Inverse functions and One to One

[tmlrlz]

Homework Statement

For exercises 49 and 50 let f(x) = (ax + b)/(cx + d)
50. Determine the constants a, b, c, d for which f = f^-1

Homework Equations

I found in question 49 when they asked to find f^-1 that:
f^-1 = (dx - b)/(a - cx)
This was also the answer at the back of the book but you are free to double check.

The Attempt at a Solution

I made f(x) = f^-1(x)
(ax + b)/(cx + d) = (dx - b)/(a - cx)
a²x - acx² + ab - bcx = d²x - bcx - bd
From this i realized that finding the values for b and c would be manageable:
For b:
ab + bd = cdx² + d²x + acx² - a²x
b ( a + d) = cdx² + d²x + acx² - a²x
b = (cdx² + d²x+ acx² - a²x) / (a + d)
For c:
-acx - cdx² = d²x - bd - a²x -ab
c (-ax - dx²) = d²x - bd - a²x -ab
c = (d²x - bd - a²x -ab)/(-ax - dx²)
However i do not know how to find the constants a and d because you cannot just factor them out without leaving them in. Please help, Thank you.

 

[lanedance]

how is the question actually written?

note that if the inverse is well defined we have
f^{-1}((f(x))=x

now if the question asks you to find the co-efficients such that it is true for all x that
f(x)=f^{-1}((f(x))=x

then the problem simplifies somewhat by considering f(x)=x

 

[SammyS]

Homework Statement

For exercises 49 and 50 let f(x) = (ax + b)/(cx + d)
50. Determine the constants a, b, c, d for which f = f^-1

Homework Equations

I found in question 49 when they asked to find f^-1 that:
f^-1 = (dx - b)/(a - cx)
This was also the answer at the back of the book but you are free to double check.

The Attempt at a Solution

I made f(x) = f^-1(x)
(ax + b)/(cx + d) = (dx - b)/(a - cx)
a²x - acx² + ab - bcx = d²x - bcx - bd This should be: a²x - acx² + ab - bcx = cdx² + d²x - bcx - bd

But, I see you used the correct form below.​

From this i realized that finding the values for b and c would be manageable:
For b:
ab + bd = cdx² + d²x + acx² - a²x
b ( a + d) = cdx² + d²x + acx² - a²x
b = (cdx² + d²x+ acx² - a²x) / (a + d)
For c:
-acx - cdx² = d²x - bd - a²x -ab
c (-ax - dx²) = d²x - bd - a²x -ab
c = (d²x - bd - a²x -ab)/(-ax - dx²)
However i do not know how to find the constants a and d because you cannot just factor them out without leaving them in. Please help, Thank you.

See correction above.

All you need to do is equate coefficients.

-ac = cd (The coefficients of x²)

a² - bc = d² - bc (The coefficients of x)

ab = -bd (The constant terms)​

The solution can be seen visually if you write f(x) and f ^-1(x) next to each other, as follows.

\displaystyle\frac{ax+b}{cx+d}\quad\quad\quad\frac{-dx+b}{cx-a}\quad \quad=\frac{dx-b}{-cx+a}​

The second expression is just your f ^-1 after multiplying the numerator & denominator by -1.

 

[tmlrlz]

how is the question actually written?

note that if the inverse is well defined we have
f^{-1}((f(x))=x

now if the question asks you to find the co-efficients such that it is true for all x that
f(x)=f^{-1}((f(x))=x

then the problem simplifies somewhat by considering f(x)=x

The question is for exercises 49 and 50 and i did 49 which is why i did not put it but i think it will help you understand the question better so this is the way the question is written:
For exercises 49 and 50, let f(x) = (ax +b)/(cx +d).
49. a) Show that f is one-to-one iff ad-bc ≠ 0
b) Suppose that ad-bc ≠ 0. Find f^-1
50. Determine the constants a,b,c, d for which f = f^-1

But i don't understand how i would apply your method here, do you mean that right off the beginning when i make f = f^-1 that i should say x = f^-1 and work from there?

 

[tmlrlz]

See correction above.

All you need to do is equate coefficients.

-ac = cd (The coefficients of x²)

a² - bc = d² - bc (The coefficients of x)

ab = -bd (The constant terms)​

The solution can be seen visually if you write f(x) and f ^-1(x) next to each other, as follows.

\displaystyle\frac{ax+b}{cx+d}\quad\quad\quad\frac{-dx+b}{cx-a}\quad \quad=\frac{dx-b}{-cx+a}​

The second expression is just your f ^-1 after multiplying the numerator & denominator by -1.

