Inverse functions can be hard to understand in Algebra I.

Many students find them confusing because they involve reversing what a function does.

Here's a simple way to think about it:

If a function ( f(x) ) takes an input ( x ) and gives you an output ( y ), then the inverse function ( f^{-1}(y) ) will take that output ( y ) and bring you back to the original input ( x ).

Inverse functions are important because they help us solve problems where we need to "undo" what a function has done.

But figuring out inverses can be tricky. Here are a couple of things that students often find challenging:

• Finding the Inverse: You might have a hard time switching the variables and solving for ( y ).
• Domain and Range: It can be difficult to understand how the function's domain (the set of all possible inputs) relates to the inverse's range (the set of all possible outputs).

To get better at this, practice is key!

Working on many examples and using graphs can really help you understand inverse functions better.