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$f(m,n) = (2m+n, m+2n)$

What do we have to do to find the inverse of this function?

I don't even know where to begin.

  • 0
    do i have to find the inverse (matrice)?2012-10-25

3 Answers 3

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Denote $\begin{cases} u=2m+n,\\ v=m+2n. \end{cases}$ To find inverse mapping is sufficient solve this system w.r.t variables $m$ and $n$: $\begin{cases} 2u-v=3m,\\ 2v-u=3n. \end{cases}$ From there $\begin{cases} m=\frac{2u-v}{3},\\ n=\frac{2v-u}{3}. \end{cases}$ Then $f^{-1}(u,\ v)=\left(\dfrac{2u-v}{3}, \ \dfrac{2v-u}{3} \right).$

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I think this might be a useful place to begin: We can invert a function $f$ of a single variable by solving the equation $f(x)=y$ for $x$. For example, we invert $f(x)=2x+1$ by solving the equation $2x+1=y$ to get $x=(y-1)/2$. We can then write $x=f^{-1}(y)=(y-1)/2$, where $f^{-1}$ is the inverse required.

In your case, you need to do the 2-variable equivalent: solve the equation $f(m,n)=(2m+n,m+2n)=(a,b)$ to get the input $(m,n)$ - which plays the role of $x$ - in terms of $(a,b)$ - which plays the role of $y$. Your answer should have the form $(m,n)=f^{-1}(a,b) = (\hbox{an expression in $a$ and $b$}, \hbox{another expression in $a$ and $b$})$.

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    I dont understand the answer, all you have shown is the inverse f(u,v) but the question is asking for the inverse of f(m,n).2013-05-07
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The following is a solution with matrices: $f$ can be regarded as a linear function, e.g. $\mathbb{Q}^2\to \mathbb{Q}^2$. With respect to the standard basis this is given by the matrix $\begin{pmatrix}2&1\\1&2\end{pmatrix}$ Now you can invert this matrix. There are different methods for that. I'm just using the explicit formula given by Cramer's rule. The inverse is $\frac{1}{3}\begin{pmatrix}2&-1\\-1&2\end{pmatrix}$ Now you can interpret this as a linear function again and get $f^{-1}(m,n)=\left(\frac{2m-n}{3},\frac{-m+2n}{3}\right)$.