ONE-TO-ONE-FUNCTIONS INVERSE OF A ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTION

The function f is one-to-one if for any x1 , x2 in the
domain of f, then f(x1) ≠ f(x2), That is, the same y-value
is never paired with two different x-values.
Activity 1
Determine whether the given relation is a one-to-one.
1. The relation pairing an SSS member to his SSS no.
2. The relation pairing a real number to its square.
3. The relation pairing an airport to its airport code.
4. The relation pairing a person to his citizenship.
Activity 2
Give 3 examples of situations that can be represented
as a one-to-one function and 2 examples of situations
that are not one-to-one.
GRAPHS OF ONE-TO-ONE FUNCTIONS
The vertical and horizontal line tests
All functions satisfy the vertical line test. All one-to-one
functions satisfy both the vertical and horizontal line
tests.
Consider the table of values for the function given by
the equation y = 2x – 1 given below:
x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
y -9 -7 -5 -3 -1 1 3 5 7 2. f(x) = 3𝑥−4
Let f be a one-to-one function with domain A and range
B. Then the inverse of f, denoted f-1, is a function with
domain B and range A defined by f-1(y) = x if and only if
f(x) = y for any y in B.
Note: A function has an inverse if and only if it is one-
to-one.
To find the inverse of a one-to-one function,
1. Write the function in the form y=f(x)
2. Interchange the x and y variables
3. Solve for y in terms of x
Example 1. Find the inverse of f(x) = 3x + 1.
Property of an inverse of a one-to-one function
Given a one-to-one function f(x) and its inverse f-1(x).
Then the following are true:
a. The inverse of f-1 is f(x).
b. f(f-1(x)) = x for all x in the domain of f-1.
c. f-1(f(x)) = x for all x in the domain of f.
Example
Find the inverse of the following.
1. g(x) = x3 – 2
2𝑥+1

Verify that it is a one-to-one function by showing that 3. f(x) = x2 + 4x – 2

no two y-values share the same x-value.
4. y = │4y│
Invert the values for x and y:
x Activity 3
Y Find the inverse functions of the following one-to-one
Does this table still represent a function? functions:

Consider the table of values for another function below:

x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Y -1 -1 -1 -1 0 1 1 1 1

Invert the values for x and y:

x
Y
Does this table still represent a function?

Inverting functions
 If the x- and y-values of a one-to-one function are
interchanged, the result is a function, but
 If the x- and y-values of a function that is not one-
to-one are inverted, the result is no longer a Source:
function. General Mathematics TG 2016