Inverse Functions (2)

Starter
Answer these questions on functions if: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=2 𝑥 − 10

a) Find f-1(x) b) Find the value of x if 4f(x) = f-1(x)

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=2 𝑥 − 10 (x 2 then – 10) 4 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝑓 − 1 (𝑥 )

Replace f(x)

𝑥+10 𝑥 +10 and f-1(x)

𝑓 −1
( 𝑥 )= (+ 10 then ÷ 2) 4 ( 2 𝑥 − 10 ) =¿ 2
2 Expand the
𝑥 +10 bracket
8 𝑥 − 40=¿ 2
Multiply by 2
Checking
−1 𝑥+10
( 𝑥 )=
16𝑥 −80=¿ 𝑥+10
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=2 𝑥 − 10 𝑓
2
Subtract x,
Add 80
𝑓 ( 6 ) =2(6)−10 6+10
15 𝑥=¿9 0
𝑓 −1 ( 6 ) = Divide by 15
2 𝑥=¿6
𝑓 ( 6 ) =2
𝑓 −1 ( 6 ) =8
 Inverse Functions (2)
• Today we will be continuing our work on
inverse functions

• We will be seeing how to rearrange more

complicated ones

• This relies on you being able to manipulate

equations (ie – know how to move terms
from one side to another!)
 Inverse Functions (2)
5
Find the inverse function if: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= +1
𝑥
Input 5 ÷ input +1 Output

5 ÷ i?put -1 Output

It is hard to think about what the

opposite of ‘5 ÷ input’ is

 We need to approach functions

like this differently…
 Inverse Functions (2)
5
Find the inverse function if: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= +1
𝑥
 Write the function as ‘ y = ‘, and then rearrange it to make x the subject…

5
𝑦= +1
𝑥
Subtract 1
5
𝑦 −1=
𝑥
Multiply by x

𝑥( 𝑦 − 1)=5
Divide by (y – 1)
5
𝑥=
( 𝑦 −1)
Finally, rewrite the function as f -1(x), and use x instead of y

−1 5
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
(𝑥 −1)
 Inverse Functions (2)
5 −1 5
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= +1 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
𝑥 (𝑥 −1)
 Remember, the inverse function is the opposite, ie) it will undo the operations
performed by the first
 Lets substitute 0.5 into the first function…

5 −1 5
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= +1 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
𝑥 (𝑥 −1)
Sub in x = 0.5 Sub in x = 11
5 −1 5
𝑓 ( 0.5 ) = +1 𝑓 ( 11 )=
0.5 (11 −1)
Calculate
(5 ÷ 0.5 = 10!) Calculate
5
𝑓 ( 0.5 ) =11 𝑓 −1 ( 11 )=
10
Simplify

𝑓 −1 ( 11 )=0.5
As you can see, the second equation undoes the first!
 Inverse Functions (2)
6
Find the inverse function if: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
3 𝑥−2
 Write the function as ‘ y = ‘, and then rearrange it to make x the subject…
6
𝑦=
3 𝑥 −2 Multiply by
(3x – 2)
𝑦 (3 𝑥 − 2)=6
Expand the
bracket Finally, rewrite the function as f -1(x), and
3 𝑥𝑦 − 2 𝑦=6 use x instead of y
Add 2y
−1 6+ 2 𝑥  
𝑓 ( 𝑥)=
3 𝑥𝑦=6 +2 𝑦 3𝑥
Divide by 3y
6+2 𝑦  
𝑥=
3𝑦
 Inverse Functions (2)
6
Find the inverse function if: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= Another method
3 𝑥−2
 Write the function as ‘ y = ‘, and then rearrange it to make x the subject…
6
𝑦= 6
+2  
3 𝑥 −2 Multiply by
𝑦
(3x – 2) 𝑥=
𝑦 (3 𝑥 − 2)=6 3 Multiply each part of the fraction
by y
Divide by y
6 6+2 𝑦    Note that this is different to
3 𝑥 −2= 𝑥= ‘multiplying each side by y’
𝑦 3𝑦
Add 2
6
3 𝑥= + 2
𝑦 Finally, rewrite the function as f -1(x), and
Divide
6 by 3
use x instead of y
+2  
𝑦 6+ 2 𝑥  
𝑥= 𝑓
−1
( 𝑥)=
3 3𝑥
This is correct, but it is a bit of a mess!
 We can ‘tidy it up though – remember if you multiply
a fraction all by the same thing, it remains equivalent
 Inverse Functions (2)
3 𝑥 +2
Try to find the inverse function if: 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =
2 𝑥 −5
HINT: You will need to ‘factorise’ at some point to isolate the x term…

3 𝑥+2
𝑦=
2𝑥−5 Multiply by
(2x - 5)
𝑦 ( 2 𝑥 −5 )=3 𝑥+2
Expand the Finally, rewrite the function as f-1(x),
bracket and use x instead of y
2 𝑥𝑦 −5 𝑦=3 𝑥 +2
Add 5y and
−1 5 𝑥+2  
Subtract 3x 𝑓 ( 𝑥)=
2 𝑥𝑦 − 3 𝑥=5 𝑦+2 Factorise x out on
2𝑥−3
the left side
𝑥(2 𝑦 − 3)=5 𝑦 +2
Divide by (2y – 3)
5 𝑦 +2  
𝑥=
2 𝑦 −3
 Summary
• We have recapped our knowledge of
inverse functions

• We have reminded ourselves how to ‘change

the subject’ of an equation or formula

• We have then seen how we can use this to

find the inverse of a more difficult
function!