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Mathematics vocabulary · Functions and Graphs

Inverse function

Meaning in mathematics, with examples

nounCommon term

In mathematics, inverse function means: A function that reverses the effect of another function, so that if f(2) = 7, the inverse of f takes 7 back to 2.

In Turkish: ters fonksiyon

How it is used

Written f⁻¹(x) and read 'f inverse of x'. You find it by swapping x and y and solving for y. Only one-to-one functions have an inverse, and the graph of f⁻¹ is the reflection of the graph of f in the line y = x.

Example sentences

  1. Find the inverse function of f(x) = 2x − 5.

  2. The natural logarithm is the inverse function of eˣ.

Common collocations

  • find the inverse function
  • f inverse
  • inverse of a function
  • one-to-one function
  • functionA rule that takes each input from a set and gives exactly one output, for example f(x) = 2x + 1, which doubles a number and adds one.
  • f of xThe usual spoken form of f(x), the output of a function f when the input is x; for example, if f(x) = x + 5, then 'f of 2' is 7.
  • domainThe set of all input values for which a function is defined; for f(x) = 1/x, the domain is all real numbers except 0.
  • graphA drawing that shows the relationship between quantities, especially all the points (x, y) of a function shown on a pair of axes.

More terms: Functions and Graphs

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