6.

1 Composite/Combining
Functions

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Learning Objectives
1. Form a Composite Function
2. Find the Domain of a Composite Function

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LO 1: Form a Composite Function

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Figure 1

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Definition 1
Given two functions f and g, the composite function,
denoted by f  g (read as “f composed with g”), is defined by
 f  g  x   f  g  x  
The domain of f  g is the set of all numbers x in the domain
of g such that g  x  is in the domain of f.

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Figure 2

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Figure 3

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Example 1
Evaluating a Composite Function
Suppose that f  x   2x 2  3 and g  x   4x. Find:

(a)  f  g 1

(b)  g  f 1
(c)  f  f  2 
(d)  g  g  1

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Solution 1 (1 of 2)
(a)

(b)

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Solution 1 (2 of 2)
(c)

(d)

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LO 2: Find the Domain of a
Composite Function

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Example 2
Finding a Composite Function and Its Domain
1 4
Suppose that f  x   and  
g x  .
x2 x 1
Find:
(a) f  g

(b) f  f

Then find the domain of each composite function.

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Solution 2 (1 of 4)
The domain of f is  x | x  2 and the domain of g is  x | x  1 .

(a)

In Example 3, the domain of f  g was found to be

x | x   1, x  1 .

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Solution 2 (2 of 4)

(b)

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Solution 2 (3 of 4)
The domain of f  f consists of all values of x in the domain
of f,  x | x  2, for which
1 1
f  x   2 = 2
x2 x+2
1 = 2  x + 2 
1 = 2 x  4
2 x = 5
5
x = 
2

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Solution 2 (4 of 4)
or, equivalently,
5
x
2

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Example 3
Showing That Two Composite Functions Are Equal
1
If f  x   3x  4 and g  x    x  4  , show that
3
 f  g  x   g  f  x  x
for every x in the domain of f  g and g  f .

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Solution 3
f  g  x   f g x 
 x  4 1 x+4
 f  g x =  x + 4  =
 3  3 3
 x  4
 3 4 f  x  = 3 x  4.
 3 
 x 4 4 x
 g  f  x   g  f x 
 g  3x  4  f  x  = 3x  4
1 1
  3 x  4   4  g x =  x + 4 .
3 3
1
  3x   x
3

We conclude that  g  f  x    g  f  x   x .
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Figure 5

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Example 4
Finding the Components of a Composite Function
1
Find functions f and g such that f  g  H if H  x   .
x 1

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Solution 4
1
Here H is the reciprocal of g  x   x  1. Let f  x  
x
and g  x   x  1. Then
1
 f  g  x   f  g  x    f  x  1   H x 
x 1

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