One-to-One Functions; Inverse Function

A function f is one-to-one if for each x in the domain of f there is exactly one y in the range and no y in the range is the image of more than one x in the domain.

A function is not one-to-one if two different elements in the domain correspond to the same element in the range.

x1

y1 y2
Range

x1 x2 x3
Domain

x2 x3
Domain

y1

y3

y3
Range

One-to-one function x1 x3
Domain

NOT One-to-one function y1 y2 y3

Range

Not a function

M: Mother Function is NOT one-one

Joe Samantha Anna Ian Chelsea George Laura Julie Hilary Barbara

Sue

Humans

Mothers

S: Social Security function IS one-one

Joe Samantha Anna Ian Chelsea George 123456789 223456789 333456789 433456789 533456789

633456789

Americans

SSN

Is the function f below one one?

1
2 3

10
11 12

4
5 6 7

13
14 15 16

Theorem Horizontal Line Test If horizontal lines intersect the graph of a function f in at most one point, then f is one-to-one.

Use the graph to determine whether 2 the function f ( x ) 2 x 5x 1 is one-to-one.

Not one-to-one.

Use the graph to determine whether the is one-to-one. function

One-to-one.

The inverse of a one-one function is obtained by switching the role of x and y

The inverse of the social security function

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Joe

Samantha
Anna Ian Chelsea George

SSN

Americans

Let f ( x) x and g ( x) x
3

Find ( f g )(x)

and ( g f )(x)

g is the inverse of f.

f ( x) x

1 3

Let f denote a one-to-one function y = f(x). . The inverse of f, denoted by f -1 , is a function such that f -1(f( x )) = x for every x in the domain of f and f(f -1(x))=x for every x in the domain of f -1.

Domain of f

Range of f

f
Range of f
1

Domain of f
1 1

Domain of f Range of f Range of f Domain of f

Theorem The graph of a function f and the 1 graph of its inverse f are symmetric with respect to the line y = x.

6 4

y=x

(0, 2)
2

f
(2, 0)

2 2

Finding the inverse of a 1-1 function

Step1: Write the equation in the form y f (x)
Step2: Interchange x and y. Step 3: Solve for y.

Step 4: Write f 1 ( x) for y.

Find the inverse of

Step1:

5 f ( x) x 3

5 y x 3
5 x y 3

Step2: Interchange x and y

Step 3: Solve for y

5 3x f ( x) x
1