What is the inverse of f(x) = x^3 + 2x?

In summary, to find the inverse of the function f(x) = x^3 + 2x, you need to solve the equation x^3 + 2x = y for x. This involves solving a general cubic equation and it may not have a simple form for its inverse. Simply interchanging x and y will not lead to the correct solution. Instead, you need to express f(x) as F(y) and then solve for x.
  • #1
tomcenjerrym
37
0
What is the inverse of this function [tex]f(x) = x^3 + 2x[/tex]?

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[tex]f(x) = x^3 + 2x[/tex]

[tex]y = x^3 + 2x[/tex]

interchange [tex]x \Leftrightarrow y[/tex]

[tex]x = y^3 + 2y[/tex]

and it's a dead end to me ...
 
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  • #2
That will not get you where you need to be. Rather then simply interchanging x and y, you need to chang your expression for f(x) as F(y). A simple example:

f(x)= 3x + 5

y = 3x + 5

y - 5 = 3x

y/3 - 5/3 = x

x = y/3 - 5/3

so now you have x = F(y)
 
  • #3
What you need to do is solve the equation x3+ 2x= y for x. Thats solving a fairly general cubic equation. Do you have any reason to think that the inverse can be written in a simple form?
 

FAQ: What is the inverse of f(x) = x^3 + 2x?

What is an inverse function?

An inverse function is a function that undoes the action of another function. It is the reversal of the input and output values of the original function. In other words, if f(x) is a function, then its inverse function is denoted as f^-1(x).

How do I find the inverse of a function?

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

  1. Switch the x and y variables.
  2. Solve the new equation for y.
  3. Replace y with f^-1(x).
  4. The resulting expression is the inverse function.

Why is finding inverse functions important?

Finding inverse functions is important because it allows us to solve equations and problems that involve inverse operations. It also helps in simplifying complex expressions and makes it easier to understand the relationship between two functions.

What is the domain and range of an inverse function?

The domain of an inverse function is the range of the original function, and the range of an inverse function is the domain of the original function. In other words, the input values of the inverse function are the output values of the original function, and vice versa.

Can every function have an inverse function?

No, not every function has an inverse function. For a function to have an inverse, it must be one-to-one, meaning that each input value has a unique output value. Functions that fail the horizontal line test do not have inverse functions. Examples of such functions include circles, ellipses, and parabolas.

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