Section 6.

2
One-to-One Functions;
Inverse Functions
 Relations
Definition: A relation is a set of points, (ordered
pairs) in the plane.
As an example, consider the relation
R {(2,1), (4,3), (0,3)}
As written, R is described using the roster method.
Since R consists of points in the plane, we follow
our instinct and plot the points.
 Relations
Doing so produces the graph of R.
 Inverse Relation
Definition: If R is a relation, then the relation
R-1  {(y,x) | (x,y)R}
is called the inverse relation of R.

The inverse relation R-1 is obtained from R by

interchanging the x and y for every point in R.
 Inverse Relation - Example
As an example, consider the relation
R {(2,1), (4,3), (0,3)}
The inverse relation R-1 is given by
R-1 {(1,2), (3,4), (3 ,0)}
Notice that the graph of R-1 is obtained from the
graph of R by reflecting about the line y  x all the
points in R.
 Inverse Relation - Example
The graph of R and of R-1 (in red).
 Domain and Range of R-1
Definition: If R is relation, then the relation
R-1  {(y,x) | (x,y)R}
is called the inverse relation of R.
From the definition follows that,
Dom R-1  Ran R
Ran R-1  Dom R
 R-1 When R is a Function
If a relation f is a function defined by an equation
of the form y  f (x), that is, if
f  {(x,y)| y  f (x)}
then, the inverse relation f -1 of f is defined by the
new equation x  f (y), that is,
f -1 {(x,y)| x  f (y)}
 R-1 When R is a Function
In this case, the fact that f is a function does not
automatically imply that f -1 is also a function.
For instance,
f  {(x,y)| y  x2 }
is a function but
f -1 {(x,y)| x  y2 }
is not.
 R-1 When R is a Function
f  {(x,y)| y  x2 } f -1 {(x,y)| x  y2 }
 One to One Function
The previous discussion leads to the following
definition:

This condition guarantees that the inverse relation

f-1 of a one to one function f is also a function.
In this case, f-1 is called inverse function of f.
Examples
For each function, use the graph to determine whether the function
is one-to-one.
 Theorem

A function that is increasing on an interval I is a

one-to-one function in I.
A function that is decreasing on an interval I is
a one-to-one function on I.
 To find the inverse we interchange the elements of the
domain with the elements of the range.

The domain of the inverse function is {0.8, 5.8, 6.1, 6.2, 8.3}
The range of the inverse function is {Indiana, Washington, South Dakota,
North Carolina, Tennessee}
Find the inverse of the following one-to-one function:
{(-5,1),(3,3),(0,0), (2,-4), (7, -8)}
State the domain and range of the function and its inverse.

The inverse is found by interchanging the entries in each ordered

pair:
{(1,-5),(3,3),(0,0), (-4,2), (-8,7)}

The domain of the function is {-5, 0, 2, 3, 7}

The range of the function is {-8, -4,0 ,1, 3).

This is also the domain of the inverse function.

The range of the inverse function is {-5, 0, 2, 3, 7}

 3 3
Verify that the inverse of f  x   is f  x    5.
1

x5 x
For what values of x is f 1  f  x    x ?
For what values of x is f  f 1  x    x ?
Note the domain of f is  x x  5 and the domain of g is  x x  0 .

3  x  5
f 1
 f  x    3  5  3  5  x provided x  5
3

x5

ff  x  
1 3 3
  x provided x  0
3 3
55
x x
 1 
f 1  f  x   
1
2
  2 x  3  
 3  x  2 
2
 x  3  

 3  f  f 1
 x 