The inverse of a function f (x) is the function that undoes what f (x) has done.
−1
The inverse of the function f (x) is written as f ( x )
+ ̶
f (x)
If f (x) = x + 2 then f −1(x) = x − 2
If f (x) = x − 3 then f −1(x) = x + 3
x y
x ÷
−1 x
If f (x) = 3x then f (x) =
3
f −1(x)
To find the inverse of the function f ( x ) = 2x − 3
y = 2x − 3
Step 1 Write the function as y =
Step 2 Interchange the x and y variables x = 2y − 3
Step 3 Rearrange to make y the subject x + 3 = 2y
x +3
=y
2
−1 x +3
f (x) =
2
3x + 1
To find the inverse of the function f (x) =
2 3x + 1
y=
Step 1 Write the function as y = 2
3y + 1
Step 2 Interchange the x and y variables x=
2
Step 3 Rearrange to make y the subject 2x = 3y + 1
2x − 1= 3y
2x − 1
=y
3
−1 2x − 1
f (x) =
3
To find the inverse of the function f (x) = (x + 2) 3
Step 1: Write the function as y = y = (x + 2)3
Step 2: Interchange the x and y variables x = (y + 2) 3
Step 3: Rearrange to make y the subject 3
x =y +2
3
x −2= y
−1
f (x) = x − 2
3