Mathematics 30-1 Operations and Transformations with Functions
Polynomials, Radicals, and Rationals
esson 2:
L Exponents & Logarithms
Trigonometry
COMPOSITIONS OF Permutations & Combinations
FUNCTIONS
Notes and Examples
Learning Outcomes
eneral Outcome
G
● Relations and Functions (RF) - Develop algebraic and graphical reasoning through the study of relations.
S pecific Outcome
● RF1. Demonstrate an understanding of operations on, and compositions of, functions. [CN, R, T, V]
After this lesson, you should be able to do/answer:
● e xplain what a composite function is.
● explain the difference between𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) )and𝑔(𝑓(𝑥) ).
● determine the equation of a composite function given two or three functions.
● determine the value of an expression that includes one or two compositions, given different representations of the
functions, such as equations, graphs, tables of values or mapping diagrams.
● determine the value of an expression that combines two or more functions through operations and compositions
of functions.
● determine the domain of a composite function given two functions.use both notations for compositions.
● draw graphs of composite functions.
● use tables and graphs to determine the value of a composite function.
● What is a composite function?
● How do you find the value of a composite function from a graph? From an equation?
● How do you determine the domain of a composite function?
● Does the order in which functions are composed matter?
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Composite Functions
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ecall that a function simply converts “inputs” into a specific “output”. For example, in the function𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 , we
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could input anx- value, and the function will squareit to give us the corresponding output. A few examples using
different inputs for this function are shown below:
compositefunction works in exactly the same way,but instead of substituting innumericalvalues forour inputs, we
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input anotherfunction. In other words, theoutputsof one function become theinputsfor another function. A
composite function is essentially placing one function inside of another!
We can represent these compositions of functions in two different ways:
𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) ) or (𝑓⚬ 𝑔)(𝑥)
(Careful - don’t mix up “⚬” for composition with “•” for multiplication)
oth mean the same thing, and would be read as “fofgofx” or “fatgofx”. All that we are doinghere is taking the
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function𝑔(𝑥) and plugging itsoutputsinto𝑓(𝑥)!
So, for example, if:
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𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1
Then𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) ) would mean that we would:
t ake an input value forxand add 1 to it (this is what𝑔(𝑥) does to inputs, giving us𝑔(𝑥)’s output)
●
● then, take the resulting 𝑔(𝑥) output and square it (this is what𝑓does to inputs)
Generally, that means we’re doing this:
E xample
1. Two functions are defined as𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥
− 3and 𝑔(𝑥) = − 𝑥 + 4.
a) Determine the value of𝑓(3). b) Determine the value of𝑔(3).
c) Determine the value of𝑓(𝑔(3) ) d) Determine the value of𝑔(𝑓(3) )
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2. Given𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 5and𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥, determine the value of (𝑓⚬ 𝑔)(𝑥) when
a) x =1 b) x =16
c) Use the graph below to see if you obtain the same answers as ina)andb)for𝑓(𝑔(1) ) and𝑓(𝑔(16)).
3. Use𝑓(𝑥) = − 𝑥 + 2,the function𝑦 = 𝑔( 𝑥) summarized by the graph to the
right, and the information given regardingℎ(𝑥) in the table below to evaluate
𝑓(ℎ(𝑔(0))) − 2𝑔(𝑓(3)).
x -4 -2 0 2 4
h(x ) 2 2 6 10 14
4. (3, −8) lies on the graph of𝑦 = 𝑔( 𝑥) , and (3, 6) lies on the graph of𝑦 = ℎ(𝑥) , whereℎ(𝑥) = (𝑓⚬𝑔
)(𝑥) . What is
one point thatmustlie on the graph of𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) ?
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You try: From this lesson’s practice problems (noneed to do these again later), try#1 b)andd),which ask:
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥
+ 7 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥
− 4, determine:
b)(𝑓⚬ 𝑔)(− 2) d) 𝑔(𝑓(5) ).
Answers: b)−13 d) 47
hen finished, please complete the poll in the Google Meet to let me know how you’re feeling about this practice
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problem/concept so far (only I will see the results of the poll):
- I’m not sure how to do this yet
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2 - I’ve got some of the main ideas, but I’m not very confident with applying them yet
3 - I’m feeling pretty confident, but could use some more practice
4 - I’ve got it, I’m ready to move on
emember, all we’re really doing with composite functions is plugging one function in as the input for another function!
