# The inverse of a function

• Dec 30th 2009, 02:05 AM
Jones
The inverse of a function
Hi,

I would like some help with a problem.
Show that $F(x) = \frac{4x^3}{x^2+1}$ has an inverse and find

$f^{-1}´(2)$

How do you invert fractions like this?

//Jones
• Dec 30th 2009, 05:28 AM
skeeter
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jones
Hi,

I would like some help with a problem.
Show that $F(x) = \frac{4x^3}{x^2+1}$ has an inverse and find

$f^{-1}´(2)$

How do you invert fractions like this?

//Jones

$f(x) = \frac{4x^3}{x^2+1}$ ... domain is all reals.

$f'(x) = \frac{4x^2(x^2+3)}{(x^2+1)^2} > 0$ for all x, telling us that f(x) is a strictly increasing function.

since f(x) is strictly increasing, it is 1-1 over its domain, and as such has an inverse function.

next, note that $f(1) = 2$

that means that $f^{-1}(2) = 1$
• Dec 30th 2009, 06:03 AM
HallsofIvy
Note, that this problem did NOT ask you to actually find the inverse function- and skeeter did not. However, since you asked:

Start by witing the function as
$f(x) = y= \frac{4x^3}{x^2+1}$ and swapping x and y:
$x= \frac{4y^3}{y^2+ 1}$
Now solve for y:
$x(y^2+ 1)= 4y^3$
$4y^3- xy^2+ x= 0$

Solve that cubic equation for y. That, of course, is the hard part and probably why the problem did not require you to find the inverse!
• Dec 30th 2009, 06:48 AM
Jones
Oh dang, i thought you had to solve the darn thing