Finding Inverse Functions
Inverse functions work by swapping the roles of input and output from the original function. The key idea is creating a one-to-one correspondence where each element in the domain maps to exactly one element in the range.
The process is straightforward once you get the hang of it. Start by replacing f(x) with y, then rearrange the equation to make x the subject. Finally, swap all the x's and y's to get your inverse function f⁻¹(x).
Let's look at a simple example: f(x) = 2x - 1. Replace f(x) with y to get y = 2x - 1, then solve for x: x = y+1/2. Swap the variables and you've got f⁻¹(x) = x+1/2.
For more complex rational functions like f(x) = 3x/x−4, the algebra gets trickier but follows the same pattern. You'll need to multiply through by denominators and collect terms carefully, but the end result is f⁻¹(x) = 4x/x−3.
Quick tip: Remember that the domain of the original function becomes the range of the inverse function, and vice versa!