The function f\mathrm{f} is defined by f:x↦2xx2−1,x∈R, x>1\mathrm{f} : x \mapsto \frac{2x}{x^2 - 1}, \quad x \in \mathbb{R}, \ x > 1.

  1. (i)

    Sketch the graph of f\mathrm{f} and show that f\mathrm{f} has an inverse.

  2. (ii)

    Find f−1(x)\mathrm{f}^{-1}(x) and state its domain.

  3. (iii)

    Write down the equation of the line in which the graph of f\mathrm{f} must be reflected in order to obtain the graph of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} and hence find the exact solution of the equation f(x)=f−1(x)\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{f}^{-1}(x).

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Worked solution

12(i)

1. Identify the asymptotes of the graph for the given domain.

For x>1x > 1:
As x→1+x \to 1^+, the denominator (x2−1)→0+(x^2 - 1) \to 0^+ and the numerator 2x→22x \to 2, so f(x)→∞\mathrm{f}(x) \to \infty.
Thus, the vertical asymptote is x=1x = 1.
As x→∞x \to \infty, f(x)=2x1−1x2→0\mathrm{f}(x) = \frac{\frac{2}{x}}{1 - \frac{1}{x^2}} \to 0.
Thus, the horizontal asymptote is y=0y = 0.

2. Sketch the graph of $\mathrm{f}$ restricted to the domain.

Using a graphing calculator or by analyzing the behavior, we sketch the curve for x>1x > 1.
The graph is a single smooth curve in the first quadrant, strictly decreasing from the vertical asymptote x=1x = 1 towards the horizontal asymptote y=0y = 0 (the xx-axis).
(The sketch must strictly start to the right of x=1x = 1, with axes and asymptotes x=1x = 1, y=0y = 0 labeled.)

3. Show that the function has an inverse by referring to its graph.

From the sketched graph, any horizontal line y=ky = k intersects the curve at most once.
By the Horizontal Line Test, f\mathrm{f} is a one-to-one function.
Therefore, f\mathrm{f} has an inverse.

Answer

(Graph sketched with asymptotes x=1x=1 and y=0y=0)

Since any horizontal line intersects the graph at most once, f\mathrm{f} is one-to-one and hence has an inverse.

12(ii)

1. Set up the equation $y = \mathrm{f}(x)$ and rearrange it to form a quadratic equation in $x$.

Let y=2xx2−1y = \frac{2x}{x^2 - 1}.
y(x2−1)=2xy(x^2 - 1) = 2x
yx2−y=2xyx^2 - y = 2x
yx2−2x−y=0yx^2 - 2x - y = 0

2. Solve for $x$ in terms of $y$ using the quadratic formula.

x=−(−2)±(−2)2−4(y)(−y)2yx = \frac{-(-2) \pm \sqrt{(-2)^2 - 4(y)(-y)}}{2y}
x=2±4+4y22yx = \frac{2 \pm \sqrt{4 + 4y^2}}{2y}
x=2±21+y22yx = \frac{2 \pm 2\sqrt{1 + y^2}}{2y}
x=1±1+y2yx = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 + y^2}}{y}

3. Determine the correct sign for the inverse function using the domain of $\mathrm{f}$.

Since the domain of f\mathrm{f} is x>1x > 1, we must have x>0x > 0.
For y>0y > 0, 1+y2>1\sqrt{1 + y^2} > 1, so 1−1+y2<01 - \sqrt{1 + y^2} < 0, which would result in a negative xx.
Thus, we reject the negative root.
x=1+1+y2yx = \frac{1 + \sqrt{1 + y^2}}{y}
f−1(x)=1+1+x2x\mathrm{f}^{-1}(x) = \frac{1 + \sqrt{1 + x^2}}{x}

4. Determine the range of $\mathrm{f}$ to state the domain of $\mathrm{f}^{-1}$.

The domain of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} is the range of f\mathrm{f}.
For x>1x > 1, x2−1>0x^2 - 1 > 0 and 2x>22x > 2, so f(x)>0\mathrm{f}(x) > 0.
As x→1+x \to 1^+, f(x)→∞\mathrm{f}(x) \to \infty.
As x→∞x \to \infty, f(x)=2/x1−1/x2→0\mathrm{f}(x) = \frac{2/x}{1 - 1/x^2} \to 0.
Therefore, the range of f\mathrm{f} is (0,∞)(0, \infty).
The domain of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1} is x>0x > 0.

Answer

f−1(x)=1+1+x2x\mathrm{f}^{-1}(x) = \frac{1 + \sqrt{1 + x^2}}{x}, domain: x>0x > 0

12(iii)

1. State the equation of the line of reflection between a function and its inverse.

The graph of f\mathrm{f} must be reflected in the line y=xy = x to obtain the graph of f−1\mathrm{f}^{-1}.

2. Set up the equation to find the solution, using the 'hence' method.

Since the graphs intersect on the line of reflection, the solution to f(x)=f−1(x)\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{f}^{-1}(x) is the same as the solution to f(x)=x\mathrm{f}(x) = x.
2xx2−1=x\frac{2x}{x^2 - 1} = x

3. Solve the equation for $x$ and reject invalid roots using the domain of $\mathrm{f}$.

2x=x(x2−1)2x = x(x^2 - 1)
x3−3x=0x^3 - 3x = 0
x(x2−3)=0x(x^2 - 3) = 0
x=0orx=3orx=−3x = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad x = \sqrt{3} \quad \text{or} \quad x = -\sqrt{3}
Since the domain of f\mathrm{f} is x>1x > 1, we reject x=0x = 0 and x=−3x = -\sqrt{3}.
x=3x = \sqrt{3}

Answer

Line of reflection: y=xy = x
Exact solution: x=3x = \sqrt{3}

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