Inverse relation is like looking a relation in opposite direction. Equivalently, it is also like an image in a mirror. For example, consider the relation “husband of”. The inverse to this relation is “wife of”. This is an explicit relation very easily conceivable. In other situations involving function, inverse relations may not be so explicit. We shall, therefore, develop mathematical technique to obtain inverse function (relation) for a given function (relation). In order to facilitate easy recapitulation of concepts and terms for the study of inverse relation, we can refer meaning attached to following terms : f : denotes function relation from domain “A” to co-domain “B” of “f” (implicit inference of sets). f : A → B : denotes function relation from domain “A” to co-domain “B” of “f” (explicit reference of sets). f x : denotes image, an instance of function “f”, image under “f”, rule of “f”. f - 1 : denotes inverse function relation from domain “A” to co-domain “B” of “ f - 1 ” (implicit reference of sets) f - 1 : A → B : denotes inverse function relation from domain “A” to co-domain “B” of “ f - 1 ” (explicit reference of sets) f - 1 x : denotes pre-image, an instance of function “ f - 1 ”, image under “ f - 1 ”, rule of “ f - 1 ”

Inverse of an element We use the concept of pre-image and image to connect the elements of a function in the direction from domain “A” to co-domain “B”. The related elements are connected by a rule “f(x)” such that : Image = f x = f (pre-image) Clearly, “x” is the pre-image and “f(x)” is image. Now, we want to derive a similar rule, " f - 1 x ", which evaluates to pre-image like : Pre-image(s) = f - 1 x = f - 1 (image) Clearly, “x” is now the image and “ f - 1 x ” is pre-image(s). The important point to understand here is that the image in the co-domain set can be related to none, one or more elements in domain set. Therefore, this rule may evaluate accordingly to value(s) – none, one or more - for the pre-images.

Method to construct an inverse rule We construct an inverse rule in step-wise manner as enumerated here with an example : Step 1: Write down the rule of the given function “f”. Let the given rule be f(x) given by : f x = x 2 Let us put y = f(x). Then, ⇒ y = f x = x 2 This relation gives us one value of image. For example, if x = 3, then ⇒ y = 3 2 = 9 Step 2: Solve for “x” ⇒ x = ± y Step 3: Replace “x” which represents pre-image by the symbol “ f − 1 x ” and replace “y” which represents image by “x”. For the given function, f ( x ) = x 2 , the new inverse rule is : ⇒ f - 1 x = ± x This is how we construct the inverse rule. Note emphatically that “x” now represents “image” and “ f - 1 x ” represents “pre-image”. For example, if image is “9”, then we can find its pre-image (s), using this new rule as : ⇒ f - 1 9 = ± 9 = ± 3 Thus, the required pre-images is a set of two pre-images : ⇒ f - 1 9 = { − 3, 3 }

Inverse of a function Once the inverse rule is constructed, it is easy to define inverse function. However, we should be careful in one important aspect. An inverse function, “ f - 1 ” is a function ultimately. This puts the requirement that every element of the domain of the new function “ f - 1 ” should be related to exactly one element to its co-domain set. We must also understand that this new function, “ f - 1 ”, gives the perspective of relation from co-domain to domain of the given function “f”. However, new function “ f - 1 ” is read from its new domain to its new co-domain. After all this is how a function is read. This simply means that domain and co-domain of the function “f” is exchanged for “ f - 1 ”.

Inverse function The domain and co-domain sets are exchanged. Further, inverse function is inverse of a given function. Again by definition, every element of domain set of the given function “f” is also related to exactly one element of in its co-domain. Thus, there is bidirectional requirement that elements of one set are related to exactly one element of other set. Clearly, this requirement needs to be fulfilled, before we can define inverse function. In other words, we can define inverse function, " f - 1 ", only if the given function is an injection and surjection function (map or relation) at the same time. Hence, iff function, “f” is a bijection, then inverse function is defined as : f - 1 : A → B by f - 1 x for all x ∈ A We should again emphasize here that sets “A” and “B” are the domain and co-domain respectively of the inverse function. These sets have exchanged their place with respect to function “f”. This aspect can be easily understood with an illustration. Let a function “f” , which is a bijection, be defined as : Let A = {1,2,3,4} and B={3,6,9,12} f : A → B by f x = 3 x for all x ∈ A Then, the function set in the roaster form is : ⇒ f = { 1,3 , 2,6 , 3,9 , 4,12 } This function is clearly a bijection as only distinct elements of two sets are paired. Its domain and co-domains are : ⇒ Domain of “f” = { 1,2,3,4 } ⇒ Co-domain of “f” = { 3,6,9,12 } Now, the inverse function is given by : f - 1 : A → B b y f x = x 3 for all x ∈ A where A = { 3,6,9,12 } In the roaster form, the inverse function is : ⇒ f - 1 = { 3,1 , 6,2 , 9,3 , 12,4 } Note that we can find inverse relation by merely exchanging positions of elements in the ordered pairs. The domain and co-domain of new function “ f - 1 ” are : ⇒ Domain of f - 1 = { 3,6,9,12 } ⇒ Co−domain of f - 1 = { 1,2,3,4 } Thus, we see that the domain of inverse function “ f - 1 ” is co-domain of the function “f” and co-domain of inverse function “ f - 1 “ is domain of the function “f”.

