[Math] Find a formula for the inverse of the function. $f(x) = \frac{4x − 1}{2x + 3}$

algebra-precalculuscalculus

Please tell me know if my answer is right and whether the steps are correct? Thanks.

$f(x) = \frac{4x − 1}{2x + 3}$

Step 1: Write $y=f(x)$

$y=\frac{4x-1}{2x+3}$

Step 2: Solve this equation for $x$ in terms of $y$ (if possible)

2(a) Multiply both sides by $2x+3$

$(2x+3)\cdot(y)\ =\frac{4x-1}{2x+3}\cdot(2x+3)$

2(b) Distribute y term

$2xy+3y = 4x-1$

2(c) Isolate $x$ and $y$ terms

$2xy + 3y = 4x – 1 $

$-2xy+1 = -2xy$

$3y+1 = 4x-2xy$

$3y+1 = x (4-2y)$

2(d) Divide both sides by $(4-2y)$

$x=\frac{3y+1}{4-2y}$

$f^{-1}=\frac{3x+1}{4-2x} $

Best Answer

$y=\dfrac{4x-1}{2x+3}$

swap $ x,y $

$x=\dfrac{4y-1}{2y+3}$

Solve back $y$ in terms of $x$

$y=\dfrac{3x+1}{-2x+4}, $ done.

EDIT1:

It is an interesting bi-linear or fractional linear function. Notice that coefficients in the left diagonal got swapped and signs of right diagonal elements changed,

$$ \dfrac{a x + b }{c x + d} \rightarrow \dfrac{d x - b }{-c x + a} $$

leaving $ (a d - b c) $ unaltered.

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