How do you find the inverse of f(x)=x^2-6x?

2 Answers

This function does not have an inverse.

Explanation:

We have that

f(x)=(x^2-6x+9)-9=(x-3)^2-9

hence f(0)=f(6) this function is not 1-1

This function f:R->R does not have an inverse.

Sep 10, 2015

The function is not one-to-one, so it does not have an inverse function.

Explanation:

The inverse relation may be found by solving

x = y^2-6y for y using either Completing the Square or the Quadratics Formula:

y^2-6y-x=0

We have a=1, b=-6 and c=-x#

y = (-b +- sqrt(b^2-4ac))/2a

y = (-(-6) +- sqrt((-6)^2-4(1)(-x)))/(2(1))

y = (6+-sqrt(36+4x))/2

y = (6+-sqrt(4(9+4x)))/2

y = (6+- 2sqrt(9+4x))/2

y = 3 +- sqrt(9+x)

As we can see y is not a function of x. That is: the inverse relation is not a function.