Given the function \( f(x) = x^{1/2} \), find its inverse and then verify that the two functions are inverses by showing \( f(g(x)) = x \).
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To find the inverse of the function \( f(x) = x^{1/2} \), we start by rewriting the function in the form \( y = f(x) \): \[ y = x^{1/2} \] Now, we switch the variables \( x \) and \( y \) to find the inverse: \[ x = y^{1/2} \] Next, we solve for \( y \): \[ y = x^2 \] Thus, the inverse function is \( g(x) = x^2 \). Now, let's verify that \( f(g(x)) = x \) and \( g(f(x)) = x \): 1. Check \( f(g(x)) = f(x^2) \): \[ f(g(x)) = f(x^2) = (x^2)^{1/2} = x \] 2. Check \( g(f(x)) = g(x^{1/2}) \): \[ g(f(x)) = g(x^{1/2}) = (x^{1/2})^2 = x \] Since both compositions yield \( x \), we conclude that \( f(x) = x^{1/2} \) and its inverse \( g(x) = x^2 \) are indeed inverses of each other.