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Precalculus
Course: Precalculus > Unit 1
Lesson 1: Composing functions- Intro to composing functions
- Intro to composing functions
- Composing functions
- Evaluating composite functions
- Evaluate composite functions
- Evaluating composite functions: using tables
- Evaluating composite functions: using graphs
- Evaluate composite functions: graphs & tables
- Finding composite functions
- Find composite functions
- Evaluating composite functions (advanced)
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Composing functions
Walk through examples, explanations, and practice problems to learn how to find and evaluate composite functions.
Given two functions, we can combine them in such a way so that the outputs of one function become the inputs of the other. This action defines a composite function. Let's take a look at what this means!
Evaluating composite functions
Example
If and , then what is ?
Solution
One way to evaluate is to work from the "inside out". In other words, let's evaluate first and then substitute that result into to find our answer.
Let's evaluate .
Since , then .
Now let's evaluate .
It follows that .
Finding the composite function
In the above example, function took to , and then function took to . Let's find the function that takes directly to .
To do this, we must compose the two functions and find .
Example
What is ?
For reference, remember that
and .
For reference, remember that
Solution
If we look at the expression , we can see that is the input of function . So, let's substitute everywhere we see in function .
Since , we can substitute in for .
This new function should take directly to . Let's verify this.
Excellent!
Let's practice
Problem 1
Problem 2
Composite functions: a formal definition
In the above example, we found and evaluated a composite function.
In general, to indicate function composed with function , we can write , read as " composed with ". This composition is defined by the following rule:
The diagram below shows the relationship between and .
Now let's look at another example with this new definition in mind.
Example
Find and .
Solution
We can find as follows:
Since we now have function , we can simply substitute in for to find .
Of course, we could have also found by evaluating . This is shown below:
The diagram below shows how is related to .
Here we can see that function takes to and then function takes to , while function takes directly to .
Now let's practice some problems
Problem 3
In problems 4 and 5, let and .
Problem 4
Problem 5
Challenge Problem
Want to join the conversation?
- In practice Q 4, where is 4t created? I see where t^2 and 4 come from, but am not sure what puts 4t in(58 votes)
- I was stuck on this too, but I think the reason is that (t-2)^2 = (t-2)(t-2) . Using the distributive property, you get t^2-4t+4.(102 votes)
- (f ∘ g)(x)
here, what does the sign ∘ mean?(2 votes)- (f ∘ g)(x) is read "f of g of x", so the ∘ translates to "of".
In this case, if you had functions defined, f(x) and g(x), then to get (f ∘ g)(x) you would substitute g(x) for x inside of f(x). Another way to write it is f(g(x)).(13 votes)
- How do you know when to use the "inside out property" or the composing function?(9 votes)
- It doesn't really matter --- they will both give the same answer, so it's up to you to choose what works best/easiest for you with the problem you're given at the time!
(But, of course, you need to be familiar with both techniques.)(7 votes)
- In question 4 how do people get the 4t in tsquered-t4+9?(3 votes)
- It comes from (t-2)^2
(t-2)^2 = (t-2)(t-2) = t^2-2t-2t+4 = t^2-4t+4
To square binomials, you need to use FOIL or the pattern for creating a perfect square trinomial. You can't square the 2 terms and get the right answer.
Hope this helps.(11 votes)
- May someone please explain the challenge problem to me?(2 votes)
- The challenge problem says, "The graphs of the equations y=f(x) and y=g(x) are shown in the grid below." So basically the two graphs is a visual representation of what the two different functions would look like if graphed and they're asking us to find (f∘g)(8), which is combining the two functions and inputting 8. From the definition, we know (f∘g)(8)=f(g(8)). So let's work "inside out". If we look at the graph of "g", we see that g(8) is 2 (look at the 8 at the x-axis and if you go up to where it meets the line, the y value would be 2). Because g(8)=2, then when you substitute it back in the equation, f(g(8)) would equal f(2). Then if we look at the graph of "f", we can see that f(2) is -3. (when you look at the 2 in the x-axis, it will correspond to -3 on the y-axis). So by looking at the graph, you can figure out that (f∘g)(8) is approximately -3.
~Dylan(12 votes)
- in the example question "g(x)= x+4, h(x)= x(squared)-2x" how does it get the +8x and -2x in the distribute section ?
here's the distribute equation =(x(squared)+8x+16−2x−8)
(5 votes)- h(g(x)) = (x+4)^2 - 2(x+4)
Basically each "x" in h(x) gets replaced with (x+4), which if g(x). Then, you simplify.
1) FOIL out (x+4)^2:
h(g(x)) = x^2+4x+4x+16 - 2(x+4) = x^2 + 8x + 16 - 2(x+4)
2) Distribute -2: h(g(x)) = x^2 + 8x + 16 - 2x - 8
3) Combine like terms: x^2 + 6x + 8
Hope this helps.(5 votes)
- I still can't get this. I think my problem is them showing multiple ways to do this instead of focusing on how to combine it into one equation. Either I have to work each function alone then combine them at the end or have more help figuring out how to make one equation.(2 votes)
- I don't think their aim is to show you the multiple ways you can evaluate the composite function.
The first example they basically show what evaluating a composite function really means, it's like you said "work each function alone". In the second example they showed a more faster and efficient way to evaluate the composite function by combining them into one equation.
If you're still confused about composite functions, I'll explain this way:
we have a function f(x), this function takes "x" as "input". Now, I'm certain you're used to the variable x being substituted for a number, but in maths, you can pretty much substitute it for anything you like. (Expressions for example)
Like I can let x = 5, but I can also let x = 2h. Doesn't that mean I can also substitute x for some function? In other words x = g(x).
Say if g(k) = 4k, then this would become: x = 4k. (Because x = g(k) = 4k)
Since we let x = g(k) = 4k, then our function f can be written as: f( g(k) ) or f(5k) (We substituted x for g(k) )
if f(x) = 5x, by substituting x for g(k), this becomes:
f( g(x) ) = 5g(x) ---> f( 4k ) = 5(4k) = 20k
This also means that our composite function changes value depending on the value of k.
Conclusion: g(k) becomes input for function f.(8 votes)
- Can someone please simplify all of this for me cause i am so confused!(2 votes)
- Sometimes it's useful to look at a different point of view. Try this site. Then come back and try this video again. http://www.mathsisfun.com/sets/functions-composition.html(6 votes)
- If f(x)=(1/x) and (f/g)(x)=((x+4)/(x^2+2x)), what is the function g?(4 votes)
- Based upon the rules for dividing with fractions: f/g = (1/x) / g = (1/x) * the reciprocal of g
We need to work in reverse
1) Factor denominator to undo the multiplication:(x+4)/(x^2+2x)
=(x+4)/[x(x+2)]
We can see there is a factor of X in the denominator. This would have been from multiplying 1/x * the reciprocal of g.
2) Separate the factor 1/x:(1/x) * (x+4)/(x+2)
This tells us the reciprocal of g =(x+4)/(x+2)
3) Flip it to find g:g(x) = (x+2)/(x+4)
Hope this helps.(2 votes)
- How do we know that g = 3 in the first example study? I looked multiple times, and couldn't see where we found that value. Any help?(3 votes)
- I assume you are asking about the first example on the page. The initial problem statement gives you the equations for f(x) and g(x). It then asks you to find f(g(3)).
g(3) is part of what the problem is asking you to find. It doesn't say that g=3. It says uses the function g(x) with an input value of x=3.
Hope this clarifies thing.(3 votes)