2. Let f(x) = 11x 181 and let g be the inverse of f. Find g(116).

First, let us begin with a definition.

If f is a function that maps x to y, then an inverse function, g, will be a function that
maps y back to x. To put this definition into notation: if f(x) = y, then g(y) = x.
Lets rewrite the equation as follows: y = 11x 181.
Note that x is our independent variable and y is our dependent variable. For
example, is we set x = 0 and apply our function f, our output y = -181. That is, f(0) =
y = 11*(0) 181 = 0 181 = -181. This function maps our input value, x = 0, to an
output value, y = -181.
Now, our aim with this problem is to generate an inverse function, g, which will take
an input value, y, and generate an output, x. That is, g(y) = x. Notice that y becomes
our independent variable and x is our dependent variable. In terms of the example
of the previous paragraph, our inverse function will map our input value, y = -181, to
an output value, x = 0. Put another way: g(-181) = 0.
Then, to construct this inverse function we should solve our equation y = 11x 181
for x, as follows:
= 11 181
+181 = 11 181 (+181)
+ 181 = 11
!!!"!
!!
!!!"!
!!

Divide both sides by 11

!!!
!!

Rearrange such that x is on the left

!!!"!
!!

Add +181 to both sides

This equation is our inverse function, g. Note that y has become our independent
variable and x our dependent variable. This function, g(y) = (y + 181)/11 maps y
back to x, satisfying our definition. To check this, let y = -181. Does this function give
an x output of 0? That is, does g(-181) = 0? Indeed, it does.
Lastly, we need to evaluate g(116). Our inverse function is () =
116 =

!!" !!"!
!!

!"#
!!

!!!"!
!!

; let y = 116.

= 27

Therefore, g(116) = 27.

Check: Using the original function, f(x) = 11x 181, let x = 27. What will your output
be? f(x) will equal 116! The original function, f, maps x to y (x = 27 maps to y = 116),
and its inverse function, g, maps y back to x (y = 116 maps to x = 27).