Mathematics

Mathematics

Problem

The function h(x)=x3−3xh(x)=x^{3}-3x is continuous on R\mathbb{R}, yet its inverse function h−1h^{-1} is not continuous when defined on the entire range of hh. Which of the following best explains why h−1h^{-1} fails to be continuous? a) hh has vertical asymptotes, which translate into jumps in h−1h^{-1}. b) hh is not one-to-one because it changes from increasing to decreasing, so a single yy-value corresponds to multiple xx-values. c) hh has critical points where h′(x)=0h'(x)=0, giving vertical tangent lines in h−1h^{-1} that break continuity. d) hh is unbounded below, preventing its inverse from being continuous on the whole range.

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