Thread: Finding the Inverse of a Funtion

How would I go about solving this?

First make it a "Y=" equation.

Y = x2-5x+6

Switch the Y with the x's

X = Y2-5Y+6

Solve for X

X-6 = Y2-5Y

X-6/5 = Y2

Square root of ((x-6)/5)) = Y

Kind of confusing, but I hope this helps!

Originally Posted by Aske

How would I go about solving this?

The easiest way to go abouts doing this is making a table of values for the function and switching the values of the y and x. what i mean is make the x values the y values and the y values the x values. This will give you the inverse, f-1(x)

Originally Posted by Aske

How would I go about solving this?

You don't. That is not a "one to one" function and so does not have an inverse. If is the inverse of f(x), then we must have , that is, must 'undo' whatever f does. But f(6)= 0 and f(-1)= 0. can't be both 6 and -1!

Luke774, for some reason, chose to take only the "+" sign on the square root. That's valid but gives the inverse of a slightly different function: with and undefined for x< 5/2. Same formula but different domain so different function.