Composite Functions

Composite Functions
Composing two functions is a chaining process in which the output of the inner function becomes the
input of the outer function. That is, a function of another function. The rule for the composite function
can be found by substituting the inside function into the outside function.

Order of Composition and Notation

𝑓 composition 𝑔 Apply 𝑔 then 𝑓 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑓 of 𝑔 of 𝑥 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑔 composition 𝑓 Apply 𝑓 then 𝑔 𝑔 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔 of 𝑓 of 𝑥 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓(𝑥)

Note that 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 𝑔 𝑓(𝑥)

Example Modified VCAA 2017 Exam 2 Question 4

Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions such that 𝑓(2) = 5, 𝑓(3) = 4, 𝑔(2) = 5, 𝑔(3) = 2 and 𝑔(4) = 1.
The value of 𝑓 𝑔(3) = 𝑓(2) = 5. The value of 𝑔 𝑓(3) = 𝑔(4) = 1.

Domain of a Composite Function

Let domain 𝑓 = 𝑑 , domain 𝑔 = 𝑑 , domain 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 = 𝑑 ∘ range 𝑓 = 𝑟 , range 𝑔 = 𝑟 , range 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 =
𝑟 ∘ where 𝑓 is the outside function and 𝑔 is the inside function and 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the composite function.

If the inside function is not defined or real, then If the inside function is defined but the result is
the composed function is not defined or not real. not in the domain of the outside function, then
composed function is not defined or real.

Therefore, the domain of the composite function Therefore, the range of the inside function needs
is, at most, the domain of the inside function. to be within the domain of the outside function.
𝑥∈𝑑 ⇒𝑑 ∘ ⊆𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) ∈ 𝑑 ⇒ 𝑟 ⊆ 𝑑

Restricting the Domain

If the range of the inside function has values outside of the domain of the outside function, then the
domain of the inside function must be restricted so that these values are no longer included.
That is, the domain of the composite is the domain of the inside function without any 𝑥 value that
produces a value not in the domain of the outside function.
𝑑 ∘ = 𝑑 ∖ 𝑥: 𝑔(𝑥) ∉ 𝑑

Range of a Composite Function

The values that can be output by a composite function are defined by the range of the outside
function. However, if the range of the inside function is strictly a subset of the domain of the outside
function, then there are values in the range of the outside function that can no longer be produced.
Keep in mind that after restricting the domain, the range of the inside function 𝑟 will also be
restricted.

If the 𝑟 = 𝑑 , then 𝑟 ∘ = 𝑟 as the inputs to the outside function are unchanged.

If the 𝑟 ⊂ 𝑑 , then 𝑟 ∘ = 𝑟 ∖ 𝑓(𝑥): 𝑥 ∉ 𝑟 as the values that are in 𝑑 that are not in 𝑟 can no
longer be input into 𝑓 (as 𝑟 is the set of inputs). So those values of 𝑓 must be removed from its range.

Example
Example
1
Let 𝑓: ℝ ∖ {1} → ℝ, 𝑓(𝑥) = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯+ 1 and 𝑔: ℝ → ℝ, 𝑔(𝑥) = log (𝑥) then the rules, domains, and
𝑥−1
ranges of 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) and 𝑔 𝑓(𝑥) are

𝒇 Composition 𝒈
1
𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(log (𝑥)) = ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯+ 1
log (𝑥) −1

range of 𝑔 = ℝ, domain of 𝑓 = ℝ ∖ {1}

𝑔 must be restricted so its range is within ℝ ∖ {1}: log (𝑥) ≠ 1 ⇒ 𝑥 ≠ 𝑒. ∴ Domain: ℝ ∖ {𝑒}

restricted range of 𝑔 = ℝ ∖ {1}, domain of 𝑓 = ℝ ∖ {1}

𝑓 will still get all inputs in its domain, therefore its range will be unchanged. ∴ Range: ℝ ∖ {1}

𝒈 Composition 𝒇
1 1
𝑔 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯+ 1 = log ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯+ 1
𝑥−1 𝑥−1

range of 𝑓 = ℝ ∖ {1}, domain of 𝑔 = ℝ

1
𝑓 must be restricted so its range is within ℝ+ : ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯+ 1 > 0 ⇒ 𝑥 < 0 ∪ 𝑥 > 1. ∴ Domain: ℝ ∖ [0,1]
𝑥−1

restricted range of 𝑓 = ℝ ∖ {1}, domain of 𝑔 = ℝ

𝑔 will no longer get an input of 1, therefore its range will be missing log (1) = 0. ∴ Range: ℝ ∖ {0}

Example VCAA 2017 Exam 1 Question 7ab

  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Let 𝑓: [0, ∞) → 𝑅, 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1.

  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝑓(0) = √0 + 1 = 1, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞
→
From the graph we can see 𝑓(𝑥) is strictly increasing
∴ The range of 𝑓 is 𝑟 = [1, ∞)

Let 𝑔: (−∞, 𝑐] → 𝑅, 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 3, where 𝑐 < 0.

𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 2) − 1 = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 1) ∴ The range of 𝑔 is 𝑟 = [−1, ∞)

The range of 𝑔 must be a subset of the domain of 𝑓 which is [0, ∞). ∴ the values of 𝑥 that make
𝑔(𝑥) = 0 are needed which are when 𝑥 + 3 = 0 and 𝑥 + 1 = 0. ∴ 𝑔(𝑥) = 0 when 𝑥 = −3 and −1.
Since the required domain is (−∞, 𝑐] and 𝑔(−2) = −1, then 𝑐 = −3 as if 𝑐 = −1 then 𝑥 = −2 is in
the domain.

Since the range of 𝑔 is the domain of 𝑓, the range of 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) is [1, ∞).

Example VCAA 2017 Exam 1 Question 7c

  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Let 𝑓: [0, ∞) → 𝑅, 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1 and let ℎ: 𝑅 → 𝑅, ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3.

The range of ℎ is 𝑟 = [3, ∞), which is strictly a subset of the domain of 𝑓: [3, ∞) ⊂ [0, ∞).

Since the range of 𝑔 is strictly a subset of the domain of 𝑓, the range of 𝑓 ℎ(𝑥) is restricted as 𝑓 can
no longer take the inputs [0,3) which are not in the range of ℎ.

  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯   ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝑓(0) = √0 + 1 = 1, 𝑓(3) = √3 + 1 = 2
Therefore, [1,2) must be removed from the range of 𝑓: [1, ∞)
Therefore, the range of 𝑓 ℎ(𝑥) is [1, ∞) ∖ [1,2) = [2, ∞).