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Exercise 1.3 · Q20

Q.A simple cipher takes a number and codes it, using the function f(x)=3x−4f(x)=3x-4. Find the inverse of this function, determine whether the inverse is also a function and verify the symmetrical property about the line y=xy=x (by drawing the lines).

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Step 1. From y=3x−4y=3x-4: 3x=y+4⇒x=y+433x=y+4\Rightarrow x=\dfrac{y+4}3. Relabelling, f−1(x)=x+43f^{-1}(x)=\dfrac{x+4}3.

Step 2 (Is the inverse a function?). ff is linear with nonzero slope 3, hence a bijection R→RR\to R (injective: f(x)=f(y)⇒x=yf(x)=f(y)\Rightarrow x=y; surjective: every yy has pre-image y+43\tfrac{y+4}3). A bijection's inverse is always a function -- yes.

Step 3 (Symmetry check about y=xy=x). Pick a sample point on ff: f(0)=−4f(0)=-4, giving the point (0,−4)(0,-4). Check f−1(−4)=−4+43=0f^{-1}(-4)=\dfrac{-4+4}3=0, giving the point (−4,0)(-4,0) on f−1f^{-1}'s graph. Notice (−4,0)(-4,0) is exactly (0,−4)(0,-4) with coordinates swapped -- which is precisely the reflection of (0,−4)(0,-4) across the line y=xy=x. This pattern holds for every point, confirming that f−1f^{-1}'s gr …

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