Thread: Inverse Function!!

Hi, I am in the middle of solving this problem:
Let f(x) = 3 +x^2 + tan (πx/2), where -1 < x < 1.
a.) Find the(inverse) f^–1 (3).
b.) Find f(f^-1(5)).

I know the steps on how to find the inverse equation, but I do not know how to solve for x, in order to get it alone, because of the tan[(pi)(x/2)]. I do not remember how to get x alone when it is in sin (x), tan (x), etc. Do you multiply everything by tan x in order to cancel it out?

I'm pretty sure the second part requires a cancellation equation, but then again I'm stuck on the tan issue. Trigonemtric functions confuse me .

Thank you so much for your help!!

I do not know how to solve for x, in order to get it alone, because of the tan[(pi)(x/2)].

This cannot be done. In this case there is no way of expressing in terms of x. However, you do not need to solve for x to get an answer.

It sounds like you have already got to
Now substitute x = 3 to get




It is easy to see that y = 0 is a solution to this, just by recognising that tan (0) = 0.

b.) Find f(f^-1(5)).

You are expected to know that