Inverse Functions Practice

Site: Saylor Academy
Course: MA120: Applied College Algebra
Book: Inverse Functions Practice
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Date: Saturday, 3 May 2025, 2:24 PM

Description

Table of contents

Practice Problems

  1. What is the inverse of the function f(x)=-6x-7?

    f^{-1}(x)= 

  2. What is the inverse of the function f(x)=-\dfrac{1}{2}(x+3)?

    f^{-1}(x)=

  3. What is the inverse of the function f(x)=8x+1?

    f^{-1}(x)= 

  4. What is the inverse of the function g(x)=5(x-2)?

    g^{-1}(x)=


Source: Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/math/college-algebra/xa5dd2923c88e7aa8:functions/xa5dd2923c88e7aa8:intro-to-inverse-functions/e/algebraically-finding-inverses
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Answers

  1. Let's start by replacing f(x) with y.

    y=-6x-7

    If a function contains the point (a,b), the inverse of that function contains the point (b,a).

    So if we swap the position of x and y in the equation, we get the inverse relationship.

    In this case, the function is y=-6x-7, so the inverse relationship is x=-6y-7.

    Solving this equation for y will give us an expression for f^{-1}(x).

    \begin{aligned} \qquad x&=-6y-7\\\\x+7&=-6y\\\\-\dfrac{1}{6}(x+7)&=y\end{aligned}

    The inverse of the function is f^{-1}(x)=-\dfrac{1}{6}(x+7).


  2. Let's start by replacing f(x) withy.

    y=-\dfrac{1}{2}(x+3)

    If a function contains the point (a,b), the inverse of that function contains the point (b,a).

    So if we swap the position of x and y in the equation, we get the inverse relationship.

    In this case, the function is y=-\dfrac{1}{2}(x+3), so the inverse relationship is x=-\dfrac{1}{2}(y+3).

    Solving this equation for y will give us an expression for f^{-1}(x).

    \begin{aligned} \qquad x&=-\dfrac{1}{2}(y+3)\\\\-2x&=y+3\\\\-2x-3&=y\end{aligned}

    The inverse of the function is f^{-1}(x)=-2x-3.


  3. Let's start by replacing f(x) with y.

    y=8x+1

    If a function contains the point (a,b), the inverse of that function contains the point (b,a).

    So if we swap the position of x and y in the equation, we get the inverse relationship.

    In this case, the function is y=8x+1, so the inverse relationship is x=8y+1.

    Solving this equation for y will give us an expression for f^{-1}(x).

    \begin{aligned} \qquad x&=8y+1\\\\x-1&=8y\\\\\dfrac{x-1}{8}&=y\end{aligned}

    The inverse of the function is  f^{-1}(x)=\dfrac{x-1}{8}.


  4. Let's start by replacing g(x) with y.

    y=5(x-2)

    If a function contains the point (a,b), the inverse of that function contains the point (b,a).

    So if we swap the position of x and y in the equation, we get the inverse relationship.

    In this case, the function is y=5(x-2), so the inverse relationship is x=5(y-2).

    Solving this equation for y will give us an expression for g^{-1}(x).

    \begin{aligned} \qquad x&=5(y-2)\\\\\dfrac{1}{5}x&=y-2\\\\\dfrac{1}{5}x+2&=y\end{aligned}

    The inverse of the function is g^{-1}(x)=\dfrac{1}{5}x+2.