Find The Inverse of a Relation - Questions With Solutions

How to find the inverse of a relation given by its graph? Examples are presented along with detailed solutions and aslo questions with Solutions and explanations are included.


Examples: Find the Inverse of a Relation Given by its Graph

A point (ordered pair) on the graph of the inverse of a relation is obtained by interchanging (switching) the coordinates of a point (ordered pair) in the graph of the relation. Geometrically, a point on the graph of a relation and a corresponding point on the inverse of the relation are reflection of each other on the line y = x.

Example 1
Sketch the graph of the inverse of the relation given by its graph below.

graph of relation for example 1


Solution:
Step 1: Select points on the graph of the given relation and find their coordinates: blue points shown on graph below with the following coordinates.
(8,4) , (5,2) , (4,0) , (3,-1) , (0,-2) , (-2,-4) , (-3,-5)
Step 2: Reflect the points (by switching the x and y coordinates) obtained above on the line y = x : red points.
(4,8) , (2,5) , (0,4) , (-1,3) , (-2,0) , (-4,-2) , (-5,-3)

points on graph of relation for example 1


Sketch the graph of the inverse of the given relation by connecting the inverted points as shown by the red graph below. The given graph and the inverse are reflection of each other on the line y = x.

inverse of relation for example 1



Example 2 Sketch the graph of the inverse of the relation given by its graph below.

graph of relation for example 2


Solution:
Step 1: Select and define points on the graph of the given relation by their coordinates as shown on graph below (blue points on the graph).
(6,3) , (2,-5) , (0,-1) , (-2,-5) , (-3,-3)
Step 2: Reflect, on the line y = x, the points (by switching the x and y coordinates) obtained above as shown by the red points with coordinates.
(6,3) , (2,-5) , (0,-1) , (-2,-5) , (-3,-3)

points on graph of relation for example 2


The graph of the inverse relation is obtained by connecting the inverted points as shown below so that the given graph and the inverse are reflection of each other on the line y = x.

inverse of relation for example 2



Questions

Sketch the graph of the inverse of each of the relations given by its graph below:
a)

inverse of relation for question 1


b)

inverse of relation for question 2


Solutions to the Above Questions

a) Solution to part a)
Step 1: Select points on the graph of the given relation and find their coordinates: blue points shown on graph below with the following coordinates.
(4,2) , (2,2) , (1,-1) , (0,-2) , (-1,-1) , (-2,-4)
Step 2: Reflect, on the line y = x, by switching the x and y coordinates of the points obtained above to obtain the red points.
(2,4) , (2,2) , (-1,1) , (-2,0) , (-1,-1) , (-4,-2)

points on graph of relation for question 1


The inverse of the given relation is obtained by connecting the inverted points as shown by the red graph below. The given graph and the inverse are reflection of each other on the line y = x.

inverse of relation for question 1



b) Solution to part b)
Step 1: Select points on the graph of the given relation and find their coordinates: blue points shown on graph below with the following coordinates.
(5,6) , (4,1) , (2,-1) , (0,-3) , (-1,-8)
Step 2: Reflect the points (by switching the x and y coordinates) obtained above on the line y = x : red points.
(6,5) , (1,4) , (-1,2) , (-3,0) , (-8,-1)

points on graph of relation for question 2


Sketch the graph of the inverse of the given relation by connecting the inverted points as shown by the red graph below so that the given graph and the inverse are reflection of each other on the line y = x.

inverse of relation for question 2


More References and links

Inverse Function
Find Inverse Function (1) - Tutorial
Find Inverse Function (2) - Tutorial
Middle School Maths (Grades 6, 7, 8, 9) - Free Questions and Problems With Answers
High School Maths (Grades 10, 11 and 12) - Free Questions and Problems With Answers
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