If y is a function of x, then x is also function of y?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between two variables, y and x, and whether they can be considered as functions of each other. It is noted that for y to be a function of x, x must also be a function of y, and vice versa. However, this is only true if both functions are invertible. The conversation also explores an intermediate step in solving a differential equation and clarifies that x dy may be a typo and should possibly be x dx.
  • #1
yosimba2000
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So then if you take the integral of y(x) dy = x dy, you get y^2 = xy.

But if x is a function of y, that means the equation is y(x)dy = x(y) dy, which gives you y^2 = X(y), where X is the integral of of x(y) dy?
 
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  • #2
if ##y=f(x)##, x is a function of y, i.e. ##x=f^{-1}(y)##, only if ##f## is invertible. Look up inverse function theorem, for what you need.
 
  • #3
yosimba2000 said:
So then if you take the integral of y(x) dy = x dy, you get y^2 = xy.
This appears to be an intermediate step in solving a differential equation.

Starting with y dy = x dy, if you integrate the left side you get y2 + a constant, but you can't integrate the right side. Is x dy a typo? Should it be x dx? If so, and we start with y dy = x dx, integrating both sides yields y2 = x2 + C.
yosimba2000 said:
But if x is a function of y, that means the equation is y(x)dy = x(y) dy, which gives you y^2 = X(y), where X is the integral of of x(y) dy?
 
  • #4
The short answer to your thread title -- "If y is a function of x, then x is also function of y?" -- is "Not necessarily."

For example, if y = f(x) = x2, then y is a function of x, but x is not a function of y. As already stated, each variable is a function of the other only if both functions are one-to-one.
 

1. Can x and y be functions of each other?

Yes, in the equation y = f(x), both x and y are variables. This means that x can be expressed as a function of y, and vice versa.

2. What does it mean for x to be a function of y?

This means that the value of x is dependent on the value of y. In other words, the value of y is used to determine the value of x.

3. How does this relationship between x and y affect the graph of the function?

If x is a function of y, then the graph of the function will show a one-to-one correspondence between the points on the x-axis and the points on the y-axis. This means that each x-value will have a unique y-value and vice versa.

4. What is the difference between x being a function of y and y being a function of x?

The difference lies in the input and output variables. In x being a function of y, y is the input and x is the output. In y being a function of x, x is the input and y is the output.

5. Are there any real-life examples of x and y being functions of each other?

Yes, an example of this can be seen in the relationship between temperature and altitude. As altitude increases, the temperature decreases, and as altitude decreases, the temperature increases. Therefore, altitude can be considered a function of temperature, and vice versa.

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