Pre-Calculus

Inverse Functions

Inverse Functions
Period 1

Learning Outcomes

• Find the domain and the range of a relation.

• Define a function.
• Identify if a relation is a function.
• Identify if a relation is a function using the vertical line test.
• Find the inverse of a relation.
• Define a one to one function.
• Identify if a relation is one to one function.
• Identify if a relation is one to one function using the horizontal line test.

Warm up/Activity/ Guided Practice/

Worked Example

Given the relation 𝑅

𝑥 1 2 3 4 5 6
𝑦 0 3 5 7 2 4

1. Find the domain. Domain is {1,2,3,4,5,6}

2. Find the range. Range is {0,3,5,7,2,4}

3. Is R a function? Justify your answer.

R is a function because each input in the domain has exactly one output in the range.

4. Find the inverse relation of 𝑅 −1.

𝑥 0 3 5 7 2 4
𝑦 1 2 3 4 5 6

5. Find the domain. Domain is {0,3,5,7,2,4}

6. Find the range. Range is {1,2,3,4,5,6}

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7. Is 𝑅 −1 a function? Justify your answer.

𝑅 −1 is a function because each input in the domain has exactly one output in the range.

8. Is 𝑅 one to one? Justify your answer.

𝑅 is one to one because each output in the range has exactly one input in the domain.

Explanation/ Content
• Definition of a relation

A relation is a relationship between sets of values. The relation is between the x-values and
y-values of ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦) where 𝑥 is the independent variable and 𝑦 is the dependent
variable. The set of all 𝑥 -values is called the domain or input, and the set of all 𝑦 -values is
called the range or output.

• Definition of a function

A relation is said to be a function if every element of in the domain has one and only one
image in the range. In other words, no two distinct elements of 𝑦 have the same pre-image
of 𝑥. In easy words, there is no repetition of the x values.

A relation is a function if any vertical line intercepts the graph in one point.

• Definition of a one to one function

A function 𝑓(𝑥) is one-to-one if 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑓(𝑏), then 𝑎 = 𝑏.

A function 𝑓(𝑥) is one-to-one if any horizontal line intercepts the graph in one point.

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Independent practice
Task A

For each given relation R, answer the following

1. Find the domain.

2. Find the range.

3. Is R a function? Justify your answer.

4. Find the inverse relation of 𝑅 −1.

5. Find the domain.

6. Find the range.

7. Is 𝑅 −1 a function? Justify your answer.

8. Is R one to one?

a. {(1, −3), (−2, 3), (1, 1), (6, 4)}

b. {(−1, −3), (−2, 7), (1, 6), (6, 6)}

c. {(9, −3), (4, −2), (1, −1), (0, 0), (1,1), (4,2), (9,3)}

d. e. f.

Task B

Use the vertical line test to determine the given relation is a function.

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Task C

Use the horizontal line test to determine if the given relation is one to one.

Formative Assessment

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Period 2

Learning Outcomes

• Determine if a function is one to one.

• Find the inverse function.
• Graph the inverse function.

Warm up/Activity/ Guided Practice

Given the functions 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 4.

1. Determine if 𝑓(𝑥) is one to one.

You may show that 𝑓(𝑥) is one to one function algebraically or graphically.

Algebra method

Start with 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑓(𝑏) to prove 𝑎 = 𝑏.

2𝑎 − 4 = 2𝑏 − 4  2𝑎 = 2𝑏  𝑎 = 𝑏. Since 𝑓(𝑥) is one to one, then it has an inverse.

Graph method

Since the function is linear, then its graph is a line which will pass the horizontal line test,
and consequently it is invertible because it is one to one function.

2. Find, 𝑓 −1 (𝑥), the inverse function of 𝑓(𝑥).

Solve the equation for x, and then interchange x and y.

𝒚+𝟒 𝒙+𝟒 𝒙+𝟒
𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟒  𝟐𝒙 = 𝒚 + 𝟒  𝒙 = 𝒚=  𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 𝟐
𝟐 𝟐

3. Graph both 𝑓(𝑥), 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑥 on the same coordinate plane. Comment.

• 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) are inverse functions.

• 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) are images with respect to 𝑦 = 𝑥.
• The domain 𝑓(𝑥) of is the range of 𝑓 −1 (𝑥), for
example the point (2,0) of 𝑓(𝑥) is interchanged
to (0,2) on 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).
• The range 𝑓(𝑥) of is the domain of 𝑓 −1 (𝑥), for
example the point (1,-2) of 𝑓(𝑥) is interchanged
to (-2,1) on 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).

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Explanation/ Content

Guidelines to find the inverse of a given function.

1. Determine if the function is one to one.

2. If the function is not one to one, then it has no inverse.

3. If the function is one to one. Solve for x.

4. Interchange x and y.

Independent practice

Task A

Q1. Find the inverse function, and then graph both functions.

