# Homework Help: Finding the inverse of a rational function

1. Aug 20, 2012

### mindauggas

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find the inverse of a rational function: $f(x)=\frac{2x}{x-2}$

3. The attempt at a solution

1. Verify the function is one-to-one.

Question: is there a way to do that withought drawing the graph? Some algebraic method? I know that this means that the function crosess any given x=a line only once, so, e.g. the function with two y intercepts would not be 1-1 ???

2. show that $f(x)=f^{-1}(x)$

Q.: How to express the given equation in the form where x is given in terms of y? It is imposible since you always get either y or x on both sides.

2. Aug 20, 2012

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
What is $f^{-1}(f(x))\ ?$

3. Aug 20, 2012

### CAF123

You should be able to solve for $x$ in terms of $y.$ You will need to take out a common factor at some stage.

4. Aug 20, 2012

### HallsofIvy

Technically, if there are two y intercepts, it would not be a function. That is different from saying it is not one to one. A function is not one to one if it crosses some y line more than once.

To determine whether this function is one to one, look at what happens if two values of x give the same y: suppose 2a/(a- 2)= 2b/(b- 2). Multply on both sided by (a- 2)(b- 2) to get 2a(b- 2)= 2b(a- 2). That is the same as 2ab- 2a= 2ba- 2b. We can subtract 2ba (= 2ab) from both sides to get -2a= -2b, and finally divide both sides by -2: a= b, showing that two different values of x cannot give the same y.

That kind of equation is the whole point of algebra! If you have, for example, 4xy= y- x, you solve for x by adding x to both sides: xy+ x= y, factoring out x: x(y+ 1)= 4, and dividing both sides by y+ 1: x= 4/(y+1).

5. Aug 20, 2012

### mindauggas

I do it thus:

(i) $y=\frac{2x}{x-2}$

(ii) $y(x-2)=2x$

(iii) $\frac{y(x-2)}{2}=x$

Is this the right path? Probably not ...

6. Aug 20, 2012

### HallsofIvy

From (ii) y(x- 2)= 2x, multiply out the left side: xy- 2y= 2x, then get the "x"s together on one side- xy- 2x= 2y; x(y- 2)= 2y. Can you finish that?

7. Aug 21, 2012

### mindauggas

Thanks, to you and to all :)

8. Aug 21, 2012

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
Notice that for the function given,
$f(f(x))=x\ .$​