# Algebra/Inverses of Functions

When functions were introduced in this chapter they were described as a special kind of relation. A relation is simply a connection between one number and some others. On the other hand a function has just one connection between a number an another number. For instance absolute value is a function because the absolute value of any number will map onto one, and only one number. On the other hand the square root operation is a relationship. $\sqrt x^2$ can be true for $x$ or $-x$.
For example the inverse of the squared function is the square function for whole numbers. That is for zero and non-negative rational numbers the $\sqrt x^2 = x$. This is not true for the real numbers. For real numbers $\sqrt x^2 = x\ or -x$.
When explaining the definition of domain and range of a relation we defined the vertical line test as stating that on a Cartesian plane if we let the x axis indicate the domain of a function and the y axis indicate the domain than the relationship is a function if the graph is not intersected more than once by a vertical line at every point on the graph. The vertical line test is an informal way to see if a relationship is a function. We can also use it to determine if the function has an inverse. For instance if we let $y=x^2$ we can see from its graph that it is a function. On the other hand if we graph $y=\sqrt x$ we can see that a vertical line will cross the graph twice for every value except 0.