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List a function that's it's own inverse

User Yavoh
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Answer: f(x) = 3/x

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Step-by-step explanation:

If g(x) is the inverse of f(x), and vice versa, then we have these two properties:

  • f(g(x)) = x
  • g(f(x)) = x

Since we want to find a function that is its own inverse, we want f(x) and g(x) to be the same function.

Through trial and error, you should find that f(x) = g(x) = x fit the description.

f(x) = x

f( g(x) ) = g(x) ... replace every x with g(x)

f( g(x) ) = x

You should find that g(f(x)) = x as well.

One possible answer is f(x) = x

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Through more trial and error, you should find that f(x) = g(x) = 1/x works as well. In fact, anything of the form f(x) = g(x) = k/x will work.

The proof can be written as follows

f(x) = k/x

f( g(x) ) = k/( g(x) )

f( g(x) ) = k/( k/x )

f( g(x) ) = (k/1) divide (k/x)

f( g(x) ) = (k/1) * (x/k)

f( g(x) ) = x

Through similar steps, you should find that g(f(x)) = x is the case also.

This proves that f(x) = k/x is its own inverse, where k is a real number constant.

Another possible answer is anything of the form f(x) = k/x

If we pick k = 3, then we get f(x) = 3/x which is the answer I wrote above.

You can pick any k value you want.

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There may be other types of functions that have this property, but I'm blanking on what they might be.

User Dubiousjim
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