[5] Composition of Functions

"Function Composition" is applying one function to the results of another:

The result of f() is sent through g()

It is written: (g º f)(x)

Which means: g(f(x))

Example: f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

"x" is just a placeholder. To avoid confusion let's just call it "input":

f(input) = 2(input)+3

g(input) = (input)2

Let's start:

(g º f)(x) = g(f(x))

First we apply f, then apply g to that result:

(g º f)(x) = (2x+3)2

What if we reverse the order of f and g?

(f º g)(x) = f(g(x))

First we apply g, then apply f to that result:

(f º g)(x) = 2x2+3
We get a different result!

When we reverse the order the result is rarely the same.

So be careful which function comes first.

Symbol
The symbol for composition is a small circle:

(g º f)(x)

It is not a filled in dot: (g · f)(x), as that means multiply.

Composed With Itself

We can even compose a function with itself!

Example: f(x) = 2x+3

(f º f)(x) = f(f(x))

First we apply f, then apply f to that result:

(f º f)(x) = 2(2x+3)+3 = 4x + 9

We should be able to do it without the pretty diagram:

(f º f)(x)= f(f(x))
= f(2x+3)
= 2(2x+3)+3
= 4x + 9
 Domains

It has been easy so far, but now we must consider the Domains of the functions.

The domain is the set of all the values that go into a function.

The function must work for all values we give it, so it is up to us to make sure we get the domain
correct!

Example: the domain for √x (the square root of x)

We can't have the square root of a negative number (unless we use imaginary numbers, but we
aren't), so we must exclude negative numbers:

The Domain of √x is all non-negative Real Numbers

On the Number Line it looks like:

Using set-builder notation it is written:

{x | x ≥ 0}

Or using interval notation it is:

[0,+∞)

It is important to get the Domain right, or we will get bad results!

Domain of Composite Function

We must get both Domains right (the composed function and the first function used).

When doing, for example, (g º f)(x) = g(f(x)):

 Make sure we get the Domain for f(x) right,


 Then also make sure that g(x) gets the correct Domain

Example: f(x) = √x and g(x) = x2

The Domain of f(x) = √x is all non-negative Real Numbers

The Domain of g(x) = x2 is all the Real Numbers

The composed function is:

(g º f)(x)= g(f(x))
= (√x)2
=x

Now, "x" normally has the Domain of all Real Numbers ...

... but because it is a composed function we must also consider f(x),

So the Domain is all non-negative Real Numbers

Why Both Domains?

Well, imagine the functions are machines ... the first one melts a hole with a flame (only for metal),
the second one drills the hole a little bigger (works on wood or metal):

What we see at the end is a drilled hole, and we may think "that
should work for wood or metal".

But if we put wood into g º f then the first function f will make a fire
and burn everything down!
 So what happens "inside the machine" is important.

De-Composing Function
We can go the other way and break up a function into a composition of other functions.

Example: (x+1/x)2

That function can be made from these two functions:

f(x) = x + 1/x

g(x) = x2

And we get:

(g ºf)(x)= g(f(x))
= g(x + 1/x)
= (x + 1/x)2

This can be useful if the original function is too complicated to work on.

Summary

 "Function Composition" is applying one function to the results of another.

 (g º f)(x) = g(f(x)), first apply f(), then apply g()

 We must also respect the domain of the first function

 Some functions can be de-composed into two (or more) simpler functions.
[3] Operations with Functions
We can add, subtract, multiply and divide functions!

The result is a new function.

Let us try doing those operations on f(x) and g(x):

Addition

We can add two functions:

(f+g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)

Note: we put the f+g inside () to show they both work on x.

Example: f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(f+g)(x) = (2x+3) + (x2) = x2+2x+3

Sometimes we may need to combine like terms :

Example: v(x) = 5x+1, w(x) = 3x-2

(v+w)(x) = (5x+1) + (3x-2) = 8x-1

The only other thing to worry about is the Domain (the set of numbers that go into the
function), but I will talk about that later!

