One-to-One Functions;

Inverse Function
 x 1
Example: Verify that the function g(x) =
is the inverse of f(x) = 2x 1. 2

( f ( x) 1) (( 2 x 1) 1) 2x
g( f(x)) = = = =x
2 2 2

f(g(x)) = 2g(x) 1 = 2( x 1 ) 1 = (x + 1) 1 = x
2
It follows that g = f -1.

2
A function f is one-to-one if for each x in the
domain of f there is exactly one y in the range and
no y in the range is the image of more than one x
in the domain.

A function is not one-to-one if two different

elements in the domain correspond to the same
element in the range.
 Inverse Functions
Given a function f(x), its inverse function f-1(x) is
1
defined if ( f f )( x) x .
Note that f-1 is not the same as the reciprocal of f(x)!
x
Ex: Show that f(x) = 2x 6 and g ( x ) 3
are inverse functions. 2

x 2x
66 x
f(g(x)) = 2 3 6
2 2
Since f(g(x)) = x, the two functions are inverses.
 Inverse Functions
Properties of an inverse function:
Its domain will be the range of f(x)
Its range will be the domain of f(x)
1 1
( f f )( x) ( f f )( x) x

If point (a, b) lies in f, then point (b, a) lies in f-1

The graphs of a function and its inverse are symmetric
about the line y = x
 x1 y1 x1 y1
x2 y2 x2
x3
x3
y3
Domain Range y3
Domain
Range
One-to-one
function NOT One-to-one
function
x1 y1

y2
x3
y3 Not a
Domain Range
function
M: Mother Function is NOT one-one
Joe
Samantha Laura
Anna Julie
Ian Hilary
Chelsea Barbara
George Sue

Humans Mothers
S: Social Security function IS one-one

Joe 123456789
Samantha 223456789
Anna 333456789
Ian 433456789
Chelsea 533456789
George 633456789

Americans SSN
Is the function f below one one?

1 10

2 11

3 12

4 13

5 14

6 15

7 16
Theorem Horizontal Line Test

If horizontal lines intersect the

graph of a function f in at most
one point, then f is one-to-one.
Use the graph to determine whether
the function f ( x ) 2 x 5 x 1
2

is one-to-one.

Not one-to-one.
Use the graph to determine whether the
function is one-to-one.

One-to-one.
The inverse of a one-one function is
obtained by switching the role of x
and y
Every function y = f (x) has an inverse relation x = f (y).

Function y = |x| + 1 Inverse relation x = |y| + 1

x y x y
2 2
1 3 1 3
0 2 0 2
-1 1 -1 1
-2 -2
Domain Range Range Domain
The ordered pairs of :
y = |x| + 1 are {(-2, 3), (-1, 2), (0, 1), (1, 2), (2, 3)}.
x = |y| + 1 are {(3, -2), (2, -1), (1, 0), (2, 1), (3, 2)}.
The inverse relation is not a function. It pairs 2 to both -1 and +1.
14
 1
S The inverse of the social security function

123456789 Joe

223456789 Samantha

333456789 Anna

433456789 Ian

533456789 Chelsea

633456789 George

SSN Americans
 1
Let f ( x) x and g ( x ) x
3 3

Find ( f g )( x) and ( g f )( x)
g is the inverse of f.

1
1
f ( x) x 3
Let f denote a one-to-one function y = f(x).
The inverse of f, denoted by f -1 , is a .
function such that f -1(f( x )) = x for every x
in the domain of f and f(f -1(x))=x for every x
in the domain of f -1.
Domain of f Range of f
f

1
f

1 1
Range of f Domain of f
1
Domain of f Range of f
1
Range of f Domain of f
Theorem

The graph of a function f and the

1
graph of its inverse f are symmetric
with respect to the line y = x.
 6 f y=x

4
1
(0, 2)
f
2

(2, 0)
2 0 2 4 6

2
Finding the inverse of a 1-1 function
Step1: Write the equation in the form y f (x)

Step2: Interchange x and y.

Step 3: Solve for y.

Step 4: Write f 1 ( x) for y.

 5
Find the inverse of f ( x)
x3
5
Step1: y
x3
5
Step2: Interchange x and y x
y 3

Step 3: Solve for y

 1 5 3x
f ( x)
x
Find the Inverse of each function.
State whether the inverse function is a function or not.

1. f= (4,5), (-1,4), (0,1)

2. f= (5,5), (1,1), (-3,7)
3. f= (0,-1),(2,5),(-5,1),(-4,5)
4. f=(3,4),(0,1),(-2,-1)
Find the inverse of each function.
1. f(x)=4x-6
2. f(x)=2x-4
3. f(x)=x
4. 2x 5y = 10
5. f(x)=3x-6
Show that f and g are inverse functions of
each other by f o g and g o f.

1. f(x)= 3x; g(x)= x/3

2. f(x)= x-3; g(x)= 3+x
3. f(x)= x+2; g(x)= x-2
4. f(x)= 2-3x; g(x)= (2-x)/3
The graphs of a relation and its inverse are reflections
in the line y = x.
Example: Find the graph of the inverse relation
geometrically from the graph of f (x) = ( x 3
2)
4
The ordered pairs of f are 3 y y=x
( x 2)
given by the equation y .
4 2
The ordered pairs of the inverse are
( y 3
2) . x
given by x -2 2
4
-2
( y 2)
3
( x 3 2)
x y
4 4
30