Inverse and differentation of an equation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the process of finding the inverse of a function and its differentiation, specifically focusing on the function \( f(x) = 2x^3 + 7x - 3 \). Participants explore the implications of injectivity for the existence of an inverse, the differentiation of the function, and the conditions under which the function is one-to-one. The conversation includes theoretical considerations, mathematical reasoning, and attempts to clarify the steps involved in solving the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether there is an easier method to find the inverse of the function rather than deriving it explicitly.
  • There is a discussion about the injectivity of the function, with some participants suggesting that injectivity allows for treating \( x \) as a function of \( y \).
  • Participants explore whether the point \( y = -3 \) is in the range of \( f \) and how to differentiate the identity \( y = f(x(y)) \) with respect to \( y \).
  • Some participants propose that finding \( f^{-1}(-3) \) does not require the explicit calculation of \( f^{-1} \), but rather solving \( f(b) = -3 \) for \( b \).
  • There are discussions about the implications of the vertical and horizontal line tests for determining if a function is one-to-one.
  • One participant mentions that the first derivative \( f'(x) = 6x^2 + 7 \) is always positive, indicating that the function is strictly increasing and thus injective.
  • Another participant provides a detailed algebraic approach to demonstrate the injectivity of the function by manipulating the equation \( f(x) = f(y) \).

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of finding the inverse explicitly versus using properties of the function. While there is some agreement on the injectivity of the function, the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to solving for \( f^{-1}(-3) \) and the implications of injectivity in this context.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference lecture notes and concepts related to injectivity and the differentiation of functions, indicating a reliance on prior knowledge that may not be fully articulated in the thread. There are also mentions of specific mathematical steps that remain unresolved, particularly in the context of solving for real roots and the implications of the function's behavior.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and individuals interested in understanding the concepts of function inverses, injectivity, and differentiation in the context of polynomial functions.

ertagon2
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How do I solve this. Getting an inverse alone seems to be a quite long route. Is there an easier way of doing this?
 

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ertagon2 said:
How do I solve this. Getting an inverse alone seems to be a quite long route. Is there an easier way of doing this?

edit: Please read and respond to post #3 first (it provides better help) and then check the hidden content here to confirm your result from the indicated differentiation. :)

I would use:

$$\left[f^{-1}\right]'(a)=\frac{1}{f'\left(f^{-1}(a)\right)}$$

Can you proceed?
 
As an aside, do you know why it is an injective function?

Because of injectivity, we can regard $x$ as a function of $y$, for $y$ in the range of $f$.
Is the point $y = -3$ in the range of $f$?
Could you try to differentiate the identity $y = f(x(y))$ with respect to $y$?

(The last step will reproduce the formula that was given in post #2.)
 
MarkFL said:
edit: Please read and respond to post #3 first (it provides better help) and then check the hidden content here to confirm your result from the indicated differentiation. :)

I would use:

$$\left[f^{-1}\right]'(a)=\frac{1}{f'\left(f^{-1}(a)\right)}$$

Can you proceed?

We did cover the formula's derviation in lectures, but how do I use. Do I still have to get the inverse of f(x)?
 
ertagon2 said:
We did cover the formula's derviation in lectures, but how do I use. Do I still have to get the inverse of f(x)?

We need to find $f^{-1}(-3)$, but we don't have to find $f^{-1}$ explicitly. If we observe we must have:

$$f\left(f^{-1}(-3)\right)=-3$$

So, let's define:

$$b=f^{-1}(-3)$$

And write:

$$f(b)=-3$$

Can you solve for $b$?
 
MarkFL said:
We need to find $f^{-1}(-3)$, but we don't have to find $f^{-1}$ explicitly. If we observe we must have:

$$f\left(f^{-1}(-3)\right)=-3$$

So, let's define:

$$b=f^{-1}(-3)$$

And write:

$$f(b)=-3$$

Can you solve for $b$?

Nope, I see that you did in the first 2 lines but what do you mean by solving for b?
 
ertagon2 said:
Nope, I see that you did in the first 2 lines but what do you mean by solving for b?

$f(b)=2b^3+7b-3$

And so you want to solve:

$$2b^3+7b-3=-3$$

for its real root. :)
 
I would like to return to the question posted by Krylov:

Krylov said:
As an aside, do you know why it is an injective function?...

Your professor felt it important for you to be able to discuss why we know this function must be injective, and I also agree this is an important point when discussing inverse functions. Can you show why the given function must be one-to-one?
 
