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Confirm that f and g are inverses by showing that f(g(x)) = x and g(f(x)) = x.

f(x) = x3 + 4 and g(x) = Cube root of quantity x minus four.

User Jdmonty
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1 Answer

3 votes
f(x) = x³ + 4 and g(x) = ∛(x - 4)

so, the first thing the question asks of you is to see that f(g(x)) = x. try it out, plugging g(x) in as the x-variable in the first equation:

f(g(x)) = (∛(x - 4))³ + 4

they were merciful in writing this problem, and thankfully your cube roots cancel out and don't cause you any trouble. continue solving:

f(g(x)) = (∛(x - 4))³ + 4 ... cube root and exponent cancel
f(g(x)) = x - 4 + 4 ... simplify
f(g(x)) = x

so, yep. that one worked. try out the second half of the question: g(f(x)) = x

g(f(x)) = ∛((x³ + 4) - 4) ... simplify inside your radical, cancelling out the 4s
g(f(x)) = ∛(x³) ... the cube root of x³ is x itself, so:
g(f(x)) = x

and there you are. you've confirmed that these are inverses.
User Jbatez
by
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