Is f(x) Its Own Inverse for Any Value of a?

In summary, the function f(x)=a+4/(x-a) and its inverse function f-1(x)=(a^2-ax-4)/(a-x) do not have the property of being their own inverse for any value of a.
  • #1
bcasted
1
0
f(x)=a+4/(x-a)
f-1(x)=(a^2-ax-4)/(a-x)

Which of the following is true?
The function is the opposite of its own inverse for any value of a.
The function is its own inverse for positive values of a only.
The function is the reciprocal of its own inverse for positive values of a only.
The function is its own inverse for negative values of a only.
The function is its own inverse for any value of a.
 
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  • #2
Re: Inverse functions problem help please

What has your investigation led you to find?
 
  • #3
bcasted said:
f(x)=a+4/(x-a)
f-1(x)=(a^2-ax-4)/(a-x)

...

If this equation: \(\displaystyle f^{-1}(x)=\frac{a^2-ax-4}{a-x}\)
is meant to be the equation of the reverse function then this equation is false.
 

Related to Is f(x) Its Own Inverse for Any Value of a?

1. What is an inverse function?

An inverse function is a function that "undoes" the original function. It is the function that takes the output of the original function as its input and returns the original input as its output. In other words, if the original function is f(x), the inverse function is denoted as f-1(x) and is defined as f-1(f(x)) = x.

2. How do you find the inverse of a function?

To find the inverse of a function, you can follow these steps:

  • Write the original function as y = f(x).
  • Swap the x and y variables, so the equation becomes x = f(y).
  • Solve for y in terms of x.
  • The resulting equation is the inverse function.

3. What is the domain and range of an inverse function?

The domain of an inverse function is the range of the original function, and vice versa. This means that the inputs and outputs of the original function become the outputs and inputs of the inverse function, respectively. In other words, the domain and range are swapped when finding the inverse function.

4. Can every function have an inverse?

No, not every function has an inverse. For a function to have an inverse, it must be one-to-one, meaning that each input has a unique output. If there are multiple inputs that result in the same output, the inverse function cannot be defined.

5. How can inverse functions be used in real life?

Inverse functions have various applications in real life, such as in physics and engineering to model relationships between variables, in computer graphics to rotate or scale images, and in cryptography to encrypt and decrypt messages. They can also be used to find the original value of a quantity after it has been transformed by a function.

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