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So far, we’ve been findingnumericaloutputs for the“inner” function and then plugging those into the “outer” function.
owever, we can also be more general and plug the inner function’sequationdirectly into the outerfunction, in order to
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obtain an equation for the composite function. Wherever you see anxin the outer function’s equation, inputthe inner
function’s equation!
E xamples
3. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥
and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 6,determine a simplified equation for:
a) 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) ) b) 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥) ) c) 𝑓(𝑓( 𝑥) )
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4. Given𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1and𝑔(𝑥) = − 𝑥 + 2 , determine(𝑓⚬ 𝑔)(1) in two different ways.
By substituting output ofg(x)intof(x) By substituting equation forg(x)intof(x)
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5. T wo functions are defined by the expressions𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
− 3 − 4and𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥
𝑥 − 1. Determine the following
expressions in simplified form.
a. (𝑓⚬ 𝑔)(𝑥) . (𝑔⚬ 𝑓)(𝑥) .
b
You try: From this lesson’s practice problems (noneed to do these again later), try#1 a, c)whichask:
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥
+ 7 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥
− 4, determine the simplified equations for:
a)(𝑓⚬ 𝑔)(𝑥) c) 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥) ).
Answers: a)6𝑥 − 1 c) 6𝑥 + 17
hen finished, please complete the poll in the Google Meet to let me know how you’re feeling about this practice
W
problem/concept so far (only I will see the results of the poll):
- I’m not sure how to do this yet
1
2 - I’ve got some of the main ideas, but I’m not very confident with applying them yet
3 - I’m feeling pretty confident, but could use some more practice
4 - I’ve got it, I’m ready to move on
Domains for Composite Functions
emember, the domain simply refers to the set ofxvalues that can be input into a function. For a composite function
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like𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) ) for example, we:
inputx’s intog( x) to get the output for the innerfunction
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● then input that into the outer functionfto get theoutput for the composite function.
This means that the domain of a composite function like𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) ), the domain includes thex’s that:
c an be input intog(x )
●
● andthat result in an output forg(x ) which can alsobe input intof
For example, if you had:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1
We know that𝑔(𝑥) has no restrictions onx, while in𝑓(𝑥) we cannot input anything forxthat is negative.
If we wanted to find𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) ), we must remember that this means we’re plugging in theoutputsofg(x)intof. Because
we cannot put any negative inputs intof, that means𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1mustgive us a positive output, limiting our
domain for the composite function to𝑥 ≥ 1(as only those values ofxensure𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1will be positive).
Stated formally:
For the composite function𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) ), the domain of𝑓(𝑔(𝑥) )is theset ofxvaluessuch thatg( x) is defined withinf.
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Examples
1. Consider the functions𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2and𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥
.
a) State the domains of𝑓(𝑥) and𝑔(𝑥) individually.
b) State the domain of𝑓(𝑔((𝑥) ).
c) State the domain of𝑔(𝑓((𝑥) ).
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2. The functions𝑓(𝑥)and𝑔(𝑥) are defined as𝑓(𝑥) = 2 and𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥. What is the simplifiedequation and the
𝑥
domain of(𝑓𝑜
𝑔)(𝑥) ?
You try: From this lesson’s practice problems (noneed to do this one again later), try:#7, whichasks:
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L et𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 and𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 4. Determine thesimplified equation for𝑦 = (𝑓⚬ 𝑔) (𝑥) . Then determine
its domain and range.
Answer: (𝑓⚬ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 4
omain:{𝑥|𝑥
D ≥ 4, 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅} ; Range: {𝑦| 𝑦 ≥ 0, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅}
hen finished, please complete the poll in the Google Meet to let me know how you’re feeling about this practice
W
problem/concept so far (only I will see the results of the poll):
- I’m not sure how to do this yet
1
2 - I’ve got some of the main ideas, but I’m not very confident with applying them yet
3 - I’m feeling pretty confident, but could use some more practice
4 - I’ve got it, I’m ready to move on
Now you can go do the remainingUnit 1 Lesson 2 PracticeProblems!
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