# Math Help - How would I find the inverse of this function?

1. ## How would I find the inverse of this function?

$f(x)=x^2-1$

I know the first step is to change it to $y=x^2-1$ and then you would switch the x and y variables but when switching the x and y, do you just switch the variables in this case or when switching the variables do you include the $^2$ of the x?

so would it be $x^2=y-1$

or
$x=y^2-1$

sorry, this is posted in the wrong section.

2. Originally Posted by Hypertension
$f(x)=x^2-1$

I know the first step is to change it to $y=x^2-1$ and then you would switch the x and y variables but when switching the x and y, do you just switch the variables in this case or when switching the variables do you include the $^2$ of the x?

so would it be $x^2=y-1$

or
$x=y^2-1$

sorry, this is posted in the wrong section.
It's $x=y^2-1$.

3. Originally Posted by Hypertension
$f(x)=x^2-1$

I know the first step is to change it to $y=x^2-1$ and then you would switch the x and y variables but when switching the x and y, do you just switch the variables in this case or when switching the variables do you include the $^2$ of the x?

so would it be $x^2=y-1$

or
$x=y^2-1$

sorry, this is posted in the wrong section.
Without the domain, where the function is defined, we cannot really tell if the function has an inverse.

If $f:\mathbb{R} \to\mathbb{R}$, the the function has no inverse since the function is not one-one.

To make it a bijective function, you have to first restrict the domain.

I will give an example. Lets say $f:\mathbb{R}^+ \cup \{0\} \to [-1, \infty)$...

Now its quite evident that f(x) is bijective, so the inverse function exists, call it g(x).

By definition, to find the inverse function g(x), we need $g(f(x)) = f(g(x)) = x.$

So let $g(x) = y$, then $f(g(x)) = x \Rightarrow f(y) = x \Rightarrow y^2 - 1 = x \Rightarrow y =\pm \sqrt{x + 1}$

Now you will see why we need the bijection condition. As you can see the y that we have got is not a meaningful function. One of the basic properties of a function is that for 1 value of x there must be only one value of f(x).The second property is that it should be defined everywhere in the domain. But here we two values, $\sqrt{x + 1}$ and $-\sqrt{x + 1}$.

This is where the domain helps. Assuming $\sqrt{x+1} = |\sqrt{x+1}| \geq 0$, and using the fact that the inverse function can only be in $\mathbb{R}^+$, means $\sqrt{x+1}$ is the right choice.

Secondly for $\sqrt{x+1}$ to be defined everywhere in the domain, the following should happen:

$x+1 \geq 0 \Rightarrow x \geq -1 \Rightarrow x \in [-1,\infty)$

So we see that $g: [-1, \infty) \to \mathbb{R}^+ \cup \{0\}, g(x) = \sqrt{x+1}$ is the inverse function.

4. Originally Posted by Hypertension
$f(x)=x^2-1$

I know the first step is to change it to $y=x^2-1$ and then you would switch the x and y variables but when switching the x and y, do you just switch the variables in this case or when switching the variables do you include the $^2$ of the x?

so would it be $x^2=y-1$

or
$x=y^2-1$

sorry, this is posted in the wrong section.
You correctly said that you let the equation equal $y$. Following this, you make $x$ the subject and hence you will have the inverse. Remember to change your $y$ into $x$ in the end. It would be this:

Let $y = x^2-1$

$\therefore y + 1 = x^2$

$\therefore x = \sqrt{y + 1}$

$\implies f^{-1}(x) = \sqrt{x + 1}$

5. $f(x)=x^2-1$

let
$f(k)=x$
$\therefore f^-1(x)=k$

$f(k)=k^2-1$
$x=k^2-1$ (because $f(k)=x$)
$x+1=k^2$
$k=\sqrt{x + 1}$
$f^-1(x)=k$
thus, $f^-1(x)=\sqrt{x + 1}
$

6. Originally Posted by z1llch
$f(x)=x^2-1$

let
$f(k)=x$
$\therefore f'(x)=k$

$f(k)=k^2-1$
$x=k^2-1$ (because $f(k)=x$)
$x+1=k^2$
$k=\sqrt{x + 1}$
$f'(x)=k$
thus, $f'(x)=\sqrt{x + 1}
$
I see what you are doing here, but your notation could be easily confused with taking a derivative. I'd advise something like $f^{-1}$ rather than $f'$.

-Dan

7. Thank you all.