Understanding Inverse Functions
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Inverse Functions
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsInverse function
Once we have seen the composite function, we are going to study the function as well.
inverse. Since we have mentioned it earlier in the properties of functions
composed.
On this occasion, we will study the process to obtain the inverse function, in addition to seeing
some of the most important examples of inverse functions and how they are represented.
DEFINITION:
The inverse function of a function f is called a new function whose domain
it is the image of the initial function, and its image is the domain of the initial function.
That is, if the function g is the inverse function of f, then it holds that if f(b) = a,
then g(a)=b.
PROPERTIES
The first property matches the one we had seen earlier in the function.
composed. If we perform the inverse function of a composition of functions, we obtain
the composition of their inverses by permuting the order of the composition:
2. If we take the inverse of the inverse of a function, we obtain the initial function.
3. The composition of a function and its inverse gives us the identity function.
4. The inverse function does not always exist.
5. If a function is continuous, so is its inverse and vice versa, if the inverse is
the initial function will also be differentiable.
6. Likewise, if a function is differentiable, its inverse is also differentiable, and vice versa.
GRAPH OF AN INVERSE FUNCTION
The graph of a function f, and that of its inverse g, are symmetrical with respect to the bisector of the
first and third quadrant, that is, the line y = x, as we can see in the following
image:
Therefore, if M(b,a) is a point of f, then we know that M´(a,b) will be a point of g.
Then the slopes of the tangents at M and at M' are inverses. That is, if the
If the slope of the tangent at M is m, then the slope of the tangent at M' will be 1/m.
Observation: Remember that the inverse function is not the same as the inverse of a
function.
The most well-known and important example of inverse functions is the exponential function and
the logarithmic function. And as we can see, its graphical representations are
symmetric with respect to the bisector of the first and third quadrants:
STEPS TO CALCULATE THE INVERSE FUNCTION
To calculate the inverse function of a given one, we must follow certain steps:
1st. We make a variable change, swapping y and x, and vice versa. Remember that
y = f(x).
2nd. Once we have changed the variables, we need to isolate the variable y in
function of x.
The final result is the inverse function we have sought.
Finally, we are going to do some examples in which we will follow the steps (that are
few and short) to obtain the inverse function in each case:
Example 1: Find the inverse function of f(x)=3x+5.
We will follow the previously described steps, first of all we will take into account
Let f(x)=y, therefore we will start our steps from the following function: y=3x+5.
1st. We make the change, obtaining: x=3y+5.
2nd. We solve for y in terms of x: 3y=x-5; y=(x-5)/3.
3rd. Therefore, the inverse function is y=(x-5)/3.