One-to-One Functions;

Inverse Function
A function f is one-to-one if for each x in the
domain of f there is exactly one y in the range and
no y in the range is the image of more than one x
in the domain.

A function is not one-to-one if two different

elements in the domain correspond to the same
element in the range.
 x1 y1 x1 y1
x2 y2 x2
x3
x3
y3
Domain Range y3
Domain
Range
One-to-one
function NOT One-to-one
function
x1 y1

y2
x3
y3 Not a
Domain Range
function
M: Mother Function is NOT one-one
Joe
Samantha Laura
Anna Julie
Ian Hilary
Chelsea Barbara
George Sue

Humans Mothers
S: Social Security function IS one-one

Joe 123456789
Samantha 223456789
Anna 333456789
Ian 433456789
Chelsea 533456789
George 633456789

Americans SSN
Is the function f below one – one?

1 10

2 11

3 12

4 13

5 14

6 15

7 16
Theorem Horizontal Line Test

If horizontal lines intersect the

graph of a function f in at most
one point, then f is one-to-one.
Use the graph to determine whether
the function f ( x )  2 x  5 x  1
2

is one-to-one.

Not one-to-one.
Use the graph to determine whether the
function is one-to-one.

One-to-one.
The inverse of a one-one function is
obtained by switching the role of x
and y
 1
S The inverse of the social security function

123456789 Joe

223456789 Samantha

333456789 Anna

433456789 Ian

533456789 Chelsea

633456789 George

SSN Americans
Let f denote a one-to-one function y = f(x).
The inverse of f, denoted by f -1 , is a .
function such that f -1(f( x )) = x for every x
in the domain of f and f(f -1(x))=x for every x
in the domain of f -1.
Domain of f Range of f
f

1
f

1 1
Range of f Domain of f
1
Domain of f  Range of f
1
Range of f  Domain of f
Theorem

The graph of a function f and the

1
graph of its inverse f are symmetric
with respect to the line y = x.
 6 f y=x

4
1
(0, 2)
f
2

(2, 0)
2 0 2 4 6

2
Finding the inverse of a one-to-one function

Step1: Write the equation in the form y  f (x)

Step2: Interchange x and y.

Step 3: Solve for y.

Step 4: Write f 1 ( x) for y.

 5
Find the inverse of f ( x) 
x3
5
Step1: y
x3
5
Step2: Interchange x and y x
y 3

Step 3: Solve for y

 1 5  3x
f ( x) 
x