LECTURE 3 OF 5

TOPIC : 5.0 FUNCTIONS AND

GRAPHS

SUBTOPIC : 5.2 Composite Functions

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, students
should be able to
a) represent a composite function using
an arrow diagram.
b) find composite function.
c) find one of the functions when the
composite and the other functions are
given.

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
a) Represent a composite function using an
arrow diagram

If f is a function from set X to set Y and g is a

function from set Y to set Z, then g  f is the
composite function of f follow by g from X to Z.

X Y Z

f g
x f(x) g[f(x)]

g f
CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Note that
a ) ( g  f )( x)  g[ f ( x)]
b) f 2 ( x)  f [ f ( x)]

In general
( g  f )( x)  ( f  g )( x)

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
b) Find composite function
Example 1
Given f ( x)  2 x  3 and g ( x)  x  1 . Find
a ) fg( x)
b) gf ( x)
c ) ff ( x )
d ) gg ( x)

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
f ( x)  2 x  3 , g ( x)  x  1
a ) fg( x)  f ( x  1)
 2( x  1)  3
 2x 1

b) gf ( x)  g ( 2 x  3)
 (2 x  3)  1
 2x  2

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
c ) ff ( x )  f ( 2 x  3)
 2(2 x  3)  3
 4x  9

d ) gg ( x )  g ( x  1)
 ( x  1)  1
 x2

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Example 2
5
Given f ( x)  2 x  3 , g ( x)  and
x
h( x)  x . Find
a ) ( f  g  h)( x)
b) (h  g  f )( x)

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
5
f ( x )  2 x  3 , g ( x)  , h ( x )  x
x
a ) ( f  g  h)( x)  fgh(x )
 fg( x )
 5 
 f  
 x
 5 
 2   3
 x
10
 3
x
CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
b) (h  g  f )( x)  hgf (x)
 hg (2 x  3)
 5 
 h 
 2x  3 
5

2x  3

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Example 3

Given f ( x )  2 x  1 and g ( x )  x 2
. Find
a ) fg (1)
b) gf (1)

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
f ( x )  2 x  1 , g ( x)  x
2

a ) fg (1)  f ((1) 2 )
 f (1)
 2(1)  1
3
b) gf (1)  g (2(1)  1)
 g (3)
 (3) 2
9
CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Example 4

Given f ( x )  2 x  1 and g ( x )  x 2
.
Find the values of x if
a ) fg ( x )  3
b) gf ( x)  9

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
f ( x )  2 x  1 , g ( x)  x 2
a ) fg ( x )  3
f (x )  3
2

2( x 2 )  1  3
2x  22

x 1
2

x  1 or x  1

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
b) gf ( x)  9
g (2 x  1)  9
(2 x  1)  9
2

4x  4x  1  9
2

4x 2  4x  8  0
x2  x  2  0
( x  2)( x  1)  0
x  2 or x  1

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Example 5
x2
Given f ( x)  and g ( x)  3 x  2 .
2
Find the values of x if fg( x)  gf ( x) .

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
x2
f ( x)  , g ( x)  3x  2
2
fg ( x)  gf ( x)
 x2 
f (3 x  2)  g  
 2 
(3x  2) 2  x2 
 3   2
2  2 
9 x 2  12 x  4 3x 2  4

2 2
CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
9 x 2  12 x  4  3x 2  4
6 x 2  12 x  0
x  2x  0
2

x( x  2)  0
x  0 or x  2

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Example 6
3
Given f ( x)  . Find f ( x) , f ( x) and f ( x) .
2 3 4

x
35
Hence, find f ( x) .

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
3
f ( x) 
x
f ( x)  ff (x)
2

3
 f 
 x
3

3
x
 x
 3 
3
x
CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
f 3 ( x)  ff 2 ( x)
 f (x)
3

x
f ( x)  ff ( x)
4 3

3
 f 
 x
x

3
f ( x) 
35

x
CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
c) Find one of the functions when the
composite and the other functions are given

Finding the inner function: Use fg( x)  f ( g ( x)) .

Finding the outer function : Use substitution

of the inner function.

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Example 7
a) Given f ( x)  2 x  5 and fg( x)  4 x  9 .
Find g (x) .

b) Given f ( x)  2 x  1 and fg( x)  6 x  1 .

2

Find g (x) .

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
a ) f ( x)  2 x  5
fg ( x)  4 x  9
f ( g ( x))  4 x  9
2 g ( x)  5  4 x  9
2 g ( x)  4 x  14
g ( x)  2 x  7

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
b) f ( x )  2 x  1
fg( x)  6 x 2  1
f ( g ( x))  6 x 2  1
2 g ( x)  1  6 x 2  1
2 g ( x)  6 x  2
2

g ( x)  3 x  1
2

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Example 8
a) Given g ( x)  3 x  4 and fg ( x)  6 x  10 .
Find f (x ) .

b) Given g ( x)  x  3 and fg( x)  3x  5 .

2

Find f (x ) .

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
Solution
a) g ( x)  3x  4
fg( x)  6 x  10
f (3 x  4)  6 x  10
Let u  3x  4
u  4  3x
u4
x
3
u  4
f (u )  6   10
 3 
CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
f (u )  2(u  4)  10
f (u )  2u  18
f ( x)  2 x  18

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW
b) g ( x )  x  3
fg( x)  3x 2  5
f ( x  3)  3x 2  5
Let u  x  3
x  u 3
f (u)  3(u  3) 2  5
 3(u 2  6u  9)  5
f (u)  3u 2  18u  22
f ( x)  3x 2  18 x  22

CCL/CHC/KKW/CCW