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Thread: inverse functions! forgot my pre-calc!.:Resolved:.

  1. #1

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    Hyperactive Member voidflux's Avatar
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    Question inverse functions! forgot my pre-calc!.:Resolved:.

    Hello everyone, I forgot how to do inverse functions, can someone show me an example?
    heres a problem:
    Code:
    f(x) = 2x-3
    it says find the f^-1 which is just find the inverse and then describe the relationship between teh graphs.
    Thanks for listening!
    Last edited by voidflux; Sep 2nd, 2003 at 10:06 PM.
    C¤ry Sanchez
    Computer Science/Engineering
    @ Penn State
    IBM.zSeries Intern
    Mandriva 2007

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    Re: inverse functions! forgot my pre-calc!

    Originally posted by voidflux
    Hello everyone, I forgot how to do inverse functions, can someone show me an example?
    heres a problem:
    Code:
    f(x) = 2x-3
    it says find the f^-1 which is just find the inverse and then describe the relationship between teh graphs.
    Thanks for listening!
    Just solve for y:

    f(y) = (3 + x)/2

    Then again, college was 100 years ago ... so maybe someone else can verify whether or not I remember that correctly ... :=)
    Last edited by Muddy; Sep 2nd, 2003 at 04:38 PM.

  3. #3

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    Hyperactive Member voidflux's Avatar
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    Thumbs up

    Thanks! that is the right answer but what do u mean solve for y?
    I don't see how you got to your final answer, can you please write some steps for me or explain to me what ur logic was?
    Thanks again! Sorry i'm slow heh
    C¤ry Sanchez
    Computer Science/Engineering
    @ Penn State
    IBM.zSeries Intern
    Mandriva 2007

  4. #4
    Frenzied Member nishantp's Avatar
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    Muddy is correct. Don't think of it as a function for a while. So instead of
    Code:
    f(x) = 2x-3
    , you've got
    Code:
    y = 2x-3
    .

    You then switch all isntances of the x and y, and then solve for y.

    Code:
    x = 2y-3
    x+3 = 2y
    y = (x+3)/2
    So your answer is
    Code:
    f(x) = (x+3)/2
    You just proved that sig advertisements work.

  5. #5

    Thread Starter
    Hyperactive Member voidflux's Avatar
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    Thumbs up

    Thanks guys! that helped alot!
    C¤ry Sanchez
    Computer Science/Engineering
    @ Penn State
    IBM.zSeries Intern
    Mandriva 2007

  6. #6
    Member Jared's Avatar
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    That is the fastest way to solve the problem, and frequently used. If you want to ponder Inverse Functions, here is another way of looking at it.

    For F's inverse, look at what F did to x.
    X-------multiplies by 2----->2x-----subtracts 3-----> 2x-3

    So, F's inverse does the opposite, in the opposite order!
    x-------adds 3------->x+3---------divides by 2-------> (x+3)/2

    This is just the long conceptual way of thinking about it,, anyway that's the joy of math, several ways of thinking about the same thing.
    "It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly." -Bertrand Russell

  7. #7
    Frenzied Member nishantp's Avatar
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    Originally posted by Jared
    That is the fastest way to solve the problem, and frequently used. If you want to ponder Inverse Functions, here is another way of looking at it.

    For F's inverse, look at what F did to x.
    X-------multiplies by 2----->2x-----subtracts 3-----> 2x-3

    So, F's inverse does the opposite, in the opposite order!
    x-------adds 3------->x+3---------divides by 2-------> (x+3)/2

    This is just the long conceptual way of thinking about it,, anyway that's the joy of math, several ways of thinking about the same thing.
    That's actually exactly what you're doing when you switch the x and the y, but most people don't think about it.
    You just proved that sig advertisements work.

  8. #8
    Member Jared's Avatar
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    Ah, yes, but "thinking about it" is what makes it fun!
    "It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly." -Bertrand Russell

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