# Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function

• November 2nd 2013, 05:52 AM
nycmath
Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function
Find the inverse of 5throot of (x^5 + x^4).
• November 2nd 2013, 06:08 AM
Prove It
Re: Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function
First of all, is the function one to one?
• November 2nd 2013, 06:31 AM
nycmath
Re: Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function
I did not graph the function. Thus, I do not know if it passes the horizontal line test.
• November 2nd 2013, 06:54 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function
Not much point in asking for the "inverse function" if you do not know if there is an inverse!

Perhaps you meant $f(x)= \sqrt[5]{x^5+ x^4}$ with a restricted domain such as $x\ge 0$?
• November 2nd 2013, 10:09 AM
nycmath
Re: Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function
The book's question is find the inverse of the fifth root function as you listed.
• November 2nd 2013, 12:06 PM
HallsofIvy
Re: Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function
As who listed? If it just said "find the inverse of the fifth root function", I would interpret that as "find the inverse of [tex]f(x)= x^{1/5}[tex] which is [tex]f^{-1}(x)= x^5[tex].

If it was "find the inverse function of the function ' $\f(x)= \sqrt[5]{x^5+ x^4}$ for $x\ge 0$, Then would start by writing $x= (y^5+ y^4)^{1/2}$ then solve for y: $x^5= y^5+ y^5$ so $y^5+ y^4- x^5= 0$. Now, unfortunately, there is no simple "fifth degree equation formula" so there is no reasonable formula for solving that equation.
• November 2nd 2013, 12:53 PM
nycmath
Re: Find the Inverse of Fifth Root Function
Ok. This precalculus textbook has many questions in the "Challenge" section at the end of each chapter. Personally, my answer would be: Question is too complex for this level of math. I would much rather find the inverse of functions like y = x^2 + 3 or
y = 1/(x+4) than to deal with fifth root functions.