
(0, 0) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Try showing that f
f
1
x  x and f
1
f
x  x.
FIGURE 1.95 Now try Exercise 17.
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96 Chapter 1 Functions and Their Graphs

One-to-One Functions
The reflective property of the graphs of inverse functions gives you a nice
geometric test for determining whether a function has an inverse function. This
test is called the Horizontal Line Test for inverse functions.

Horizontal Line Test for Inverse Functions

A function f has an inverse function if and only if no horizontal line
intersects the graph of f at more than one point.

If no horizontal line intersects the graph of f at more than one point, then no
y-value is matched with more than one x-value. This is the essential characteristic
of what are called one-to-one functions.

One-to-One Functions
A function f is one-to-one if each value of the dependent variable corre-
sponds to exactly one value of the independent variable. A function f has an
inverse function if and only if f is one-to-one.

Consider the function given by f
x  x2. The table on the left is a table of
values for f
x  x2. The table of values on the right is made up by interchang-
ing the columns of the first table. The table on the right does not represent a func-
tion because the input x  4 is matched with two different outputs: y 
2 and
y y  2. So, f
x  x2 is not one-to-one and does not have an inverse function.
3
x f
x  x2 x y

1

2 4 4
2
x
1 1 1
1
−3 −2 −1 2 3
0 0 0 0
−2 f (x) = x3 − 1 1 1 1 1
−3
2 4 4 2
FIGURE 1.96
3 9 9 3
y

3 Example 5 Applying the Horizontal Line Test

2
a. The graph of the function given by f
x  x 3
1 is shown in Figure 1.96.
Because no horizontal line intersects the graph of f at more than one point,
x you can conclude that f is a one-to-one function and does have an inverse
−3 −2 2 3
function.
−2 f (x) = x 2 − 1 b. The graph of the function given by f
x  x 2
1 is shown in Figure 1.97.
−3
Because it is possible to find a horizontal line that intersects the graph of f at
more than one point, you can conclude that f is not a one-to-one function and
FIGURE 1.97 does not have an inverse function.
Now try Exercise 29.
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Section 1.9 Inverse Functions 97

Finding Inverse Functions Algebraically

For simple functions (such as the one in Example 1), you can find inverse func-
Note what happens when you try tions by inspection. For more complicated functions, however, it is best to use the
to find the inverse function of a following guidelines. The key step in these guidelines is Step 3—interchanging
function that is not one-to-one. the roles of x and y. This step corresponds to the fact that inverse functions have
Original ordered pairs with the coordinates reversed.
f
x  x2  1 function
Replace f(x)
y  x2  1 by y. Finding an Inverse Function
Interchange x 1. Use the Horizontal Line Test to decide whether f has an inverse function.
x  y2  1 and y.
2. In the equation for f
x, replace f
x by y.
Isolate
x
1  y2 y-term. 3. Interchange the roles of x and y, and solve for y.
y  ± x
1 Solve for y. 4. Replace y by f
1
x in the new equation.
You obtain two y-values for 5. Verify that f and f
1 are inverse functions of each other by showing that
each x. the domain of f is equal to the range of f
1, the range of f is equal to the
domain of f
1, and f
f
1
x  x and f
1
f
x  x.

Example 6 Finding an Inverse Function Algebraically

y
Find the inverse function of
6 f (x) = 5 − 3x 5
3x
2 f
x  .
4 2
Solution
The graph of f is a line, as shown in Figure 1.98. This graph passes the Horizontal
x
−6 −4 −2 4 6 Line Test. So, you know that f is one-to-one and has an inverse function.
−2
5
3x
f
x  Write original function.
−4 2
−6 5
3x
y Replace f
x by y.
2
FIGURE 1.98
5
3y
x Interchange x and y.
2
2x  5
3y Multiply each side by 2.

3y  5
2x Isolate the y-term.

Exploration 5
2x
y Solve for y.
3
Restrict the domain of
5
2x
f
x  x2  1 to x ≥ 0. Use f
1
x  Replace y by f
1
x.
a graphing utility to graph the 3
function. Does the restricted Note that both f and f
1 have domains and ranges that consist of the entire set of
function have an inverse func- real numbers. Check that f
f
1
x  x and f
1
f
x  x.
tion? Explain.
Now try Exercise 55.
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98 Chapter 1 Functions and Their Graphs

Example 7 Finding an Inverse Function

Find the inverse function of

f
x  
3 x  1.

