COMPOSITE FUNCTIONS WORKSHEET –

SOLUTIONS
If f ( x )=2 x +1 and g ( x )=x 2+ 3, Find the function rule (expression) for (f ∘ g)(x)

If f ( x )=2 x +1 and g ( x )=x 2+ 3, Find the value (f ∘ g)(3)

PAPER 1: NON-CALCULATOR

1
1. Let f ( x )=2 x and g ( x )= , x ≠ 3.
x −3

a) Find the value of (f ∘ g)(5) and (g ∘ f )(5) .

b) Find the function rule (expression) for (f ∘ g)(x) and (g ∘ f )(x).

YEAR 11 UPPER CANADA COLLEGE MHF4U

2. For each pair of functions find (f ∘ g)(x) and (g ∘ f )(x) and state the domain for
each.

a) f ( x )=x 2 +1 and g ( x )=−2 x

2
b) f ( x )= and g ( x )=x−1
x +4

3. Let g ( x )=√ x−1 and h ( x )=10−x 2. Find (g ∘h)(x ) and its domain and range.

4. Determine functions g and h so that f ( x )=g (h ( x )) for the following functions.

a) f ( x )=(x +3)2

YEAR 11 UPPER CANADA COLLEGE MHF4U

 1
b) f ( x )=
x +3

5. Find the domain for the functions f, g and the composite function f ∘ g.

a) f ( x )= √ x∧g ( x )=x 2 +1

3
b) f ( x )= 2
∧g ( x )=x+ 1
x −1

CHALLENGE:

YEAR 11 UPPER CANADA COLLEGE MHF4U

6. Given the following:
a) If ax +b=cx + d for all values of x, show that a=c and b=d .
Hint: If it is true for all x, it is true for x=0 and x=1.)

b) Given f ( x )=2 x +3 and g ( x )=ax +b and that ( f ∘ g ) ( x ) =x for all values of x,

1 −3
deduce that a= and b= .
2 2

c) Is the result in b true if ( g ∘ f ) ( x ) =x for all x?

YEAR 11 UPPER CANADA COLLEGE MHF4U

7. Given f ( x )=3 x +5 and h ( x )=3 x 2+ 6 x+2 , find a function g(x) such that
( f ∘ g ) ( x ) =h( x ).

8. If g ( x )=x 2−x and h ( x )=g(f ( x )), determine the function f(x) such that
2
h ( x )=4 x +10 x +6 .

Therefore, NOTE – CAN’T CHANGE THIS FOR SOME REASON BUT THIS SHOULD
SAY F(X) BELOW – NOT H(X). OKAY? 

YEAR 11 UPPER CANADA COLLEGE MHF4U