What Are the Inverse Images of Various Sets Under the Function f(x)=x^2?

[hammonjj]

Homework Statement :
Define f: ℝ→ℝ by f(x)=x^2. Find f^-1(T) for each of the following:

(a) T = {9}
(b) T = [4,9)
(c) T = [-4,9]

The attempt at a solution:
So, the inverse of f should be f^-1(T)=+/-√(x). Therefor:

(a) f^-1(9)= +/- 3
(b) f^-1(4)= +/- 2, f^-1(5)= +/- √(5), f^-1(6)= +/- √(6), f^-1(7)= +/- √(7), f^-1(8)= +/- 2√(2)
(c) Assuming I did the above correct, I have no idea how to do this part because clearly √(x) is not going to have a real solution from [-4,-1]

Any help would be awesome! Thanks!
James

 

[SammyS]

Homework Statement :
Define f: ℝ→ℝ by f(x)=x^2. Find f^-1(T) for each of the following:

(a) T = {9}
(b) T = [4,9)
(c) T = [-4,9]

The attempt at a solution:
So, the inverse of f should be f^-1(T)=+/-√(x). Therefor:

(a) f^-1(9)= +/- 3
(b) f^-1(4)= +/- 2, f^-1(5)= +/- √(5), f^-1(6)= +/- √(6), f^-1(7)= +/- √(7), f^-1(8)= +/- 2√(2)
(c) Assuming I did the above correct, I have no idea how to do this part because clearly √(x) is not going to have a real solution from [-4,-1]

Any help would be awesome! Thanks!
James

The function f(x) = x², having the domain, ℝ, does not have an inverse function.

What f^-1(T) refers to is called the "inverse image" of set T for the function f.

Does your textbook have a definition for the inverse image, f^-1(T), where T is a set?

 

[hammonjj]

The function f(x) = x², having the domain, ℝ, does not have an inverse function.

What f^-1(T) refers to is called the "inverse image" of set T for the function f.

Does your textbook have a definition for the inverse image, f^-1(T), where T is a set?

They have one, but it's about 2 sentences long. If I'm understanding correctly:

C $\subseteq$ A

So,

f: C → f(C) and, therefor

f^-1: f(C) → f^-1(C)

I might be abusing notation a bit on this, so please correct me.

What I don't understand is how exactly do I find f^-1 if it is not the inverse function?

 

[HallsofIvy]

The very, very first proof I had to present before a class in graduate school had to do with "$f^{-1}(X)$" for X a set. I did the whole proof assuming that f was invertible! Very embarassing!

hamonjj, these are sets- otherwise "$f^{-1}$" for $f(x)= x^2$ wouldn't make sense.

The definition of $f^{-1}(A)$ for A a set is:
$f^{1}(A)= \{ x| f(x)\in A\}$. In particular, $f^{-1}$ of a set is a set. Yes, f(3)= 9 and f(-3)= 9 so that $f^{-1}(9)= \{-3, 3\}$- be sure to write the answer as a set.

(b) f^-1(4)= +/- 2, f^-1(5)= +/- √(5), f^-1(6)= +/- √(6), f^-1(7)= +/- √(7), f^-1(8)= +/- 2√(2)

Why are you looking at integers only? We are talking about a function from R to R, not integers. f(2)= 4 and f(3)= 9. And if 2< x< 3 then 4< x^2< 9. f of any number between 2 and 3 is in this set- the interval [2, 3) is in this set (do you see why 3 is NOT in the set?). But it is also true that f(-2)= 4 and f(-3)= 9 so the interval (-3, 2] is in the set. $f^{-1}[4, 9)= [2, 3)\cup (-3, 2]$.

For (c), there are NO (real) x such that f(x)< 0 so we can ignore the "-4" part. But any number from -3 to 3 will have square between 0 and 9 and so between -4 and 9.