Solution
y The graph of f is a curve, as shown in Figure 1.99. Because this graph passes the
3
Horizontal Line Test, you know that f is one-to-one and has an inverse function.
f (x ) = 3 x + 1 f
x  
3 x  1 Write original function.
2
y 
3
x1 Replace f
x by y.

x
x
3 y  1 Interchange x and y.
−3 −2 1 2 3
−1
x3  y  1 Cube each side.

−2
x3
1  y Solve for y.

−3
x 3
1  f
1
x Replace y by f
1
x.

Both f and f
1 have domains and ranges that consist of the entire set of real
FIGURE 1.99 numbers. You can verify this result numerically as shown in the tables below.

Activities
x f
x x f
1
x
1. Given f
x  5x
7, find f
1
x.
28
3
3
28
x7
Answer: f
1
x 
9
2
2
9
5
2. Show that f and g are inverse func-
2
1
1
2
tions of each other by showing that
f
g
x  x and g
f
x  x.
1 0 0
1
f
x  3x 3  1
0 1 1 0
g
x  
x
1
3
3 7 2 2 7
3. Describe the graphs of functions that
have inverse functions and show how
26 3 3 26
the graphs of a function and its
inverse function are related. Now try Exercise 61.

W RITING ABOUT MATHEMATICS

The Existence of an Inverse Function Write a short paragraph For instance, if you know that the sales tax is $0.12, can
describing why the following functions do or do not have you determine exactly what the retail price is?)
inverse functions. b. Let x represent the temperature in degrees Celsius, and
a. Let x represent the retail price of an item (in dollars), and let f
x represent the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
let f
x represent the sales tax on the item. Assume that Does this function have an inverse function? (Hint: The
the sales tax is 6% of the retail price and that the sales tax formula for converting from degrees Celsius to degrees
is rounded to the nearest cent. Does this function have Fahrenheit is F  95 C  32.)
an inverse function? (Hint: Can you undo this function?
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Section 1.9 Inverse Functions 99

1.9 Exercises
VOCABULARY CHECK: Fill in the blanks.
1. If the composite functions f
g
x  x and g
f
x  x then the function g is the ________ function of f.
2. The domain of f is the ________ of f
1, and the ________ of f
1 is the range of f.
3. The graphs of f and f
1 are reflections of each other in the line ________.
4. A function f is ________ if each value of the dependent variable corresponds to exactly one value of the
independent variable.
5. A graphical test for the existence of an inverse function of f is called the _______ Line Test.
PREREQUISITE SKILLS REVIEW: Practice and review algebra skills needed for this section at www.Eduspace.com.

In Exercises 1– 8, find the inverse function of f informally. 11. y 12. y

Verify that f f
1x  x and f
1f x  x. 3
4
1. f
x  6x 2. f
x  1
3x 3
2
1
3. f
x  x  9 4. f
x  x
4
2 x
x
1 −3 −2 1 2 3
5. f
x  3x  1 6. f
x  1
5
x
7. f
x  
3x
8. f
x  x 5 1 2 3 4 −3

In Exercises 9–12, match the graph of the function with the

In Exercises 13–24, show that f and g are inverse functions
graph of its inverse function. [The graphs of the inverse
(a) algebraically and (b) graphically.
functions are labeled (a), (b), (c), and (d).]
x
(a) y (b) y 13. f
x  2x, g
x 
2
4 6
5
14. f
x  x
5, g
x  x  5
3 4 x
1
3
15. f
x  7x  1, g
x 
2 7
2
1 3
x
1 16. f
x  3
4x, g
x 
x x 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6
x3
17. f
x  , g
x  
3 8x

(c) y (d) y 8
1 1
4 3 18. f
x  , g
x 
3 2 x x
2 1 19. f
x  x
4, g
x  x 2  4, x ≥ 0
x
1
−3 −2 1 2 3
20. f
x  1
x , 3 g
x  
3
1
x
x
−1 1 2 3 21. f
x  9
x 2, x ≥ 0, g
x  9
x, x ≤ 9
−2
−2 −3 1 1
x
22. f
x  , x ≥ 0, g
x  , 0< x ≤ 1
1x x
9. y 10. y
x
1 5x  1
23. f
x  , g
x 

