Given the function #f(x) = 2x^2 +3#. Find values of v such that #f(v)= 5v + 6#?

1 Answer
Jun 26, 2018

#v = -1/2# and #v=3#

Explanation:

Given: #f(x) = 2x^2+3# and #f(v) = 5v+6#

We know that #f(x)# is going to have two inverses; this may cause a problem.

Compute #f^-1(x)# by substituting #f^-1(x)# for every #x# with within #f(x)#:

#f(f^-1(x)) = 2(f^-1(x))^2+3#

The property of a function and its inverse, #f(f^-1(x)) = x#, causes the left side to become #x#:

#x = 2(f^-1(x))^2+3#

Solve for #f^-1(x)#:

#x-3 = 2(f^-1(x))^2#

#(x-3)/2 = (f^-1(x))^2#

#f^-1(x) = sqrt((x-3)/2)# and #f^-1(x) = -sqrt((x-3)/2)#

Substitute #x = f(v)# into the left sides and #x = 5v+6# into the right sides:

#f^-1(f(v)) = sqrt((5v+6-3)/2)# and #f^-1(f(v)) = -sqrt((5v+6-3)/2)#

Use the property #f^-1(f(v)) = v# to make the left sides become v:

#v = sqrt((5v+6-3)/2)# and #v = -sqrt((5v+6-3)/2)#

We are about to square both equations but this will eliminate, therefore, the two equations degenerate into a single equation:

#v^2 = (5v+6-3)/2#

#2v^2= 5v+3#

#2v^2- 5v-3=0#

Factor:

#(2v+1)(v-3) = 0#

#v = -1/2# and #v=3#