13 - Composite Functions

1. For each pair of functions f  x  and g  x  , write down the equation of:

(i) f  g  x  (ii)  g  f  x  (iii)  g  g  x  in simplest form.

(a) f  x   x2 , g  x   2x  5 (b) f  x   x 2 , g  x   sin x

1
(c) f  x  x , g  x   2x (d) f  x  , g  x   log 2 x
x

1
2. Given f  x   and g  x   x 2  3 ,
x2

(a) Evaluate:
(i) f  g 1 (ii)  g  f 1 (iii)  g  g 1 (iv) f  f  0 

(b) Write simplified expressions for:

(i) f  g  x  (ii)  g  f  x  (iii)  g  g  x  (iv) f  f  x 

3. For each of the following pairs of functions f  x  and g  x  :

(i) Write down the domain and range of f  x  and g  x  .

(ii) Write down the equation of  f  g  x  .

(iii) Write down the intersection of the range of g  x  and the domain of f  x  , ie:
 t : t  Range  f  x   t  Domain  g  x 
(iv) Hence find the domain and range of  f  g  x  .

(v) Repeat (ii)-(iv) with the roles of f  x  and g  x  reversed to find the domain and range of
 g  f  x  .

(a) f  x   2x  1 , g  x  x (b) f  x   x2  2x , g  x  x

1
(c) f  x   2x , g  x   (d) f  x  4  x , g  x  x
x 1

4. Find the domain and range of the following functions:

1
y  log 2  log 2 x 
2
(a) y  3x (b) y  2sin   (c)
 x
1 x
(d) 
y  log 2 1  x 2  (e) y   sin x  2 
2
(f) y
x
5. Below are graphs of functions y  f  x  and y  g  x  .

Find the domain and range of f  g and g  f .

6. Write down, in simplest form, all six possible compositions of these three functions:
1
f  x  ; g  x   cos x ; h  x    log 3 x
x2
Answers

 f  g  x    2 x  5  f  g  x    sin x  
2 2
1. (a) (b) sin 2 x
 g  f  x   2 x 2  5  g  f  x   sin  x 2 
 g  g  x   4 x  15  g  g  x   sin  sin x 
x
1
(c) f  g  x   2 x  2 2 (d)  f  g  x  
log 2 x
1
 g  f  x   2 x
 g  f  x   log 2     log 2 x
 x
 g  g  x   22  g  g  x   log 2  log 2 x 
x

1 2
2. (a) (i) (ii) 4 (iii) 19 (iv) 
2 5
1 1 x2
(b) (i) (ii) 3 (iii) y  x 4  6 x 2  12 (iv)
x 1  x  2 2x  3
2 2

3. (a) f  x : Domain: x Range: y

g  x : Domain: x   0,   Range: y   0,  
f  g  x  : Equation: y  2 x  1 Intersection: t   0,  
Domain: x   0,   Range: y  1,  
 g  f  x  : Equation: y  2 x  1 Overlap: t   0,  
 1 
Domain: x    ,   Range: y   0,  
 2 

(b) f  x : Domain: x Range: y   1,  

g  x : Domain: x   0,   Range: y   0,  
f  g  x  : Equation: y  x  2 x Intersection: t   0,  
Domain: x   0,   Range: y   0,  

 g  f  x  : Equation: y  x2  2 x Overlap: t   1,  

 1 
Domain: x    ,   Range: y   0,  
 2 

(c) f  x : Domain: x Range: y   0,  

g  x : Domain: x  1 Range: y0
1

f  g  x  : Equation: y  2 x 1
Intersection: y  0
Domain: x  1 Range: y  1
1
 g  f  x  : Equation: y  Overlap: t   0,  
2 1
x

Domain: x   Range: y   0, 1

(d) f  x : Domain: x   , 4 Range: y   0,  

g  x : Domain: x   0,   Range: y   0,  
 f  g  x  : Equation: y  4  x Intersection: t   0, 4
Domain: x   0, 16  Range: y   0, 4
 g  f  x  : Equation: y  4
4 x Overlap: t   0,  
Domain: x   , 4 Range: y   0,  

4. (a) x (b) x0 (c) x  1 (d) 1  x  1

y 1 2  y  2 y y0
(e) x (f) x   ,  1   0,  
1 y  9 y   0,   , y  1

5. f g: Domain: 3  x  1 Range: y 1

7
g f : Domain:   x  1 Range: y0
4

1
6. (a) f  g  h  x  
cos   log 3 x  
2

1
 cos x is even 
cos  log 3 x  
2

 sec2  log 3 x 
1 1
(b) f  h  g  x   
 log 3  cos x  log 3  sec x 
 1   1 
(c) g  f  h  x   cos 
   log x  
2
  cos 
  log x 2


 3   3 
 1 
(d)  g  h  f  x   cos   log3  2  
  x 
 cos  log 3 x 2 
 1 
(e) h  f  g  x    log 3 
  cos x 2


 
 log 3  cos 2 x 
  1    1 
(f)  h  g  f  x    log 3 cos  2    log 3 sec  2  
  x    x 