Practice Problems

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.