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1

2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 2

3. 𝑔(𝑥) = −2𝑥 − 4
1
4. 𝑔(𝑥) = − 2 𝑥 + 1

Task B

Q2. Find the inverse function.

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2
3
2. 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2
1
3. ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥

𝑥
4. 𝑚(𝑥) = 𝑥−2

Task C

Q3. Given the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 .

1. Prove that 𝑓(𝑥) has no inverse function.

2. Restrict the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) so that you can find an inverse function, and the find the
inverse function and graph both functions and identify their domain and range.

Q4. Create a function 𝑓(𝑥) so that it has no inverse.

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Q5. Graph the inverse function of each given graph.

Formative Assessment
2
Find the inverse function of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 𝑥 − 4

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Period 3

Learning Outcomes

• Find the composition of functions.

• Verify inverse function by applying composition of functions.
• Apply inverse functions in problem solving.

Warm up/Activity/ Guided Practice

𝑥−3
Given the functions 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2

a. Complete the following table of 𝑓(𝑥).

𝑥 -2 -1 0 1 2
𝑦

b. Complete the following table of 𝑔(𝑥).

𝑥 -1 1 3 5 7
𝑦

c. Compare the results found in parts a and b. What do you notice?

d. Graph both 𝑓(𝑥), 𝑔(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑥 on the same coordinate plane. Comment.

e. Find (𝑓 𝑔)(𝑥) and (𝑔 𝑓)(𝑥). What do you conclude?

Explantation/ Content

The functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverse (𝑓 𝑔)(𝑥) = (𝑔 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑥.

Independent practice

Task A

Q1. Show that 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are inverse functions.

𝑥−4
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 4 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3

2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 5

−1
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥 − 9 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥−3
3

3
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 1

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Task B

Q2. The daily cost of a printing company to print a book is modeled by the function
𝐶(𝑥) = 3.25𝑥 + 1500 , where C is the total daily cost in $ and 𝑥 is the number of books
printed.

a. Find 𝐶(0). Explain its meaning in the context of the problem.

b. Find 𝐶(1000). Explain its meaning in the context of the problem.

c. What does 1500 in 𝐶(𝑥) represent? Explain its meaning in the context of the problem.

d. What does 3.25 in 𝐶(𝑥) represent? Explain its meaning in the context of the problem.

e. Find, 𝐶 −1 (𝑥), the inverse function of 𝐶(𝑥).

f. Find the number of books printed if the total cost is 1825 $.

Q3. The daily cost of a manufacturing company is modeled by the function 𝐶(𝑥) = 7.25𝑥 +
2500 , where C is the total daily cost in $ and 𝑥 is the number of items manufactured. Find,
𝐶 −1 (𝑥), the inverse function of 𝐶(𝑥).

Q4. The maximum hull speed 𝑣 (in knots) of a boat with a displacement hull can be
approximated by 𝑣 = 1.34√𝑙 , where 𝑙 is the waterline length (in feet) of the boat. Find the
inverse function. What waterline length is needed to achieve a maximum speed of 7.5
knots?

Q5. Elastic bands can be used for exercising to provide a range of resistance. The resistance
3
R (in pounds) of a band can be modeled by 𝑅 = 8 𝐿 − 5, where L is the total length (in inches)
of the stretched band. Find the inverse function. What length of the stretched band
provides 19 pounds of resistance?

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Q6. When calibrating a spring scale, you need to know how far the spring stretches for
various weights. Hooke’s Law states that the length a spring stretches is proportional
to the weight attached to it. A model for one scale is 𝑙 = 0.5𝑤 + 3, where 𝑙 is the total
length (in inches) of the stretched spring and 𝑤 is the weight (in pounds) of the object.

a. Find the inverse function. Describe what it represents.

b. You place a melon on the scale, and the spring stretches to a total
length of 5.5 inches. Determine the weight of the melon.

c. Verify that the function 𝑙 = 0.5𝑤 + 3 and the inverse model in part (a) are inverse
functions.

Q7. At the start of a dog sled race in Anchorage, Alaska, the temperature was 5°C. By
the end of the race, the temperature was -10°C. The formula for converting temperatures
5
from degrees Fahrenheit F to degrees Celsius C is 𝐶 = 9 (𝐹 − 32).

a. Find the inverse function. Describe what it represents.

b. Find the Fahrenheit temperatures at the start and end of the race.

c. Find the temperature that is the same on both temperature scales.

Formative Assessment
𝑥+1
Show that 𝑓(𝑥) = 7𝑥 − 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = are inverse functions.
7

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Extra Practice Problems

Q1. Find the inverse function.

Q2. Verify that the given functions are inverse functions.

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