Inverse Functions

A function is a relationship where each x value has only one y value associated with it. Each y value may or may not have only one x value associated with it.
For example: y = x2    If 2 is substituted in for x   y = 4;   if -2 is substitute for x    y = 4   
Therefore y = 4 has two x values associated with it x = 2 and x = -2.  expression in ordered pair notation (2,4),(-2,4)

Every y value in the parabola y = x2 as seen in the below graph will have two x values.
Another example is if x = 3 y = 9 and if x = -3   y still = 9   (3,9),(-3,9)



IMPORTANT - There are functions where every y value has only one x value assigned to it and each x value has only one y value. These are called one to one functions.

For example y = x3 is a one to one function. If 2 is substituted in for x   y = 8;   if -2 is substitute for x    y = -8   (2,8),(-2,-8)



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