Solving Rational Equations

For the given function, we will first draw its graph and then use the Horizontal Line Test to determine whether the inverse is a function. Then, we will find the inverse. Let's start!

Is the Inverse a Function?

To graph the given function, we should first determine its asymptotes. To do so, we will begin by rewriting the function rule to a single fraction. $\begin{gathered} f(x)=\dfrac{1}{x^4}-7 \quad \Leftrightarrow \quad f(x)=\dfrac{\text{-}7x^4+1}{x^4} \end{gathered}$ Recall that division by zero is not defined. Therefore, the rational function is undefined where $x^4=0.$ $\begin{gathered} x^4=0 \quad \Leftrightarrow \quad x=0 \end{gathered}$ The above means that $x=0$ is the vertical asymptote of the function. To find the horizontal asymptote, let's pay close attention to the degrees of the numerator and denominator. $\begin{gathered} f(x)=\dfrac{\text{-}7x^{\color{#FF0000}{4}}+1}{x^{\color{#FF0000}{4}}} \end{gathered}$ We see that the degrees of the numerator and denominator are the same. Therefore, the horizontal asymptote is found by calculating the quotient between the leading coefficients. $\begin{gathered} f(x)=\dfrac{{\color{#FF0000}{\text{-}7}}x^4+1}{{\color{#FF0000}{1}}x^4} \end{gathered}$ Since $\frac{\text{-}7}{1}=\text{-}7,$ there is a horizontal asymptote at $y=\text{-}7.$ Now, we will draw the asymptotes.

Next, we will make a table of values. We will include $x\text{-}$values to the left and to the right of the vertical asymptote.

$x$	$\dfrac{1}{x^4}-7$	$f(x)$
${\color{#0000FF}{\text{-}4}}$	$\dfrac{1}{({\color{#0000FF}{\text{-}4}})^4}-7$	$\approx{\color{#009600}{\text{-}6.99}}$
${\color{#0000FF}{\text{-}2}}$	$\dfrac{1}{({\color{#0000FF}{\text{-}2}})^4}-7$	$\approx {\color{#009600}{\text{-}6.93}}$
${\color{#0000FF}{\text{-}1}}$	$\dfrac{1}{({\color{#0000FF}{\text{-}1}})^4}-7$	${\color{#009600}{\text{-}6}}$
${\color{#0000FF}{1}}$	$\dfrac{1}{{\color{#0000FF}{1}}^4}-7$	${\color{#009600}{\text{-}6}}$
${\color{#0000FF}{2}}$	$\dfrac{1}{{\color{#0000FF}{2}}^4}-7$	$\approx {\color{#009600}{\text{-}6.93}}$
${\color{#0000FF}{4}}$	$\dfrac{1}{{\color{#0000FF}{4}}^4}-7$	$\approx {\color{#009600}{\text{-}6.99}}$

Finally, let's plot and connect the points.

Now, we can apply the Horizontal Line Test.

We can see above that there are some horizontal lines that intersect the curve at more than one point. Therefore, the inverse of the given function is not a function.

Finding the Inverse

Before we can find the inverse of the given function, we need to replace $f(x)$ with $y.$ $\begin{gathered} f(x)=\dfrac{1}{x^4}-7\quad\Leftrightarrow\quad y=\dfrac{1}{x^4}-7 \end{gathered}$ Now, to algebraically determine the inverse of the given equation, we exchange $x$ and $y$ and solve for $y.$ $\begin{aligned} \underline{\textbf{Given Equation}}\quad&\quad\underline{\textbf{Inverse Equation}}\\ {\color{#0000FF}{y}}=\dfrac{1}{{\color{#009600}{x}}^4}-7\qquad\ &\qquad\ \ {\color{#009600}{x}}=\dfrac{1}{{\color{#0000FF}{y}}^4}-7 \end{aligned}$ The result of isolating $y$ in the new equation will be the inverse of the given function. Finally, we write the inverse of the given function in function notation by replacing $y$ with $f^{\text{-} 1}(x)$ in our new equation. $\begin{gathered} f^{\text{-} 1}(x)=\pm\sqrt[4]{\dfrac{1}{x+7}} \end{gathered}$