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  1. Home
  2. 12th grade
  3. Precalculus
  4. Exercise : Find the inverse of a function

Find the inverse of a function Precalculus

Find the inverse g of the following functions:

For x≥0, f\left(x\right)=3x^{2}-4

In order to find the inverse of a function f, set f\left(x\right)=y and solve the equation for x. The unique solution of the equation x=g\left(y\right) is the expression of the inverse of the function f.

In the problem:

f\left(x\right)=y

3x^{2}-4=y

Solve this equation for x :

3x^{2}=y+4

x^{2}=\dfrac{y+4}{3}

The equation has a solution if and only if:

\dfrac{y+4}{3}\geqslant0

Which is equivalent to:

y\geqslant-4

If y\geqslant-4, then the solution of the equation is:

x=\sqrt{\dfrac{y+4}{3}} or x=-\sqrt{\dfrac{y+4}{3}}

Since x\geqslant0, we can conclude that:

x=\sqrt{\dfrac{y+4}{3}}

We can conclude that the inverse of the function f is:

g\left(y\right)=\sqrt{\dfrac{y+4}{3}}, where y\geqslant-4

Replacing y with x leads to:

g\left(x\right)=\sqrt{\dfrac{x+4}{3}}, where x\geqslant-4

g is defined for x≥-4, and g\left(x\right)=\sqrt{\dfrac{x+4}{3}}.

For x≥3, f\left(x\right)=2\sqrt{x-3}+7

In order to find the inverse of a function f, set f\left(x\right)=y and solve the equation for x. The unique solution of the equation x=g\left(y\right) is the expression of the inverse of the function f.

In our problem:

f\left(x\right)=y

2\sqrt{x-3}+7=y

Solve this equation for x :

2\sqrt{x-3}=y-7

\sqrt{x-3}=\dfrac{y-7}{2}

The equation has a solution if and only if:

\dfrac{y-7}{2}\geqslant0

Which is equivalent to:

y\geqslant7

If y\geqslant7, then the solution of the equation is:

x-3=\left( \dfrac{y-7}{2} \right)^{2}

which is equivalent to:

x=\left( \dfrac{y-7}{2} \right)^{2}+3

We can conclude that the inverse of the function f is:

g\left(y\right)=\left( \dfrac{y-7}{2} \right)^{2}+3 where y\geqslant7

Replacing y with x leads to:

g\left(x\right)=\left( \dfrac{x-7}{2} \right)^{2}+3 where x\geqslant7

g is defined for x≥7, and g\left(x\right)=\left( \dfrac{x-7}{2} \right)^{2}+3.

For x \gt 8, f\left(x\right)=3\log_5\left(x-8\right)+1

In order to find the inverse of a function f, set f\left(x\right)=y and solve the equation for x. The unique solution of the equation x=g\left(y\right) is the expression of the inverse of the function f.

In our problem:

f\left(x\right)=y

3\log_5\left(x-8\right)+1=y

Solve this equation for x :

3\log_5\left(x-8\right)=y-1

\log_5\left(x-8\right)=\dfrac{y-1}{3}

x-8=5^{\frac{y-1}{3}}

x=5^{\frac{y-1}{3}}+8

We can conclude that the inverse of the function f is:

g\left(y\right)=5^{\frac{y-1}{3}}+8 where y\in\mathbb{R}

Replacing y with x leads to:

g\left(x\right)=5^{\frac{x-1}{3}}+8 where x\in\mathbb{R}.

g is defined for x\in\mathbb{R}, and g\left(x\right)=5^{\frac{x-1}{3}}+8.

For x\in \mathbb{R}, f\left(x\right)=4e^{3x}-9

In order to find the inverse of a function f, set f\left(x\right)=y and solve the equation for x. The unique solution of the equation x=g\left(y\right) is the expression of the inverse of the function f.

