CHAPTER 1

INVERSE FUNCTION AND COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS

Learning Objectives:
- Explain the requirement and procedure to construct inverse function
- Determine the inverse function
- Explain the requirement and procedure to construct composite function
- Determine the composite functions
- Solve contextual problems related to composite functions and inverse functions

To make furniture such as of tables and

chairs, a furniture entrepreneur must
know how much it costs to make tables
and chairs until they are finished so that
costs are not excessive. Entrepreneurs
must plan and calculate one by one, they
are costs at the manufacturing stage and
costs at the finishing stage. In
mathematics, the costs of each stage can be expressed in a cost function so that the total cost is
a function of the composition of each stage.
A. Definition of Functions
Before we discuss further about function, we need to know the basic difference between a
relation and a function. A relation is when a single input may have multiple outputs. Whereas
in a function, each input has a single output. The table given below highlights the differences
between relations and functions.

Suppose A and B be sets. The function from A to B is a rule that pairs each member of set A
(input/ domain) with exactly one member of set B (output/ codomain).
Symbolically written as , read as : function maps each member of set A with exactly
one member of set B.

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If maps an element to , it is said that is a map of by the function and this
map is expressed with the notation and is called a domain of , and is also called the
range, with so it can be written as: , read as : function maps to , such that

A function can be presented in the form of an arrow diagram, a set of ordered pairs, a Cartesian
diagram (graph), and a symbol (function formula).
The Vertical Line Test :
The vertical line test can be used to determine whether a graph represents a function. A
vertical line includes all points with a particular -value. If we can draw any vertical line that
intersects a graph more than once, then the graph does not define a function because that
value has more than one -value. For each -value in the domain, a function has only one -
value (or function value) in the range. Example :

Example :
1. Consider the following relations, determine which one is a function.

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Solution :
The requirement for a relation to be a function is all members of set P have a single pair with
members of set Q
So the relations that are functions are figure 1, 2, 4 and 6.
2. Given the function and the function formula
a. Calculate the values of
b. Determine the value of that satisfies
c. If the domain of the function is determine the interval of
the range
Solution:
a. Directly substituting into the function, we will get :

b. The value of k that satisfies :

or
c. The range interval of the function with the domain
, is .

3. Given a function . Determine the domain of the function f so it is defined.

Solution :
The requirement is :

So, the domain of the function f is and the range is

Obviously, it is shown in the figure below :

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4. Look at the following figures ?

Solution :
In figure (a) it is seen for it is mapped to y R, for example 3 with 0, 3 with 1, 3 with
2, and so on. x is not exactly paired with one member of y, consequently, relation
is not a function.
In Figure (b) it is seen that each element in the domain is mapped to one and only one element
in the range. For example, 4 with 2; -2 with -1; 0 with 0; 2 by 1; etc. Thus, the relation
is a function.

B. Properties of Functions
1. Surjective Function
A function is called a surjective function or onto function if and only if the range
of the function is equal to the set B or = B.
Example 1:
A: {1, 2, 3, 4}, B: {a, b, c}
The function is expressed in ordered pairs: f = {(1, a), (2,
c), (3, b), (4, c)}.
It can be seen that the range of function is : {a, b, c) and
= B, so function is a surjective function or onto function.

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In other words, we can say that is surjective (or onto), then we must show that every
element in the codomain B is the image of at least one element in the domain A, or
such that .
Example 2 :
Prove that the function defined by is surjective.
Solution :
Let (arbitrary element in the codomain).
We need to find such that

Hence, is surjective.
Since is also real, so .

Therefore, for every , there exists such that

More Info :
The function is called into function if and only if the range of the function is a pure
subset of the set B or
Example:
A: {1, 2, 3, 4}, B: {a, b, c}
Function is expressed in ordered pairs : {(1, a), (2, b),
(3, a), (4, b)}.
It can be seen that the range of the function and
B, then the function is an into function.

2. Injective Function
The function is called an injective function (one-to-one function) if and only if for
each , A and, then
Example:
A: {1,2,3}, B: {a,b,c, d}
is expressed in ordered pairs f: {(1, a), (2, c), (3, b)}.
It is seen that each different member of A has a different map on B.
Function is an injective or one-to-one function.

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Example 2 :
The function f(x) = x2 from the set of real numbers R to R is not an injective function.

f(2) = 4 and f(-2) = 4

This is against the definition , because but
Example 3 :
Prove that the function defined by is injective.
Solution :
Assume :
(subtract 3 from both side)
(divide both sides by 2)
Since that implies , the function is injective.
3. Bijective Function
The function is called a bijective function if and only if the function is a surjective
function and also an injective function.
Example:
A: {1, 2, 3}, B: {a, b, c}
Function , expressed in ordered pairs : {(1, a), (2, c),
(3, b)}.
It can be seen that the function f is both a surjective function and an
injective function.
The function is a bijective or one-to-one correspondence function.

The Horizontal Line Test

Once we have determined that a graph defines a function, an easy way to determine if it is a
one-to-one function is to use the horizontal line test. A horizontal line includes all points with a
particular y-value. If we can draw any horizontal line that intersects the graph more than once,
then the graph does not represent a one-to-one function because that y value is mapped from
more than one x-value
Example :
Determine if the graph represents one-to-one function.

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Solution :

Not one to one function one to one function

C. Algebraic Operation of Functions
and is a function with domain , then the algebraic
operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are expressed as follows :
1. is written and defined as with
domain =
2. The difference is written and defined as with
domain =
3. The product is written and defined as with
domain =

4. The division is written and defined as with domain

= and

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Given that the functions f and g are expressed by and g(x) =
Determine the following functions and domains :
a.
b.
c.

d. ( ( )

Solution :
The domain of the function is

The domain of the function is

a.
The domain of is =

b.
The domain of is =

c.
The domain of is =

d.

The domain of is = and

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Exercise 1
1. Consider the following relations, determine which one is a function.

2. Which graph(s) represent a function?

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3. Find the domain and range of the following functions :
a.
b.

c.

d.

4. Find the range of each of the following functions. All the function are defined for the given
value of .
a.
b. ,
c. ,
5. Given function and .
a. Calculate and
b. Sketch the curve of the function.
c. If the domain of the function is = determine the range
6. Consider the following relation. Which one is a surjective (onto), into, injective, or
bijective function?

7. Pay attention for the followings :

(i)

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 (ii) (iii)

(iv) with
(v) with
(vi) with
Classify the properties of each function. Explain your answers clearly.
8. Check whether each function below is bijective by showing your proving clearly :
a. thought of as

b. thought as having a domain of all real numbers not equal to 4 and

codomain of all real numbers

9. Given that the functions f and g are expressed by and g(x) =
Determine the following functions and domains :
a.
b.
c.

d. ( ( )

D. Inverse of Functions
Generally, the inverse of a function can be explained as follows :
Let be a function from A into B and suppose for a A, the map is , where ,
then the inverse of b [expressed by (b)] is the elements in A that have as the map.
, then the inverse function b is:

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