This algebra 2 inverse worksheet answer key solves all 24 problems of the function operations, composition and inverses worksheet step by step.
Every solution below is worked step by step, with the final answer in bold. Compare each line with your own work, and when an inverse is found, verify it with a composition or a test point. Mistakes in signs and in the order of composition are the most common errors.
Algebra 2 Inverse Worksheet Answer Key: problems 1–5
Problem 1: Add and subtract functions
- \((f+g)(x)=3x-4+x^{2}+2x=\)\(x^{2}+5x-4\).
- \((f-g)(x)=3x-4-x^{2}-2x=\)\(-x^{2}+x-4\). Distribute the minus sign to both terms of \(g\).
Problem 2: Multiply functions
- \((fg)(x)=(x+3)(2x-5)=2x^{2}-5x+6x-15=\)\(2x^{2}+x-15\).
- \((fg)(4)=2(16)+4-15=21\). Check: \(f(4)\cdot g(4)=7\cdot 3=21\). 21
Problem 3: Divide functions and state the domain
\(\frac{x^{2}-9}{x-3}=\frac{(x-3)(x+3)}{x-3}=x+3\). Because \(g(3)=0\), \(x=3\) is not allowed. \((\frac{f}{g})(x)=x+3,\ x\neq 3\); the domain is all real numbers except 3. Check: \(\frac{f(5)}{g(5)}=\frac{16}{2}=8=5+3\).
Problem 4: Operations from graphs
Read the values: \(f(1)=2\), \(g(1)=5\), \(f(5)=6\), \(g(5)=1\), \(f(3)=4\), \(g(3)=3\).
- \((f+g)(1)=2+5=\)7
- \((f-g)(5)=6-1=\)5
- \((fg)(3)=4\cdot 3=\)12
Notice that \(f(x)+g(x)=(x+1)+(6-x)=7\) for every \(x\), so \((f+g)(x)\) is the horizontal line \(y=7\).
Problem 5: Evaluate a composition
- \(g(3)=10\), so \(f(g(3))=f(10)=2(10)-5=\)15.
- \(f(3)=1\), so \(g(f(3))=g(1)=1+1=\)2. The order changes the answer.
Algebra 2 Inverse Worksheet Answer Key: problems 6–10
Problem 6: Write composite functions
- \(f(g(x))=3x^{2}+4\): \(3x^{2}+4\).
- \(g(f(x))=3(x+4)^{2}=3(x^{2}+8x+16)=\)\(3x^{2}+24x+48\).
Problem 7: Trace a value through a machine
- \(g(2)=3(2)-1=5\) and \(f(5)=25\). \(f(g(2))=25\).
- \(f(g(x))=(3x-1)^{2}=\)\(9x^{2}-6x+1\). At \(x=2\): \(36-12+1=25\), which matches.
Problem 8: Domain of a composition
- \(f(g(x))=\sqrt{x-5}\) needs \(x-5\ge 0\), so the domain is \(x\ge 5\).
- \(g(f(x))=\sqrt{x}-5\) needs \(x\ge 0\), so the domain is \(x\ge 0\).
Problem 9: Decompose a function
- Inner \(g(x)=5x-2\), outer \(f(x)=x^{3}\). Check: \(f(g(x))=(5x-2)^{3}\).
- Inner \(g(x)=x^{2}+1\), outer \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x}\). Check: \(f(g(x))=\frac{1}{x^{2}+1}\). Other correct choices exist.
Problem 10: Inverse of a linear function
Write \(y=4x-9\), swap: \(x=4y-9\), so \(4y=x+9\) and \(f^{-1}(x)=\frac{x+9}{4}\). Check: \(f(5)=11\) and \(f^{-1}(11)=\frac{20}{4}=5\).
Algebra 2 Inverse Worksheet Answer Key: problems 11–15
Problem 11: Inverse with fractions
Write \(y=-\frac{2}{3}x+4\) and swap: \(x=-\frac{2}{3}y+4\). Then \(x-4=-\frac{2}{3}y\), so \(y=-\frac{3}{2}(x-4)=-\frac{3}{2}x+6\). \(f^{-1}(x)=-\frac{3}{2}x+6\). Check: \(f(3)=2\) and \(f^{-1}(2)=-3+6=3\).
Problem 12: Verify inverses by composition
\(f(g(x))=5\cdot\frac{x-3}{5}+3=x-3+3=x\) and \(g(f(x))=\frac{(5x+3)-3}{5}=x\). Both compositions give \(x\), so they are inverses.
Problem 13: Are they inverses?
\(f(g(x))=2(\frac{x}{2}-6)+6=x-12+6=x-6\), which is not \(x\). They are not inverses. The inverse of \(f\): \(x=2y+6\), so \(f^{-1}(x)=\frac{x-6}{2}=\frac{x}{2}-3\).
