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Find an inverse for a function defined by an integral

Define a function for x \geq 0 by

    \[ f(x) = \int_0^x (1+t^3)^{-\frac{1}{2}} \, dt. \]

  1. Prove that f(x) is strictly increasing on the nonnegative real axis.
  2. If g denotes the inverse of f prove that g'' is proportional to g^2 and find the constant of proportionality.

  1. Proof. To show f(x) is strictly increasing we take the derivative,

        \[ f(x) = \int_0^x \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+t^3}} \, dt \quad \implies \quad f'(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^3}}. \]

    Since f'(x) > 0 for all x \geq 0 we have that f(x) is strictly increasing on the nonnegative real axis. \qquad \blacksquare

  2. Proof. If g is the inverse of f then we know (Theorem 6.7 on page 252 of Apostol)

        \[ g'(y) = \frac{1}{f'(x)}. \]

    But, we have defined g to the function such that g(f(x)) = x. Therefore,

        \[ g'(y) = \frac{1}{f'(g(y))}. \]

    Therefore, we have that

        \[ f'(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^3}} \quad \implies \quad g'(y) = \sqrt{1+g^3(y)}. \]

    Taking another derivative of g with respect to y we then have

        \begin{align*}   g''(y) &= \frac{3 (g(y))^2 \cdot g'(y)}{2 \sqrt{1+(g(y))^3}} \\[9pt]  &= \frac{3}{2} \cdot (g(y))^2 \cdot \frac{g'(y)}{\sqrt{1+(g(y))^3}} \\[9pt]  &= \frac{3}{2} \cdot (g(y))^2 \cdot \frac{\sqrt{1+(g(y))^3}}{\sqrt{1+(g(y))^3}} \\[9pt]  &= \frac{3}{2} (g(y))^2. \qquad \blacksquare \end{align*}

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