4 6 x5 x
1
3 5
x3 2x  3
2 4 24. f
x  , g
x 
3 x
2 x
1
1
x 2
−2 −1 1 2 3 4 1
x
1 2 3 4 5 6
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100 Chapter 1 Functions and Their Graphs

In Exercises 25 and 26, does the function have an inverse In Exercises 39–54, (a) find the inverse function of f,
function? (b) graph both f and f
1 on the same set of coordinate axes,
(c) describe the relationship between the graphs of f and
25.
x
1 0 1 2 3 4 f
1, and (d) state the domain and range of f and f
1.
f
x
2 1 2 1
2
6 39. f
x  2x
3 40. f
x  3x  1
41. f
x  x5
2 42. f
x  x 3  1
26. 43. f
x  x 44. f
x  x 2, x ≥ 0
x
3
2
1 0 2 3
45. f
x  4
x 2, 0 ≤ x ≤ 2
f
x 10 6 4 1
3
10
46. f
x  x 2
2, x ≤ 0
4 2
In Exercises 27 and 28, use the table of values for y  f x 47. f
x  48. f
x 

x x
to complete a table for y  f
1x .
x1 x
3
49. f
x  50. f
x 
27. x
2 x2
x
2
1 0 1 2 3
51. f
x  
3 x
1 52. f
x  x 3 5
f
x
2 0 2 4 6 8
6x  4 8x
4
53. f
x  54. f
x 
4x  5 2x  6
28.
x
3
2
1 0 1 2
In Exercises 55–68, determine whether the function has an
f
x
10
7
4
1 2 5
inverse function. If it does, find the inverse function.
1
In Exercises 29–32, does the function have an inverse 55. f
x  x4 56. f
x 
x2
function?
x
29. y 30. y 57. g
x  58. f
x  3x  5
8
6 6 3x  4
59. p
x 
4 60. f
x 
4 5
2 2 61. f
x 
x  32, x ≥
3 62. q
x 
x
52
x  3, x< 0
x, x ≤ 0
x x 63. f
x  64. f
x 
2 4 6 −4 −2 2 4 6
x, x ≥ 0 x2
3x, x> 0
−2 −2
4
65. h
x 
66. f
x  x
2 , x≤2
x2
31. y 32. y
y y

2 4 1 4
x
2 −1 1 2
x 1
−2 2 x −2 x
2 4 6 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6
−2 −2 −2
−3
−4

In Exercises 33–38, use a graphing utility to graph the func-

tion, and use the Horizontal Line Test to determine whether 67. f
x  2x  3 68. f
x  x
2
the function is one-to-one and so has an inverse function. y y

4
x 4 4
33. g
x  34. f
x  10
6 3 3
2 2
35. h
x  x  4
x
4
1 1
36. g
x 
x  53 x x
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
37. f
x 
2x16
x2
−2 −2
38. f
x  8
x  22
1
1
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Section 1.9 Inverse Functions 101

In Exercises 69–74, use the functions given by 80. Digital Camera Sales The factory sales f (in millions of
f x  18 x
3 and gx  x 3 to find the indicated value or dollars) of digital cameras in the United States from 1998
function. through 2003 are shown in the table. The time (in years) is
given by t, with t  8 corresponding to 1998. (Source:
69.
f
1 g
1
1 70.
g
1  f
1

3
Consumer Electronincs Association)
71.
f
1  f
1 
6 72.
g
1 g
1

4
73. ( f  g)
1 74. g
1  f
1
Year, t Sales, f
t
In Exercises 75–78, use the functions given by f x  x  4
and gx  2x
5 to find the specified function. 8 519
75. g
1  f
1 76. f
1  g
1 9 1209
10 1825
77.
f  g
1
78.
g  f 
1
11 1972
12 2794
Model It 13 3421

