COMPOSITION ON

GEN. MATH

FUNCTIONS
Perform operations on functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division and composition of functions)
Learning Solve problems involving functions
Objectives

What is Composition of Functions?

Composition of functions is another way in which functions can be combined. This method of
combining functions uses the output of one function as the input for a second function.

Let f and g be two functions such that g( x ) is in the domain of f for all x in the domain of g.
Then the composition of the two functions, denoted by f ∘ g, is the function whose value at x is given
by ( f ∘ g )( x )=f [ g ( x) ].

Formulas:
( f ∘ g )( x )=f [ g (x) ] ( g ∘ f )( x )=g [ f (x) ]
( f ∘ f ) ( x )=f [ f ( x) ] ( g ∘ g ) ( x )=g [ g (x) ]

Example: Perform the indicated function composition.

( f ∘ g )( x )=f [ g (x) ] ( g ∘ f )( x )=g [ f (x) ]

1. f ( x )=2 x 2−3 x−1 ; g ( x )=−x +5

Solution:

( f ∘ g )( x )=f [ g ( x) ] ( g ∘ f )( x )=g [ f (x) ]

2
¿ 2(−x +5) −3 (−x+ 5 )−1
¿−( 2 x 2−3 x−1 )+ 5
¿ 2 ( x 2−10 x +25 )+ 3 x−15−1 ¿−2 x 2 +3 x+1+5
2
¿ 2 x −20 x +50+3 x−15−1 2
¿−2 x +3 x+ 6
¿ 2 x2 −17 x +34

1
2. f ( x )=−10 x 2 +6 x−4 ; g ( x )= x+2
2

Solution:

( f ∘ g )( x )=f [ g ( x) ]

( ) ( )
2
1 1
¿−10 x+ 2 +6 x+2 −4
2 2

( 1
)
¿−10 x 2+ 2 x +4 + x+12−4
4
6
2
−10 2
¿ x −20 x−40+ 3 x +12−4
4
 5
¿− x2 −17 x−32
2
( g ∘ f )( x )=g [ f ( x) ]
1
¿ (−10 x +6 x −4 ) +2
2
2
−10 2 6 4
¿ x + x− +2
2 2 2
2
¿−5 x +3 x−2+2
¿−5 x 2 +3 x

3 x+ 2 x+2
3. f ( x )= x−1 ; g ( x )= x −3

Solution:

( f ∘ g )( x )=f [ g ( x) ] ( g ∘ f )( x )=g [ f (x) ]

¿
3( ) x+ 2
x−3
+2
¿
3 x +2
x−1
+2
x+ 2 3 x+ 2
−1 −3
x −3 x−1
3 x+ 6 3 x +2+2(x−1)
+2
x−3 x−1
¿ ¿
x +2−1 ( x−3 ) 3 x+ 2−3( x −1)
x −3 x−1
3 x+ 6+2 ( x−3 ) 3 x +2+2 x −2
x −3 x −1
¿ ¿
x +2−x +3 3 x+ 2−3 x+ 3
x −3 x −1
3 x+ 6+2 x−6 5x
x−3 x−1
¿ ¿
5 5
x−3 x−1
5x 5 x x −1
¿ ⋅
x−3 x −1 5
¿
5 ¿x
x−3
5 x x−3
¿ ⋅
x −3 5
¿x

( f ∘ f ) ( x )=f [ f ( x) ] ( g ∘ g ) ( x )=g [ g (x) ]

1. f ( x )=−3 x 2−7 x +4

Solution:

( f ∘ f ) ( x )=f [ f ( x ) ]
¿−3 (−3 x2 −7 x+ 4 ) −7 (−3 x 2−7 x+ 4 ) +4
¿−3 ( 9 x +42 x + 25 x −56 x +16 ) + 21 x + 49 x−28+ 4
4 3 2 2

4 3 2 2
¿−27 x −126 x −75 x + 168 x−48+21 x + 49 x −28+4
4 3 2
¿−27 x −126 x −54 x +217 x−72
 −3 x−2
2. g ( x )=
x

Solution:

( g ∘ g ) ( x )=g [ g ( x ) ]

¿
−3 ( −3 x−2
x ) −2

−3 x−2
x
9 x +6
−2
x
¿
−3 x−2
x
9 x +6−2 x
x
¿
−3 x−2
x
7 x +6
x
¿
−3 x−2
x
7 x +6 x
¿ ⋅
x −3 x −2
2
7 x +6 x
¿
−3 x 2−2 x

Activity 3.1: Functions Composite!

Perform the indicated function composition.

;
 Prepared by:

EMILYN B. BALBUENA
SHS/JHS TEACHER