SOLUTION: Find a formula for the inverse of the function. f(x) = 6x − 1/2x + 9 f −1(x) = (f inverse of x).

Algebra ->  Functions -> SOLUTION: Find a formula for the inverse of the function. f(x) = 6x − 1/2x + 9 f −1(x) = (f inverse of x).       Log On


   



Question 1196464: Find a formula for the inverse of the function.
f(x) = 6x − 1/2x + 9
f −1(x) = (f inverse of x).

Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39613) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
BAD NOTATION

You want , in pure text, f(x)=(6x-1)/(2x+9), and want to find f^(-1)(x).
Yet, your given function the way you showed is ambiguous.

Written to show better mathematical express,
f%28x%29=%286x-1%29%2F%282x%2B9%29, and you want to find f%5E%28-1%29%28x%29.

Choosing I to represent the inverse of f just for easier symbolisation, then for finding I, you can make
x=%286I-1%29%2F%282I%2B9%29, and solve this for I.

x%282I%2B9%29=6I-1
2xI%2B9x=6I-1
9x%2B1=6I-2xI
9x%2B1=I%286-2x%29
highlight%28I=%289x%2B1%29%2F%286-2x%29%29, but you may need to check for any restrictions.

Answer by greenestamps(13195) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


If you are working on a problem like this, your knowledge of math should be enough for you to know that the proper use of parentheses is important. The function as you show it is this:

f(x) = 6x − 1/2x + 9 --> f%28x%29+=+6x+-+1%2F2x+%2B+9

That is almost certainly not what you intended; you probably meant

f(x) = (6x - 1)/(2x + 9) --> f%28x%29+=+%286x+-+1%29%2F%282x+%2B+9%29

Finding the inverse of a function like this is a common type of problem on high school math competition tests; there is an easy pattern that makes it easy to write down the inverse function without doing any work.

Let's take a generic example y=%28Ax%2BB%29%2F%28Cx%2BD%29 and find the inverse by the standard method of switching x and y and solving for the new y.

x=%28Ay%2BB%29%2F%28Cy%2BD%29
x%28Cy%2BD%29=Ay%2BB
Cxy%2BDx=Ay%2BB
Cxy-Ay=-Dx%2BB
y%28Cx-A%29=-Dx%2BB
y=%28-Dx%2BB%29%2F%28Cx-A%29

Now compare the original function to its inverse function:

y=%28Ax%2BB%29%2F%28Cx%2BD%29 --> y=%28-Dx%2BB%29%2F%28Cx-A%29

In the inverse, the B and C stay where they are, while the A and D switch places and both change sign.

Using this pattern, you can write down the inverse of your given function with little effort:

y=%286x-1%29%2F%282x%2B9%29 --> %28-9x-1%29%2F%282x-6%29