In our problem:

f\left(x\right)=y

4e^{3x}-9=y

Solve this equation for x :

4e^{3x}=y+9

e^{3x}=\dfrac{y+9}{4}

The equation has a solution if and only if:

\dfrac{y+9}{4}\geqslant0

Which is equivalent to:

y\geqslant-9

If y\geqslant-9, then the solution of the equation is:

3x=\ln\left(\dfrac{y+9}{4}\right)

x=\dfrac{1}{3}\ln\left(\dfrac{y+9}{4}\right)

We can conclude that the inverse of the function f is:

g\left(y\right)=\dfrac{1}{3}\ln\left(\dfrac{y+9}{4}\right), where y\geqslant-9

Replacing y with x leads to:

g\left(x\right)=\dfrac{1}{3}\ln\left(\dfrac{x+9}{4}\right), where x\geqslant-9.

g is defined for x\geqslant-9, and g\left(x\right)=\dfrac{1}{3}\ln\left(\dfrac{x+9}{4}\right).

For x\neq-3, f\left(x\right)=\dfrac{2x-4}{x+3}

In order to find the inverse of a function f, set f\left(x\right)=y and solve the equation for x. The unique solution of the equation x=g\left(y\right) is the expression of the inverse of the function f.

In our problem:

f\left(x\right)=y

\dfrac{2x-4}{x+3}=y

Solve this equation for x :

2x-4=\left(x+3\right)y

2x-4=xy+3y

2x-xy=3y+4

x\left(2-y\right)=3y+4

The equation has a solution if and only if:

2-y\neq0

Which is equivalent to:

y\neq2

If y\neq2, then the solution of the equation is:

x=\dfrac{3y+4}{2-y}

We can conclude that the inverse of the function f is:

g\left(y\right)=\dfrac{3y+4}{2-y} where y\neq2

Replacing y with x leads to:

g\left(x\right)=\dfrac{3x+4}{2-x} where x\neq2.

g is defined for x\neq2, and g\left(x\right)=\dfrac{3x+4}{2-x}.

For x\in\mathbb{R}, f\left(x\right)=5x^{3}+9

In order to find the inverse of a function f, set f\left(x\right)=y and solve the equation for x. The unique solution of the equation x=g\left(y\right) is the expression of the inverse of the function f.

In our problem:

f\left(x\right)=y

5x^{3}+9=y

Solve this equation for x :

5x^{3}=y-9

x^{3}=\dfrac{y-9}{5}

x=\sqrt[3]{\frac{y-9}{5}}

We can conclude that the inverse of the function f is:

g\left(y\right)=\sqrt[3]{\frac{y-9}{5}} where y\in\mathbb{R}

Replacing y with x leads to:

g\left(x\right)=\sqrt[3]{\frac{x-9}{5}} where x\in\mathbb{R}.

g is defined for x\in\mathbb{R}, and g\left(x\right)=\sqrt[3]{\frac{x-9}{5}}.

For x\in\mathbb{R}, f\left(x\right)=4\sqrt[5]{2x+3}-7

In order to find the inverse of a function f, set f\left(x\right)=y and solve the equation for x. The unique solution of the equation x=g\left(y\right) is the expression of the inverse of the function f.

In our problem:

f\left(x\right)=y

4\sqrt[5]{2x+3}-7=y

Solve this equation for x :

4\sqrt[5]{2x+3}=y+7

\sqrt[5]{2x+3}=\dfrac{y+7}{4}

2x+3=\left( \dfrac{y+7}{4} \right)^{5}

2x=\left( \dfrac{y+7}{4} \right)^{5}-3

x=\dfrac{1}{2}\left[ \left( \dfrac{y+7}{4} \right)^{5}-3 \right]

We can conclude that the inverse of the function f is:

g\left(y\right)=\dfrac{1}{2}\left[ \left( \dfrac{y+7}{4} \right)^{5}-3 \right] where y\in\mathbb{R}

Replacing y with x leads to:

g\left(x\right)=\dfrac{1}{2}\left[ \left( \dfrac{x+7}{4} \right)^{5}-3 \right] where x\in\mathbb{R}.

g is defined for x\in\mathbb{R}, and g\left(y\right)=\dfrac{1}{2}\left[ \left( \dfrac{y+7}{4} \right)^{5}-3 \right].

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See also
  • Course : Relations and functions
  • Exercise : Determine cartesian coordinates of points of the plan
  • Exercise : Determine the domain and range of a function defined by a graph
  • Exercise : Add and subtract functions defined by equations
  • Exercise : Calculate the average rate of change of a function between two points using the equation of the function
  • Exercise : Find the x- and y- intercept of a function defined by a graph
  • Exercise : Compose two functions
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