MarkFL said:
I would like to return to the question posted by Krylov:
Your professor felt it important for you to be able to discuss why we know this function must be injective, and I also agree this is an important point when discussing inverse functions. Can you show why the given function must be one-to-one?

Good post. If I may add without giving the answer away; think of what you are doing when you find the inverse by switching variables and solving.

Without giving anymore details, think of the vertical line test and horizontal line test. The result of one-one should follow. Just trying to help with some graphical representation.

Think about the function $f(x)= x^2$
What happens at the points $x= (-1)$ and $(1)$?

So we have a function, that is what we know; now try to find the inverse if it has one. Then try to deduce the importance on the function being one to one.
 
  • #10
MarkFL said:
I would like to return to the question posted by Krylov:
Your professor felt it important for you to be able to discuss why we know this function must be injective, and I also agree this is an important point when discussing inverse functions. Can you show why the given function must be one-to-one?

These are notes from the lecture that covered this topic. http://hamilton.nuigalway.ie/teachingWeb/MA180_2017_18/calc_17.pdf
He only showed us what an injective function is and derived the formula. I honestly have no idea how to attempt this question.
 
  • #11
A function says that for every x, there is exactly one y. That is, y values can be duplicated but x values can not be repeated.

If the function has an inverse that is also a function, then there can only be one y for every x.

A one-to-one function, is a function in which for every x there is exactly one y and for every y, there is exactly one x. A one-to-one function has an inverse that is also a function.

So in our case where $f(x)=x^2$, the function obviously passes the vertical line test, but does not pass the horiztonal line test which implies it has no inverse. That is because when you choose any value such; ie $x=2$ and $x=-2$ we get an output of $4$. This should help with the injection/ one-to-one understanding.

So when we take the inverse of that function, these values change to $y=2$ , $y=-2$ when x=4. Is this a function? Why not?
 
  • #12
ertagon2 said:
These are notes from the lecture that covered this topic. http://hamilton.nuigalway.ie/teachingWeb/MA180_2017_18/calc_17.pdf
He only showed us what an injective function is and derived the formula. I honestly have no idea how to attempt this question.

Look at this pdf and try to understand the reliance on one-to-one.

View attachment 7541
 

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  • #13
ertagon2 said:
These are notes from the lecture that covered this topic. http://hamilton.nuigalway.ie/teachingWeb/MA180_2017_18/calc_17.pdf
He only showed us what an injective function is and derived the formula. I honestly have no idea how to attempt this question.

What I had in mind, is to look at the function's first derivative. If this derivative never changes sign, that is, has no real roots, or no real roots of odd multiplicity, then it can never change direction as it will never go from positive to negative or negative to positive. Functions that are strictly increasing or decreasing are one-to-one.

Does the sign of the given function's first derivative ever change?
 
  • #14

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  • #15
It is interesting that you want to solve f(x)= -3 and immediately jump to "f(0)= 2(0^3)+ 7(0)- 3= 3". How did you arrive at x= 0 to begin with?
 
  • #16
I would have first dealt with the question regarding why the given function is injective. We find:

$$f'(x)=6x^2+7$$

Since $f'>0\,\forall\,x\in\mathbb{R}$, we know the function is strictly increasing, which means it is injective, or one-to-one.

Next, I would implicitly differentiate the given function with respect to $f$ to get:

$$1=\left(6x^2+7\right)\d{x}{f}\implies \d{x}{f}=\frac{1}{6x^2+7}$$

Next, we solve:

$$f(x)=-3$$

$$2x^3+7x-3=-3$$

$$x\left(2x^2+7\right)=0$$

The only real root is:

$$x=0$$

Thus, as the point $(0,-3)$ is on $f$, then $(-3,0)$ must be on $f^{-1}$ and so we may write:

$$\left[f^{-1}\right]'(-3)=\left.\d{x}{f}\right|_{x=0}=\frac{1}{7}\quad\checkmark$$
 
  • #17
To show that a function is "injective" you have to show that the definition of "injective", that "if f(x)= f(y) then x= y" is true. Here f(x)= 2x^3+ 7x- 3 so we have 2x^3+ 7x- 3= 2y^3+ 7y- 3. Then 2(x^3- y^3)+ 7(x- y)= 2(x- y)(x^2+ xy+ y^2)+ 7(x- y)= (x- y)(2x^2+ 2xy+ 2y^2+ 7x- 7y)= 0. Either x- y= 0 or 2x^2+ 2xy+ 2y^2+ 7x- 7y)= 0. Use the quadratic formula to solve that second equation for x as a function of y. Show that there are no real x and y that satisfy that.
 
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