Jonathan Hagerman

Mrs. Knobel
Algebra II Honors Period 3
9 February 2015
Inverse Functions
A function is a relation in which each value of the domain corresponds with only one
element in the range. To test if a graph is a function, one can perform the vertical line test in
which it is checked whether there is more than one y value for any given x (Pearson 62). The
output of a function, f(x), and the input, x, can be put together to make a function, written as f(x)
= x. To find the inverse of a function, first one must replace f(x) with y. Then, x and y must be
switched. After solving for y, y can be replaced with f -1(x). The inverse of a function is that
function reflected over the line x = y (Pearson 406).
The function f(x) = 2x2 1 shows a parabola, compressed by a factor of 2, opening
upwards, with a vertex at (0, -1). Here we shall find its inverse:
y = x2 1

First, f(x) is replaced with y.

x = y2 1

Then x and y are switched.

x + 1 = y2

To begin solving for y, we add 1 to each side.

 x +1 = y

To get y we square root each side. We must leave a

because our original function was a parabola.

This leaves us with f -1(x) = x +1 . This graph is a parabola opening to the right,
with a vertex on (-1, 0). I made an online graph of this function. The sideways parabola is
multicolored, but this graph expresses the reflection of the function to its inverse over the line x
= y.

With the blue parabola being our function, and the red and green being its inverse, one
can see that the inverse is not a function. The purple line, being x = y, shows that the function is
reflected over it to form its inverse.

In the first function, the domain is all real numbers the parabola stretches infinitely to
the left and right. Hitting its minimum at (0, -1), its range is {y|y 1 }. The inverse of the
function has those, switched about its domain is {x|x 1 }, as it reaches no farther left than
(-1, 0), but its range is all real numbers.
The inverse of any function can be found by flipping x and y, then solving for y. This
inverse will be reflected from the original function across the line x = y.
Works Cited
Charles, Randall I. Algebra 2: Common Core. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2012.
Schmitz, Andy. "GraphSketch.com." GraphSketch. N.p., 24 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.