I'm sorry i don't really understand what you mean, can you elaborate, perhaps with all the variables and values that involve x. I don't understand because for such instances as
ab + bd = acx² -a²x +cdx² + d²x
how does that become
ab = bd(acx² -a²x +cdx² + d²x)?
How would you equate the coefficients?

 

[SammyS]

You can write f^{-1}(x) as \displaystyle f^{-1}(x)=\frac{-dx+b}{cx-a}\,. It's equivalent to what you have even if it looks different.

So you want f(x)=f^{-1}(x)\,.

That gives you: \displaystyle \frac{ax+b}{cx+d}=\frac{-dx+b}{cx-a}\,.

\displaystyle (ax+b)(cx-a)=(-dx+b)(cx+d)

\displaystyle acx^2-a^{2}x+bcx-ab=-cdx^2-d^{2}x+bcx+bd

The coefficient of x² on the left must be equal to the coefficient of x² on the right. Similarly the coefficients of x are equal. So are the constant terms.

They ALL give the same result: a=-d
.

 

[tmlrlz]

You can write f^{-1}(x) as \displaystyle f^{-1}(x)=\frac{-dx+b}{cx-a}\,. It's equivalent to what you have even if it looks different.

So you want f(x)=f^{-1}(x)\,.

That gives you: \displaystyle \frac{ax+b}{cx+d}=\frac{-dx+b}{cx-a}\,.

\displaystyle (ax+b)(cx-a)=(-dx+b)(cx+d)

\displaystyle acx^2-a^{2}x+bcx-ab=-cdx^2-d^{2}x+bcx+bd

The coefficient of x² on the left must be equal to the coefficient of x² on the right. Similarly the coefficients of x are equal. So are the constant terms.

They ALL give the same result: a=-d
.

Oh i think i get it now, but then what about the values for b and c, are my answers for those still correct or are there no values for b and c because you keep getting a = -d. Is the answer to this question only that a = -d?

 

[lanedance]

firsxt question was just to calrify, though I think I get it now

here we are considering a map f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}, and want to find f^{-1} : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}, such that f^{-1}(x) = f(x), \ \forall x,

 

[lanedance]

consider first a graph of an arbitrary function f(x), the graph of f^{-1}(x) is given by a reflection in the line y=x. This already limits the possible functions.

Now analytically consider
f(x) = f^{-1}(x)

Now apply f to both sides
f(f(x)) = f(f^{-1}(x))=x

2 functions that satisfy this are
f(x) = \pm x

 

[lanedance]

Now consider your function
f(x) = \frac{ax+b}{cx+d}

Now let's follow through the previous working, setting f(x)= y and solving for x gives f^{-1}(x)
y = \frac{ax+b}{cx+d}
y(cx+d) = ax+b
x(cy-a)= b-dy
x= \frac{b-dy}{cy-a}

Hence we have the same as you had fro the inverse (but multiplied by (-1)/(-1)=1)
f^{-1}(x)= \frac{b-dx}{cx-a}

Now equating f(x)= f^{-1}(x) and solving gives
f(x) = \frac{ax+b}{cx+d} = \frac{b-dx}{cx-a} = f^{-1}(x)
\frac{ax+b}{cx+d} = \frac{b-dx}{cx-a}
(ax+b)(cx-a)= (b-dx)(cx+d)
acx^2-a^2x+bcx-ab= bcx+bd-dcx^2-d^2x
x^2c(a+d)+x(d^2-a^2)-b(d+a)=0

 

[lanedance]

For this to be true for all x, it gives three conditions to be satisfied:
c(a+d)=0, so either c=0 or a=-d
d^2-a^2=0, so either a=\pm d
-b(d+a)=0, so either b=0 or a=-d

so going through possible combinations, the valid solutions are
a=-d
c=0, a=d, b=0

the combination
a=1, d=-1, c=0 gives f(x)=x
whilst the combination
a=d, c=0, b=x gives f(x)=-x

now consider the least restrictive a=-d, then
f(x) = \frac{ax+b}{cx-a} = \frac{b+ax}{cx-a} = f^{-1}(x)

Plotting for a=c=b=1
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=plot+(x+1)/(x-1)

note the symmetry in the y=x line

a=-d solutions represent hyperbolas symmetric in the line y=x (rotated 45degrees), the values of b and c will vary the position and "sharpness" of the hyperbolas