Advanced

Functions
INVERSE FUNCTIONS
 Starter
Rearrange the formulae to make the variable in
brackets the subject

T = 3k (k) g=m (m) v = u + at

v (a)
x = y – 1 (y)
t = m² (m) k = 2p² (p)
Q=p (p)
3 C = 2πr (r) g = e + 3f
(f)
A = 4r + 9 P = 2t + 2w (t) 2
(r)
y = x + b (x)
a
 Answers

k=T m = gv a=v–u
3 t
m = √t
y=x+1 p=
r = _C_
p = 3Q 2π f = 2g – e
3
r=A–9 t = P – 2w
4 2 x = a(y – b)
 5 Double 10 ?

3 6
Double 71
Add ?

4 16
Square 14 2
Subtract ?

10 Add13
3 39 by 3
Multiply ?
 ? 4 Double 8

? 6
Double 12Add 1 13

? 6
Square 36
Subtract 2 34

? 23
Add 5 by 3
Multiply 15
 Inverse Functions
An inverse function is the “opposite” of a function. It
“undoes” what a function does

The notation for an inverse function is

Function Inverse

f(x) = x + 4 “add 4” “subtract 4” f-1(x) = x – 4

g(x) = 5x “times 5” “divide by 5”

g-1(x) =

h(x) = 4x + 2 “times 4, add 2” “subtract 2, divide by 4” h-1(x) =

Quickfire Questions
In your head, find the inverse functions, by thinking what the original
functions does, and what the reverse process would therefore be.

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥 +5 𝑓
−1
( 𝑥 ) =𝒙 −𝟓
?
𝒙 +𝟏
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =3 𝑥 −1 𝑓
−1
( 𝑥) = ?
𝟑
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =√ 𝑥 +3 𝑓
−1
?
( 𝑥 ) =( 𝒙 −𝟑 ) 𝟐

1 −1 𝟏
𝑓 (𝑥 )= 𝑓 ( 𝑥) = ?
𝑥 𝒙
Bro Fact: If a function is the same as its inverse, it is known
as self-inverse. is also a self-inverse function.
Example 1 Your Turn 1
Let . Find . Let . Find .
Example 2 Your Turn 2
Let . Find . Let . Find .
 Remember that what we are finding is the new function
that reverses the operations of the first
To show you this, let’s consider a function and its inverse (that we just calculated)
𝑥
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=5 ( 𝑥+1)
−1
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )= −1
5
Lets calculate g(6) The answer is 35. Lets now calculate g-1(35)

𝑥
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=5 ( 𝑥+1) 𝑔
−1
( 𝑥 )= −1
Replace ‘x’ 5
values with Replace ‘x’
𝑔 ( 6 )=5(6 +1) ‘6’ −1 35 values with
𝑔 ( 35 )= −1 ‘35’
Calculate 5
𝑔 ( 6 )=35 Calculate
−1
𝑔 ( 35 )= 6
The inverse function has ‘undone’ the first and we are back at the original value, 6
Example 3 Your Turn 3
Let . Find . Let . Find .
Example 4 Your Turn 4
Let . Find . Let . Find .
Example 5 Your Turn 5
Let . Find . Let . Find .
Example 6 Your Turn 6
Let . Find . Let . Find .
Example 7 Your Turn 7
Let . Find . Let . Find .
Exercise (exercises on provided sheet)

1 Find for the following functions. 3 Find for the following functions.

a ? a ?
b ? b ?
c ?
d ? c ?
e ?
[Edexcel IGCSE Jan2016(R)-3H Q16c] d ?
f
? Find the value of for which is a self
inverse function.
2 Find e ?
If self-inverse:
N For and terms to match, .

?
?
Clumsy Clive