Question 61871
<pre><font size = 5><b>If f(x)= (2x-3)/5 , find f<sup>-1</sup>(x)

        2x - 3 
f(x) = --------
           5

I want you to also learn the graphical significance of
inverse as we go, so here is the graph of f(x) in red
{{{ graph( 200, 200, -5, 5, -5, 5, (2x-3)/5) }}} 
Replace f(x) by y

     2x - 3 
y = --------
        5

Interchange x and y

     2y - 3 
x = --------
        5

Solve for y.

Multiply both sides by 5 to clear of fractions:

5x = 2y - 3

Add 3 to both sides

5x + 3 = 2y

Divide both sides by 2

 5x + 3
-------- = y
    2

or

     5x + 3
y = -------- 
        2
  
Replace y by f<sup>-1</sup>(x)

          5x + 3
f<sup>-1</sup>(x) = -------- 
             2

Now look at the graph of f<sup>-1</sup>(x) in green:
{{{ graph( 200, 200, -5, 5, -5, 5, 0, (5x+3)/2) }}}
Now look what happens when we place them on the same 
set of axes:
{{{ graph( 200, 200, -5, 5, -5, 5, (2x-3)/5, (5x+3)/2) }}}
Now watch what happens when we draw the line y = x
(That's called the identity line, because y and x are 
identically equal in the equation y = x. I'll draw it in
blue:
{{{ graph( 200, 200, -5, 5, -5, 5, (2x-3)/5, (5x+3)/2, x) }}}
Notice that the graph of the green line (the inverse) 
is the reflection of the original function's graph,
drawn in red, across the identity line y=x, drawn in
blue.

Edwin</pre>