Compositions

of
Functions
 Compositions of functions:

“Substituting One Function Into Another”

(𝑓 ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x))
1. Find (f ∘ ℎ)
Given: 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 + 6 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2
Solution:
(f ∘ ℎ)(𝑥) = f(ℎ(𝑥))

Since h(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2

= 5(x + 2) + 6
= 5x +10 + 6

= 5x +16
2. Find (f ∘ ℎ)(3)
Given: 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 + 6 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2
Solution:
(f ∘ ℎ)(3) = f(ℎ(3))

Since h(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 h(3) = 3 + 2 h(3) = 5

f(h(3)) = 5(5) + 6
= 25 + 6

= 31
3. Find (f ∘ g)
Given: 𝑓(𝑥) = 2x - 3 g(𝑥) = 5x + 1
Solution:
(f ∘ g)(𝑥) = f(g(𝑥))

Since g(𝑥) = 5x + 1

= 2(5x + 1) - 3

= 10x + 2 − 3
= 10x −1
 4. a. Given:
2 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 𝑥=4
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6
Solution:
(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑓(ℎ(𝑥))
FOIL method first:
= 𝑓(𝑥 + 2)
(x + 2) (x + 2)
2
Since 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6
= 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 4
𝑓(𝑥 + 2) = (𝑥 + 2)2 + 5(𝑥 + 2) + 6
= 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 + 5𝑥 + 10 + 6
2
= 𝑥 + 9𝑥 + 20
2
(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4)) = (4) + 9(4) + 20
= 16 + 36 + 20
= 72
 4. b. Given:
2 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 𝑥=4
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6
Solution:
(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4) = 𝑓(ℎ(4))

Step 1. Evaluate ℎ(4) Step 2. Evaluate 𝑓(6)

2
ℎ(4) = 𝑥 + 2 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6
ℎ(4) = 4 + 2 2
𝑓(6) = (6) + 5(6) + 6
ℎ(4) = 6 = 36 + 30 + 6
𝑓(6) = 72
(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4) = 𝑓(ℎ((4))
ℎ(4)) = 6
𝑓(ℎ(4)) = 72
5. Find (h ∘ ℎ)
Given: 2
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2
Solution:
(h ∘ ℎ)(𝑥) = ℎ(ℎ(𝑥))

Since h(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2

= 𝑥 + 2 +2
=x+4
6. Find (h ∘ f)
Given: 2
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2
Solution:
(h ∘ f)(𝑥) = ℎ(f(𝑥))
2
Since f(x) = 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6
ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2
2
= 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6 +2
2
= 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 8