Example Problem 1: A function is given as : f : R → R by f x = 2 x + 5 for all x ∈ R Construct the inverse rule. Determine f(x) for first 5 natural numbers. Check validity of inverse rule with the values of images so obtained. Find inverse function, if it exists. Solution : Following the illustration given earlier, we derive inverse rule as : y = 2 x + 5 ⇒ x = y - 5 2 Changing notations, ⇒ f - 1 x = x − 5 2 The images i.e. corresponding f(x), for first five natural numbers are : f 1 = 2 x + 5 = 7 ; f 2 = 9 ; f 3 = 11 ; f 4 = 13 a n d f 5 = 15 Now, the corresponding pre-images, using inverse rule for two values of images are : ⇒ f - 1 7 = 7 - 5 2 = 1 ⇒ f - 1 11 = 11 - 5 2 = 3 Thus, we see that the inverse rule correctly determines the pre-images as intended. Now, in order to find inverse function, we need to determine that the given function is an injection and surjection. For injection, let us assume that “ x 1 ” and “ x 2 ” be two different elements such that : f x 1 = f x 2 ⇒ 2 x 1 + 5 = 2 x 2 + 5 x 1 = x 2 This means that given function is an injection. Now, to prove surjection, we solve the rule for “x” as : ⇒ x = y - 5 2 We see that this equation is valid for all values of “R” i.e. all values in the co-domain of the given function. This means that every element of the co-domain is related. Hence, given function is surjection. The inverse function, therefore, is given as : f - 1 : R → R b y f x = x − 5 2 for all x ∈ R

Properties of inverse function There are few characteristics of inverse function that results from the fact that it is inverse of a bijection. We can check the validity of these properties in terms of the example given earlier. Let us define a bijection function as defined earlier : Let A = { 1,2,3,4 } and B = { 3,6,9,12 } f : A → B by f x = 3 x for all x ∈ A

Inverse function is unique function This means that there is only one inverse function. For the given function the inverse function is : f - 1 : A → B b y f x = x 3 f o r a l l x ∈ A where A = { 3,6,9,12 } In the roaster form, the inverse function is : ⇒ f - 1 = { 3,1 , 6,2 , 9,3 , 12,4 } This inverse function is unique to a given bijection.

Inverse function is bijection We see that inverse comprises of ordered pairs such that elements of domain and co-domain are distinctly related to each other. ⇒ f - 1 = { 3,1 , 6,2 , 9,3 , 12,4 } This mean that the inverse function is bijection.

Graph of inverse function If a function is bijection, then the inverse of function exists. On the other hand, a function is bijection, if it is both one-one and onto function. We know that one-one function is strictly monotonic in its domain. Hence, an onto function is invertible, if its graph is strictly monotonic i.e. either increasing or decreasing. In order to investigate the nature of the inverse graph, let us consider a plot of an invertible function, “f(x)”. Let (a,b) be a point on the plot. Then, by definition of an inverse function, the point (b,a) is a point on the plot of inverse function, if plotted on the same coordinate system. y = f ( x ) y = f - 1 ( x ) By geometry, the line joining points (a,b) and (b,a) is bisected at right angles by the line y = x. It means that two points under consideration are object and image for the mirror defined by y=x. This relationship also restrains that two plots can intersect only at line y = x.

Graph of inverse function The points on two plots are object and image for the mirror defined by y=x.

Example Problem 2 : Two functions, inverse of each other, are given as : f x = x 2 − x + 1 f - 1 x = 1 2 + x − 3 4 Find the solution of the equation : x 2 − x + 1 = 1 2 + x − 3 4 Solution : Statement of the problem : The given functions are inverse to each other, which can intersect only at line defined by y = x. Clearly, the intersection point is the solution of the equation. y = f x = x ⇒ x 2 − x + 1 = x ⇒ x 2 − 2 x + 1 = 0 ⇒ x − 1 2 = 0 ⇒ x = 1 This is the answer. It is interesting to know that we can also proceed to find the solution by working on the inverse function. This should also give the same result as given functions are inverse to each other. y = f - 1 x = x ⇒ 1 2 + x − 3 4 = x ⇒ x − 3 4 = x − 1 2 Squaring both sides, ⇒ x − 3 4 = x − 1 2 2 = x 2 + 1 4 − x ⇒ x 2 + 1 4 − x − x + 3 4 = 0 ⇒ x 2 − 2 x + 1 = 0 ⇒ x = 1