Inverse Function with Differentiation

In summary: So the answer is:In summary, to find (f^{-1})'(2) you only need to apply the chain rule and use the fact that the inverse of an exponential function is a logarithmic function.
  • #1
Soaring Crane
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Let f(x) = x^3 + e^x.
Find (f^-1)'(2).
I know how to do everything else except the first step. How do you find the inverse of f(x)? I know the inverse of an exponential function is a logarthmic function, but where do I proceed from here?
Thanks.
 
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  • #2
There's a theorem for that

Soaring Crane said:
Let f(x) = x^3 + e^x.
Find (f^-1)'(2).
I know how to do everything else except the first step. How do you find the inverse of f(x)? I know the inverse of an exponential function is a logarthmic function, but where do I proceed from here?
Thanks.

You don't need to find an inverse function to answer this question, you only need to determine the value of its derivative at 2. I am supposing that you know the chain rule:

Let [itex]y=g(x)[/itex] so that [itex]g^{-1}(y)=x[/itex]. Recall that y is a function of x, so in differentiating w.r.t. x we apply the chain rule to get [itex]\left( g^{-1} \right)^{\prime}(y)y^{\prime}=1[/itex] but [itex]y=g(x)[/itex]
so put [itex]y^{\prime}=g^{\prime}(x)[/itex] and the equation becomes [itex]\left( g^{-1} \right)^{\prime}\left( g(x)\right) g^{\prime}(x)=1[/itex] or [itex]g^{\prime}(x)=\frac{1}{\left( g^{-1} \right)^{\prime}\left( g(x)\right)}[/itex].

In your problem, let [itex]g(x)=f^{-1}(x)[/itex].
 

FAQ: Inverse Function with Differentiation

What is an inverse function?

An inverse function is a mathematical function that can reverse the effect of another function. In other words, if a function f(x) transforms an input x into an output y, the inverse function f^-1(y) can take the output y and return the original input x.

How do you find the inverse of a function?

To find the inverse of a function, you can follow these steps:

  1. Write the function as y = f(x).
  2. Swap the x and y variables, so the function becomes x = f(y).
  3. Solve for y in terms of x. This will be the inverse function, y = f^-1(x).

What is the relationship between inverse functions and differentiation?

Inverse functions and differentiation are closely related because the derivative of an inverse function is the reciprocal of the derivative of the original function. This means that if the original function has a derivative, the inverse function will also have a derivative.

What is the role of differentiation in finding the inverse of a function?

Differentiation is crucial in finding the inverse of a function because it helps determine if the inverse function exists. If a function is differentiable, its inverse will also be differentiable. Additionally, differentiation can help determine the formula for the inverse function.

How do you use differentiation to find the inverse of a function?

To use differentiation to find the inverse of a function, you can follow these steps:

  1. Write the function as y = f(x).
  2. Swap the x and y variables, so the function becomes x = f(y).
  3. Use differentiation to find the derivative of the original function, dy/dx.
  4. Take the reciprocal of dy/dx, which will be the derivative of the inverse function, dx/dy.
  5. Write the inverse function as y = f^-1(x) = dx/dy.

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