Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
One-to-One Functions
A one-to-one function is a type of function where each output is produced by exactly one input. This means that if f(a) = f(b), then a must equal b. One-to-one functions have unique inverses, which is essential for finding the inverse function f^-1(x). Understanding this property is crucial for solving the given problem.
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Inverse Functions
An inverse function reverses the effect of the original function. If f(x) takes an input x and produces an output y, then the inverse function f^-1(y) takes y back to x. To find the inverse, we typically swap the roles of x and y in the equation and solve for y. This concept is central to part (a) of the question.
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Verification of Inverse Functions
To verify that two functions are inverses, we must show that applying one function to the result of the other returns the original input. This is done by proving f(f^-1(x)) = x and f^-1(f(x)) = x. This verification ensures that the derived inverse function is correct and is a critical step in part (b) of the question.
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