Question #a818a

1 Answer
Nov 30, 2016

Please see the explanation.

Explanation:

Here is the graph:

![Desmos.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

This looks like a cosine function that has been multiplied by an amplitude and phase shift to the right:

f(x) = Acos(x - phi) = sin(x) + cos(x)

My graphing tool allows me to obtain values of points and I can tell you that A = sqrt(2)

cos(x - phi) = 1/sqrt(2)sin(x) + 1/sqrt(2)cos(x)

This fits the trigonometric identity:

cos(x - phi) = sin(x)sin(phi) + cos(x)cos(phi)

where cos(phi) = sin(phi) = 1/sqrt(2)

This happens at phi = pi/4

The graphing tool confirms that the x coordinates are shift by pi/4.

f(x) = sqrt(2)cos(x - pi/4)

Substitute f^-1(x) for every x:

f(f^-1(x)) = sqrt(2)cos(f^-1(x) - pi/4)

The left side becomes x by definition:

x = sqrt(2)cos(f^-1(x) - pi/4)

Make the sqrt(2) on the right disappear by multiplying both sides by sqrt(2)/2:

sqrt(2)/2x = cos(f^-1(x) - pi/4)

Use the inverse cosine on both sides:

cos^-1(sqrt(2)/2x) = f^-1(x) - pi/4

Solve for f^-1(x):

f^-1(x) = cos^-1(sqrt(2)/2x) + pi/4

To confirm that this is truly an inverse, verify that f(f^-1(x)) = f^-1(f(x)) = x