If [tex]\( f(x) = 3x \)[/tex] and [tex]\( g(x) = \frac{1}{3}x \)[/tex], which expression could be used to verify that [tex]\( g(x) \)[/tex] is the inverse of [tex]\( f(x) \)[/tex]?

A. [tex]\( 3x \left(\frac{x}{3}\right) \)[/tex]
B. [tex]\( \left(\frac{1}{3}x\right)(3x) \)[/tex]
C. [tex]\( \frac{1}{3}(3x) \)[/tex]
D. [tex]\( \frac{1}{3} \left(\frac{1}{3}x\right) \)[/tex]



Answer :

To verify that [tex]\( g(x) = \frac{1}{3} x \)[/tex] is the inverse of [tex]\( f(x) = 3x \)[/tex], we need to check if [tex]\( f(g(x)) = x \)[/tex] and [tex]\( g(f(x)) = x \)[/tex].

1. First verification: [tex]\( f(g(x)) = x \)[/tex]

Given [tex]\( g(x) = \frac{1}{3} x \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ f(g(x)) = f\left(\frac{1}{3} x\right) \][/tex]

Now, apply the function [tex]\( f \)[/tex] to [tex]\( \frac{1}{3} x \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ f\left(\frac{1}{3} x\right) = 3 \left(\frac{1}{3} x\right) \][/tex]

Simplify the expression:

[tex]\[ 3 \left(\frac{1}{3} x\right) = x \][/tex]

So, [tex]\( f(g(x)) = x \)[/tex] is satisfied.

2. Second verification: [tex]\( g(f(x)) = x \)[/tex]

Given [tex]\( f(x) = 3x \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ g(f(x)) = g(3x) \][/tex]

Now, apply the function [tex]\( g \)[/tex] to [tex]\( 3x \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ g(3x) = \frac{1}{3} (3x) \][/tex]

Simplify the expression:

[tex]\[ \frac{1}{3} (3x) = x \][/tex]

So, [tex]\( g(f(x)) = x \)[/tex] is also satisfied.

Since both conditions [tex]\( f(g(x)) = x \)[/tex] and [tex]\( g(f(x)) = x \)[/tex] are satisfied, [tex]\( g(x) = \frac{1}{3} x \)[/tex] is indeed the inverse of [tex]\( f(x) = 3x \)[/tex].

Now, let's match this with the given options to determine which expression could be used to verify the inverse relationship:

1. [tex]\( 3 x\left(\frac{x}{3}\right) \)[/tex] - This reads as [tex]\( 3x \cdot \frac{x}{3} \)[/tex], simplifying to [tex]\( x^2 \)[/tex], which does not match our needs.

2. [tex]\( \left(\frac{1}{3} x\right)(3 x) \)[/tex] - This reads as [tex]\( \left(\frac{1}{3} x\right) \cdot 3 x \)[/tex], simplifying to [tex]\( x^2 \)[/tex], which does not match our needs.

3. [tex]\( \frac{1}{3}(3 x) \)[/tex] - This reads as [tex]\( \frac{1}{3} \cdot 3x \)[/tex], simplifying to [tex]\( x \)[/tex], which matches our needs.

4. [tex]\( \frac{1}{3}\left(\frac{1}{3} x\right) \)[/tex] - This reads as [tex]\( \frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{1}{3} x \)[/tex], simplifying to [tex]\( \frac{1}{9} x \)[/tex], which does not match our needs.

Therefore, the correct expression to verify that [tex]\( g(x) = \frac{1}{3} x \)[/tex] is the inverse of [tex]\( f(x) = 3x \)[/tex] is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{\frac{1}{3}(3 x)} \][/tex]

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