COMPOSITE FUNCTIONS

Starter
Answer these questions, based on the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=5 𝑥 +5 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=9 𝑥 − 4 h ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥2 −3 𝑥 − 4

1) Find the value of 2) Find the value of x if: 3) Find the value of x if f(x) = 2g(x)
each function if x = 4 a) f(x) = 65
b) g(x) = -22
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=5 𝑥 +5 Sub in 4
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=2 𝑔(𝑥) Replace f(x)
𝑓 ( 4 )=5 (4 )+5 Calculate
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=5 𝑥 +5 Replace f(x) 5 𝑥+5¿ 2(9 𝑥 − 4)
and g(x)
Expand
𝑓 ( 4 )=25 65=5 𝑥+5 Subtract 5 bracket
5 𝑥+5¿ 18 𝑥 −8 Add 8,
60=5 𝑥 Divide by 5
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=9 𝑥 − 4 Sub in 4 12=𝑥 13=13 𝑥 Subtract 5x
Divide by 13
𝑔 ( 4 )=9 (4)− 4 Calculate 1=𝑥
𝑔 ( 4 )=32 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=9 𝑥 − 4 Replace g(x)
−22=9 𝑥 − 4 Add 4
h ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥2 −3 𝑥 − 4 Sub in 4 −18=9 𝑥 Divide by 9
h ( 4 ) =( 4)2 −3 ( 4 ) − 4
Calculate −2=𝑥
h ( 4 ) =0
 Composite Functions
• Today we will be continuing our work on
functions

• We will be looking at problems involving

‘Composite functions’

• A Composite Function is one which is made

up of several functions performed in a
certain order
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4

1a) Calculate fg(8) The function fg(8) means you calculate g(8),
and then calculate f(the answer)
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4
Sub in 8
 So substitute 8 into g(x) to find the
𝑔 ( 8 )=8 − 4 value of g(8)
Calculate
𝑔 ( 8 )=4  Then take the answer, and substitute it
into f(x)
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2
Sub in 4, which was g(8)
𝑓𝑔 ( 8 ) =( 4)2 We are calculating ‘f of g of 8’
Calculate
𝑓 𝑔 ( 8 )=16

Therefore: 𝑓𝑔(8)=16
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4

1b) Calculate gf(8) The function gf(8) means you calculate f(8),
and then calculate g(the answer)
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2
Sub in 8
 So substitute 8 into f(x) to find the
𝑓 ( 8 ) =(8)2
Calculate value of f(8)
𝑓 ( 8 ) =64  Then take the answer, and substitute it
into g(x)
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4
Sub in 64, which was f(8)
𝑔 𝑓 ( 8 )=64 − 4 We are calculating ‘g of f of 8’
Calculate
𝑔 𝑓 ( 8 )=60 Notice that the order is
important – you get a different
Therefore: 𝑔𝑓 (8)=60 answer if it is changed!
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4

1c) Calculate fg(x) The function fg(x) means you calculate g(x),
and then calculate f(the answer)
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4 Sub in x (actually,
 So substitute x into g(x) to find the
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4 nothing happens!)
value of g(x)
 Then take the answer, and substitute it
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 into f(x)
Sub in (x – 4) for all ‘x’
2 terms (This was g(x))
𝑓 ( 𝑥 − 4 ) =(𝑥 − 4)
Calculate We are calculating ‘f of g of x’
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 − 4 ) =𝑥 −8 𝑥+16

Therefore: 𝑓𝑔(𝑥)=(𝑥 − 4)2

 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=3 𝑥 −1 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2+1 What this does is give us a

single function that can replace
the functions f and g (in this
particular order)
2a) Calculate fg(x)
 3x2 + 2
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2+1
Replace g(x) with its expression in fg(x) This function is equivalent to
𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 )¿ 𝑓 ( 𝑥2 +1) performing x2 + 1 followed by
3x - 1

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=3 𝑥 −1 So we need to find f(x2 + 1)

 Replace all ‘x’ terms with ‘x2 + 1’ terms
𝑓 ( 𝑥 2 +1 )=3( 𝑥 2+1)− 1
Expand bracket
𝑓 ( 𝑥 +1 )=3 𝑥 +3 −1
2 2

Simplify
𝑓 ( 𝑥 +1 )=3 𝑥 +2
2 2
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=3 𝑥 −1 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2+1 What this does is give us a

single function that can replace
the functions f and g (in this
particular order)
2a) Calculate gf(x)
 9x2 - 6x + 2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=3 𝑥 −1
Replace g(x) with its expression in fg(x) This function is equivalent to
𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥 )¿ 𝑔(3 𝑥 −1) performing 3x – 1 followed by
x2 + 1

𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2+1 So we need to find g(3x - 1)

2  Replace all ‘x’ terms with ‘3x - 1’ terms
𝑔 ( 3 𝑥 − 1 )=( 3 𝑥 − 1 ) +1
Expand bracket
2
𝑔 ( 3 𝑥 − 1 )=9 𝑥 − 6 𝑥+1+1
Simplify
2
𝑔 ( 3 𝑥 − 1 )=9 𝑥 − 6 𝑥+2
 Plenary
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥+ 4
Set equal to
Find the value of for which fg(x) = gf(x)
each other
𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) Find fg(x) 𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) Find gf(x) 𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑔𝑓 (𝑥)
¿ 𝑓 (𝑥+ 4) ¿ 𝑔 (𝑥 2 +8) 𝑥2 +8 𝑥+24=¿𝑥2 +12
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥+ 4 8 𝑥+24 =¿12
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 +4 )= ( 𝑥 +4 ) +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 + 8 ) =( 𝑥 + 8)+ 4
2 2 8 𝑥=−12
𝑓 ( 𝑥 +4 )=𝑥 2 +8 𝑥+16 +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 2+ 8 ) =𝑥2 +12 𝑥=−1.5
𝑓 ( 𝑥 +4 )=𝑥 2 +8 𝑥+24
𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2+12
𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥 2 +8 𝑥+24
 Summary
• We have looked at composite functions

• We have seen how they can combine multiple functions into a

single one

• Sometimes the combined equation is simpler, and sometimes it

can be more complicated

• Composite functions can be used in games to describe motion

 The two separate functions could be based on horizontal
and vertical movement (eg – throwing a ball)
 You can choose these and then combine them to form an
equation for the exact location of a ball at a particular time…