The function given is f(x) = x4 + 12. To find the inverse of this function, we need to follow a series of steps.
- Replace f(x) with y:
Start by rewriting the function as:
y = x4 + 12
- Switch x and y:
To find the inverse, we exchange the roles of x and y:
x = y4 + 12
- Solve for y:
Our goal now is to isolate y. Start by subtracting 12 from both sides:
x – 12 = y4
- Take the fourth root:
Next, we take the fourth root of both sides to solve for y:
y = (x – 12)1/4
- Write the inverse function:
Now that we have y isolated, we can express the inverse function:
f-1(x) = (x – 12)1/4
In conclusion, the inverse of the function f(x) = x4 + 12 is:
f-1(x) = (x – 12)1/4
Keep in mind that the domain of the original function affects the range of the inverse function, and vice versa. Since f(x) = x4 + 12 shifts the output upwards by 12, the range of f(x) starts at 12 (i.e., y ≥ 12). Therefore, the domain of the inverse function is x ≥ 12.