Determine whether f(x)=5x+1x and g(x)=x5x+1

are inverse functions. Explain how you know.

(3 points)

1 answer

To determine if the functions \( f(x) = 5x + 1 \) and \( g(x) = x + 5 \) are inverse functions, we need to check if \( f(g(x)) = x \) and \( g(f(x)) = x \).

  1. Calculate \( f(g(x)) \):

    \[ g(x) = x + 5 \] Now substitute \( g(x) \) into \( f(x) \):

    \[ f(g(x)) = f(x + 5) = 5(x + 5) + 1 = 5x + 25 + 1 = 5x + 26 \]

    Since \( f(g(x)) = 5x + 26 \neq x \), the functions \( f \) and \( g \) do not satisfy the first condition for being inverse functions.

  2. Calculate \( g(f(x)) \):

    Now let's calculate \( g(f(x)) \):

    \[ f(x) = 5x + 1 \] Substitute \( f(x) \) into \( g(x) \):

    \[ g(f(x)) = g(5x + 1) = (5x + 1) + 5 = 5x + 1 + 5 = 5x + 6 \]

    Since \( g(f(x)) = 5x + 6 \neq x \), the functions \( f \) and \( g \) fail the second condition as well.

Since neither \( f(g(x)) = x \) nor \( g(f(x)) = x \) holds true, we conclude that \( f(x) \) and \( g(x) \) are not inverse functions.