79. U.S. Households The numbers of households f (in (a) Does f
1 exist?
thousands) in the United States from 1995 to 2003 are
shown in the table. The time (in years) is given by t, (b) If f
1 exists, what does it represent in the context of the
with t  5 corresponding to 1995. (Source: U.S. problem?
Census Bureau) (c) If f
1 exists, find f
1
1825.
(d) If the table was extended to 2004 and if the factory
sales of digital cameras for that year was $2794
Year, t Households, f t million, would f
1 exist? Explain.
5 98,990 81. Miles Traveled The total numbers f (in billions)
of miles traveled by motor vehicles in the United States
6 99,627
from 1995 through 2002 are shown in the table. The time
7 101,018 (in years) is given by t, with t  5 corresponding to 1995.
8 102,528 (Source: U.S. Federal Highway Administration)
9 103,874
10 104,705
11 108,209 Year, t Miles traveled, f t
12 109,297 5 2423
13 111,278 6 2486
7 2562
(a) Find f
1
108,209. 8 2632
(b) What does f
1 mean in the context of the problem? 9 2691
(c) Use the regression feature of a graphing utility to 10 2747
find a linear model for the data, y  mx  b. 11 2797
(Round m and b to two decimal places.) 12 2856
(d) Algebraically find the inverse function of the linear
model in part (c). (a) Does f
1 exist?
(e) Use the inverse function of the linear model you (b) If f
1 exists, what does it mean in the context of the
found in part (d) to approximate f
1
117, 022. problem?
(f) Use the inverse function of the linear model you (c) If f
1 exists, find f
1
2632.
found in part (d) to approximate f
1
108,209. How
(d) If the table was extended to 2003 and if the total
does this value compare with the original data
number of miles traveled by motor vehicles for that
shown in the table?
year was 2747 billion, would f
1 exist? Explain.
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102 Chapter 1 Functions and Their Graphs

82. Hourly Wage Your wage is $8.00 per hour plus $0.75 for In Exercises 89– 92, use the graph of the function f to create
each unit produced per hour. So, your hourly wage y in a table of values for the given points. Then create a second
terms of the number of units produced is table that can be used to find f
1, and sketch the graph of
f
1 if possible.
y  8  0.75x.
89. y 90. y
(a) Find the inverse function.
8
(b) What does each variable represent in the inverse 4
6
function? 2 f
4 f x
(c) Determine the number of units produced when your
2 −4 −2 2 4
hourly wage is $22.25.
83. Diesel Mechanics The function given by x
2 4 6 8
y  0.03x 2  245.50, 0 < x < 100
91. y 92. y
approximates the exhaust temperature y in degrees f
Fahrenheit, where x is the percent load for a diesel engine.
4
(a) Find the inverse function. What does each variable f
represent in the inverse function? x
x −4 −2 4
−2 4 6 −2
(b) Use a graphing utility to graph the inverse function.
−4
(c) The exhaust temperature of the engine must not exceed −4
500 degrees Fahrenheit. What is the percent load
interval? 93. Think About It The function given by
84. Cost You need a total of 50 pounds of two types of f
x  k
2
x
x 3
ground beef costing $1.25 and $1.60 per pound,
respectively. A model for the total cost y of the two types has an inverse function, and f
1(3) 
2. Find k.
of beef is 94. Think About It The function given by
y  1.25x  1.60
50
x f
x  k
x3  3x
4
where x is the number of pounds of the less expensive has an inverse function, and f
1(
5)  2. Find k.
ground beef.
(a) Find the inverse function of the cost function. What Skills Review
does each variable represent in the inverse function?
(b) Use the context of the problem to determine the In Exercises 95–102, solve the equation using any
domain of the inverse function. convenient method.
(c) Determine the number of pounds of the less expensive 95. x 2  64
ground beef purchased when the total cost is $73. 96.
x
52  8
97. 4x 2
12x  9  0
Synthesis
98. 9x 2  12x  3  0
True or False? In Exercises 85 and 86, determine whether 99. x 2
6x  4  0
the statement is true or false. Justify your answer. 100. 2x 2
4x
6  0
85. If f is an even function, f
1 exists. 101. 50  5x  3x 2
86. If the inverse function of f exists and the graph of f has a 102. 2x 2  4x
9  2
x
12
y-intercept, the y-intercept of f is an x-intercept of f
1.
103. Find two consecutive positive even integers whose
87. Proof Prove that if f and g are one-to-one functions, then product is 288.

f  g
1
x 
g
1  f
1
x. 104. Geometry A triangular sign has a height that is twice its
88. Proof Prove that if f is a one-to-one odd function, then base. The area of the sign is 10 square feet. Find the base
f
1 is an odd function. and height of the sign.