Problem 14: Inverse with a restricted domain
Write \(x=y^{2}+3\), so \(y^{2}=x-3\). Since \(y\ge 0\), \(f^{-1}(x)=\sqrt{x-3}\), with domain \(x\ge 3\) (the range of \(f\)). \(f^{-1}(12)=\sqrt{9}=\)3. Check: \(f(3)=12\).
Problem 15: Inverse of a square root function
Write \(x=\sqrt{y+2}\). Square both sides: \(x^{2}=y+2\), so \(f^{-1}(x)=x^{2}-2\). The outputs of \(f\) are \(\ge 0\), so the domain is \(x\ge 0\). Check: \(f(7)=\sqrt{9}=3\) and \(f^{-1}(3)=9-2=7\).
Algebra 2 Inverse Worksheet Answer Key: problems 16–20
Problem 16: Reflect points over y = x
- Swap each pair: \((1,-2)\), \((2,0)\), \((3,2)\), \((4,4)\).
- The graph of \(f\) has slope \(\frac{1}{2}\) and \(y\)-intercept 2, so \(f(x)=\frac{1}{2}x+2\). Swap and solve: \(x=\frac{1}{2}y+2\), so \(f^{-1}(x)=2x-4\). It passes through all four swapped points.
Problem 17: Horizontal line test
- Yes. At \((0,3)\) and \((4,3)\), since \((0-2)^{2}-1=3\) and \((4-2)^{2}-1=3\).
- No. Two different inputs give the output 3, so \(f\) is not one-to-one and its inverse would not be a function.
- Restrict to \(x\ge 2\) (or \(x\le 2\)). Each horizontal line then meets the graph at most once.
Problem 18: Inverse after restricting the domain
Write \(x=(y-2)^{2}-1\), so \((y-2)^{2}=x+1\). Because \(y\ge 2\), \(y-2=\sqrt{x+1}\) and \(f^{-1}(x)=2+\sqrt{x+1}\), domain \(x\ge -1\). Check: \(f(5)=9-1=8\) and \(f^{-1}(8)=2+\sqrt{9}=5\).
Problem 19: Inverse of a rational function
Write \(x=\frac{2y}{y+3}\). Then \(xy+3x=2y\), so \(3x=2y-xy=y(2-x)\) and \(f^{-1}(x)=\frac{3x}{2-x}\), \(x\neq 2\). Check: \(f(3)=\frac{6}{6}=1\) and \(f^{-1}(1)=\frac{3}{1}=3\).
Problem 20: Compositions that are equal
\(f(g(x))=2x^{2}-1\) and \(g(f(x))=(2x-1)^{2}=4x^{2}-4x+1\). Set equal: \(2x^{2}-1=4x^{2}-4x+1\), so \(0=2x^{2}-4x+2=2(x-1)^{2}\). \(x=1\) is the only solution. Check: \(f(g(1))=f(1)=1\) and \(g(f(1))=g(1)=1\).
Algebra 2 Inverse Worksheet Answer Key: problems 21–24
Problem 21: Temperature conversion
- Write \(F=\frac{9}{5}C+32\) and solve for \(C\): \(F-32=\frac{9}{5}C\), so \(C(F)=\frac{5}{9}(F-32)\).
- \(C(95)=\frac{5}{9}(63)=35\), so \(95^{\circ}\text{F}=35^{\circ}\text{C}\). \(C(-4)=\frac{5}{9}(-36)=-20\), so \(-4^{\circ}\text{F}=-20^{\circ}\text{C}\). Both points lie on the graph.
Problem 22: Car rental inverse
- Write \(C=0.45m+25\) and solve for \(m\): \(m(C)=\frac{C-25}{0.45}\).
- The inverse takes a bill and returns the number of miles driven. \(m(70)=\frac{45}{0.45}=100\), so the bill of $70 covers 100 miles. Check: \(0.45(100)+25=70\).
Problem 23: Discount and coupon order
- \(c(d(x))=0.8x-5\) and \(d(c(x))=0.8(x-5)=0.8x-4\).
- Discount first: \(c(d(60))=48-5\), so $43. Coupon first: \(d(c(60))=0.8(55)\), so $44.
- Taking the 20% off first is cheaper. The difference is \((0.8x-4)-(0.8x-5)=1\), so it saves $1 at every price.
Problem 24: Composition in context
- \(A(r(t))=\pi(3t)^{2}=\)\(9\pi t^{2}\).
- \(A(r(2))=9\pi(4)=36\pi\), about 113.1 square inches. Check: \(r(2)=6\) and \(\pi\cdot 36=36\pi\).
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Algebra 2 Function Operations, Composition and Inverses worksheet answer key
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