# Solving an equation in x

1. Apr 3, 2014

### Panphobia

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

if f(x) = 1/x
solve the equations f(x) = y in x. There may be different cases depending on y.

3. The attempt at a solution
The wording here is kind of confusing, how am I supposed to solve this equation? What does it mean is a better question. What would I put in the solution set?

Last edited: Apr 3, 2014
2. Apr 3, 2014

### dirk_mec1

The question is not clear at all.

3. Apr 3, 2014

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Perhaps you meant "solve the equation y= 1/x for x. That would be very easy to do.

4. Apr 3, 2014

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
I agree with Dirk and Halls. The problem statement is nonsense, but if it's actually written like that, it's likely that they meant this: Let f be the function defined by f(x)=1/x for all x. Solve the equation f(x)=y for x.

5. Apr 3, 2014

### Panphobia

Well here is the actual question

6. Apr 3, 2014

### Ray Vickson

Was $f(x) = 1/x$ specified in an earlier part of the question? If not, then the actual question is very different from what you first wrote here.

7. Apr 3, 2014

### Panphobia

Well there were a bunch of different functions, and I had to do this question for all of them.

8. Apr 3, 2014

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
I don't know why they wrote "in", but you're definitely supposed to solve the equation f(x)=y for x.

Maybe they're thinking that a phrase like "f(x)=y is an equation in x" is a valid way to ensure that they can now say "solve the equation" instead of "solve the equation for x". Or maybe it was just an editing mistake.