MATM1534

1.5 Inverse and Logarithmic Functions

What are inverse functions about?
First an example:
Tshepo’s times (splits) Distance ran by Tshepo

a t = f(a) t a = f -1(t)
(meter) (seconds) (seconds) (meter)
0 0.00 0.00 0

2000 325.90 325.90 2000

4000 650.10 650.10 4000

6000 975.50 975.50 6000

8000 1307.00 1307.00 8000

10000 1628.23 1628.23 10000

 Which functions have inverses?
 Look at the graph. Will this function
be invertable? That is, will the inverse
exist?
 The function f(t) tells us how high the
stone was at a certain time.
 Input: time, Output: height
 The inverse will then tell us at which
time the stone was at a given height.
 Input: height, Output: time

 BUT: there is more than 1

such a time for each
height! Thus?
Which functions have inverses?

So: one-to-one functions are the type which will have

inverses.
Definition 1, p. 54
A function is called one-to-one if it never
takes on the same value more than
once, i.e.

whenever
 The horisontal line test

On the left we have a one-to-one function and on the right a more-to-one function.
The horisontal lines on the right are cutting the curve more than once and is therefore
showing us that the function on the right will not have an inverse.
Stewart Example 1, p.55
Is the function one-to-one?

Stewart Example. 2, p.56

Is the function one-to-one?
Definition 2
If is a one-to-one function with domain A
and range B then:
means

and has domain = B and range = A.

 Inverses

function:

inverse:

If we want to place the two

functions on the same set of
axes, we swop the symbols
in the inverse function, such
that will also be the ‘name’
of the independent variable
of the inverse function, thus
How do we get the equation for
the inverse function?
is given.
> So you have to solve for .
> So you must ‘get alone on the left’.

Example.
Solve for :

or, if we again use for the independent variable, then

 Stewart Example 4, p.58
Let . Determine the inverse,
Graphs of Inverse Functions
 Reflections around the line:
Cancellation equations

You’re at point A. Then you walk along the path called and
end up at point B.
Then you walk along the path named and end at point A
again. You’re right back where you started!
So walking these 2 paths directly after one another, is like
you have never walked.
The two paths (functions/processes) cancel one another.
Back to Population growth
 Pop. in Mexico: P = 67.38(1.026)t
 When will P = 200 million?

200 = 67.38(1.026)t
t=?

How do we solve for ?

with a logarithm!
Logarithms are the inverse
functions of the exponential
functions....
Exponential function:

Inverse:

Give the inverse a special name:

And as usual we swop the and and then get:

 Logarithms with base 10 and base e
 means
 Often write instead of

 is the natural logarithm

 means
Logarithms with base 10 and base e

Inverses
 log 𝑥
0 Undefined

1 0
5 0.699
10 1
100 2
1000 3
ln 𝑥
 Properties of Logarithms
 domain, range ?
1. log(AB) = logA + logB
2. log(A/B) = log(A) – log(B)
3. log(Ap) = p log(A)
4. log(10x) = x, ln(ex) = x
5. 10log x = x, eln x = x
6. log 1 = 0, ln 1 = 0
 Example
2t = 7 Determine the value of t
 What should t be approximately?
 ln(2t) = ln(7)
 t ln(2) = ln(7) If you have finshed
 t = ln(7)/ln(2) calculating the final
answer with your
 t = 2.81 calculator, just think a
bit about if the answer
seems
appropriate/sensical.
 Population growth
 Determine when the population of Mexico will be 200
million if P = 67.38 million in 1980 and:

P = 67.38(1.026)t

 200 = 67.38(1.026)t
 (1.026)t = 200/67.38
 ln( (1.026)t ) = ln( 200/67.38 )
 t ln(1.026) = ln(200/67.38)
 t = ln(200/67.38) / ln(1.026)
 t = 42.4 years
 Thus in 2022
 Inverse population growth
We saw earlier that:
P = f(t) = 67.38(1.026)t
 t = f -1 (P) ?
 (1.026)t = P/67.38
 ln( (1.026)t ) = ln(P/67.38) What does the inverse
function practically
 t ln(1.026) = ln(P/67.38) mean here?

 t = ln(P/67.38) / ln(1.026) Why should we NOT

swop the t and the P in
 t = 38.96 ln(P/67.38) the equation for the
inverse function?
 Half-life example
Determine the half-life of Imaginum if it has a decay rate
of 25% per year.

25% of the initial
quantity decays (is
gone) after a year.
Therefore after a
year, only 75% of
the quantity is left.
Stewart Example 8, p.60
Solve the equation:
Change of base

e.g.
Inverse trig functions
Inverse trig functions