Subtraction

We can also subtract two functions:

(f-g)(x) = f(x) − g(x)

Example: f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(f-g)(x) = (2x+3) − (x2)

Multiplication

We can multiply two functions:

(f·g)(x) = f(x) · g(x)

Example: f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(f·g)(x) = (2x+3)(x2) = 2x3 + 3x2

Division

And we can divide two functions:

(f/g)(x) = f(x) / g(x)

Example: f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(f/g)(x) = (2x+3)/x2
Function Composition
There is another special operation called Function Composition,
read that page to find out more!
(g º f)(x)

Domains
It has been very easy so far, but now we must consider the Domains of the functions.

The domain is the set of all the values that

go into a function.

The function must work for all values we give it,

so it is up to us to make sure we get the
domain correct!

Example: the domain for √x (the square

root of x)

We can't have the square root of a negative number (unless we use imaginary numbers, but
we aren't doing that here), so we must exclude negative numbers:

The Domain of √x is all non-negative Real Numbers

On the Number Line it looks like:

Using set-builder notation it is written:

{x | x ≥ 0}

"the set of all x's that are a member of the Real Numbers,
such that x is greater than or equal to zero"

Or using interval notation it is:

[0,+∞)

It is important to get the Domain right, or we will get bad results!

 So how do we work out the new domain after doing an operation?

How to Work Out the New Domain

When we do operations on functions, we end up with the restrictions of both.

It is like cooking for friends:

 one can't eat peanuts,

 the other can't eat dairy food.

So what we cook can't have peanuts and also can't have dairy products.

Example: f(x)=√x and g(x)=√(3−x)

The domain for f(x)=√x is from 0 onwards:

The domain for g(x)=√(3−x) is up to and including 3:

So the new domain (after adding or whatever) is from 0 to 3:

If we choose any other value, then one or the other part of the new function won't work.

In other words we want to find where the two domains intersect.

Note: we can put this whole idea into one line using Set Builder Notation :
 Dom(f+g) = { x | x Dom(f) and x Dom(g) }
Which says "the domain of f plus g is the set of all Real Numbers that are in the domain of f
AND in the domain of g"
The same rule applies when we add, subtract, multiply or divide, except divide has one
extra rule.

An Extra Rule for Division

There is an extra rule for division:

As well as restricting the domain as above, when we divide:

(f/g)(x) = f(x) / g(x)

we must also make sure that g(x) is not equal to zero (so we don't divide by zero ).

Here is an example:

Example: f(x)=√x and g(x)=√(3−x)

(f/g)(x) = √x / √(3−x)
1. The domain for f(x)=√x is from 0 onwards:

2. The domain for g(x)=√(3−x) is up to and including 3:

3. AND √(3−x) cannot be zero, so x cannot be 3:

(Notice the open circle at 3, which means not including 3)

 So all together we end up with:

Summary
 To add, subtract, multiply or divide functions just do as the operation says.

 The domain of the new function will have the restrictions of both functions that made it.

 Divide has the extra rule that the function we are dividing by cannot be zero

[6] Decompose a composite function into its component functions

In some cases, it is necessary to decompose a complicated function. In other words, we
can write it as a composition of two simpler functions. There may be more than one way
to decompose a composite function, so we may choose the decomposition that appears
to be most expedient.

EXAMPLE 10: DECOMPOSING A FUNCTION

Write f(x)= √5−x2 as the composition of two functions.

SOLUTION

We are looking for two functions, g and h,

so f(x)=g(h(x))f(x)=g(h(x)).
To do this, we look for a function inside a function in the formula for f(x).
As one possibility, we might notice that the expression

5−x2

is the inside of the square root. We could then decompose the function as
h(x)=5−x2 and g(x)=√x
We can check our answer by recomposing the functions.
g(h(x))=g(5−x2)=√5−x2