# questions on functions

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• Aug 7th 2011, 12:54 AM
wintersoltice
questions on functions
Given that
f(x)= $\frac{5-x}{1-x}$

(a) Explain why f has an inverse and show that $f^{-1}=f$.
(b) Evaluate $f^{51}(4)$.

i can do part a,
but have no idea how to start for part b. (Speechless)
any help is appreciated. =)
• Aug 7th 2011, 01:33 AM
Siron
Re: questions on functions
I guess you've to calculate the 51th derivative of the function $f$, I should try to recognize a pattern in you derivatives.
• Aug 7th 2011, 03:06 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: questions on functions
$f(f(x))= \frac{5- \frac{5- x}{1- x}}{1- \frac{5- x}{1- x}}$
Multiply both numerator and denominator by 1- x:
$f(f(x))= \frac{5(1- x)- (5- x)}{1- x- (5- x)}= \frac{ 5-5x-5+ x}{1- x-5+ x}= \frac{-4x}{-4}= x$

That shows both that f is invertible and that $f^{-1}(x)= f(x)$.
• Aug 7th 2011, 03:06 AM
Plato
Re: questions on functions
Quote:

Originally Posted by wintersoltice
Given that f(x)= $\frac{5-x}{1-x}$
(a) Explain why f has an inverse and show that $f^{-1}=f$.

(b) Evaluate $f^{51}(4)$.

I think that the notation $f^{51}$ refers to function composition.
For example: $f^5 (x) = f \circ f \circ f \circ f \circ f(x) = f\left( {f\left( {f\left( {f\left( {f(x)} \right)} \right)} \right)} \right) = ?$
• Aug 7th 2011, 03:09 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: questions on functions
Good point! And the fact that f is its own inverse makes that trivial!
• Aug 7th 2011, 04:00 AM
wintersoltice
Re: questions on functions
i found the solution from my school's online portal.

but i don't understand the steps. i mean from step 2 to 3.

step1 $f^{51} (4)$
step2 $=f[f^{50}(4)]$
step3 $=f(4)$ as $(# f^2(x)=f^{-1}f(x)=x)$
step4 $=\frac{5-4}{1-4}$
step5 $=\frac{-1}{3}$
• Aug 7th 2011, 04:11 AM
Plato
Re: questions on functions
Do you understand reply #4?
Because $f=f^{-1}$ that means $f^2(x)=f\circ f(x)=f(f(x))=x$.
So $f^5(x)=f(f^4(x))=f(x)$.
• Aug 8th 2011, 05:18 AM
Ackbeet
Re: questions on functions
Quote:

Originally Posted by Siron
I guess you've to calculate the 51th derivative of the function $f$, I should try to recognize a pattern in you derivatives.

That would be true if the notation were, instead,

$f^{(51)}(x),$

with the parentheses in the exponent.