Composite Functions

What Are They?

Composite functions are functions that are formed from two
functions f(x) and g(x) in which the output or result of one of
the functions is used as the input to the other function.
Notationally we express composite functions as

f  g  x  or f  g  x  
In this case the result or output from g becomes the input to f.
Example 1

Given f  x  x3 g  x  x  2 the composite function

f  g  x   f  g  x    f  x  2   x  2  x 3  6 x 2  8 x  8
3

Replace g(x) with x+2

Replace the variable x in

the f function with x+2

Expand
 Example 2
Given h x   2 x  4 k  x   x 2  2 the composite function

k  h  x  k  h  x   k    
2
2x  4  2x  4  2   2 x  4  2  2x  2

The result of
Replace the
the function h
variable x in
becomes the
k(x) with 2 x  4
input to k

Simplify
Example 2 Con’t.

Now see what happens when we take the same two functions and reverse the order of
the composition.

h x   2 x  4 k  x   x 2  2 The composite function

   
h  k  x   h  k  x    h x 2  2  2 x 2  2  4  2x 2  4  4  2x 2  2 x

Notice, the result here is not the same as the previous result. This is usually the
case with composite functions. Changing the order of the composition (changing
which function is the “inner” function and which is the “outer” function) usually
changes the result.
Problem 1
1
For the functions f  x  g  x   3x  5 find
x
f  g  x (click mouse to see answer)

1
f  g  x   f  3x  5  
3x  5

g  f  x (click mouse to see answer)

1 1 3
g  f  x   g    3   5   5
x x x
Breaking Composite Functions Apart
There are instances when we want to take a composite function
and break it into its component parts. In this case we’ll be
looking for an “inner” function and an “outer” function. To
help you find the inner function look for expressions in
parentheses, or under radical signs or in denominators.
Example 3
h  x    5  4 x  into two smaller functions
2
Break the composite function

f  x  and g  x  so that h x  f  g  x 

h  x    5  4x 
2
g  x  5  4x
f  x   x2

Inner part Outer part

Problem 2
Break the given function h(x) into components f(x) and g(x) such that
h(x) =f (g(x))

h  x   3 1  x2 (click mouse to see answer)

(click mouse to see answer)