Section 1.7 Combinations of Functions: Composite Functions
Section 1.7 Combinations of Functions: Composite Functions
7
Combinations of Functions:
Composite Functions
The Domain of a Function
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2
2
3x+5
g(x)=
x 4 5
x 4 5 0
5 1 0
5 0 1 0
x=5 x=-1
: - ,-1 1, 5 5,
x
x
x x
x x
Domain
+
+
)
( ) 2 5
2 5 0
2x 5
5
x
2
5
: ,
2
h x x
x
Domain
( )
2
( ) 7
- ,
f x x x
Domain
Domains of Other Functions
( )
( ) 4 5
: ,
f x x
Domain
( )
3
( )
: ,
f x x
Domain
Example
Find the domain of the function
4x-1
f(x)=
3x+2
Example
Find the domain of the function
f(x)= 4x-1
The Algebra of Functions
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
2
2
f
If the function can be
g
simplified, determine the domain
before simplifying.
Example;
f(x)= x and g(x)=x- 2 2
f f
x in ; Domain of : , , 2 22
g g
2 2
f 2
2
g 22
x x
x
x x
x x
+ _
+
,
The domain of f+g is the set of all real numbers that
are common to the domain of f and the domain of g.
Thus we must find the domains of f and g before
finding their intersection.
Suppose ( ) x+3 a f x nd g(x)= x-2 then
(f+g)(x)= x+3 2
Now for their domains.
( ) x+3 g(x)= x-2
3 0 x-2 0
3 x 2
So the domain for the sum of the functions
is x 2 which in inter
x
f x
x
x
+
[ )
val notation is 2,
Continued on next slide
Determining Domains When Adding or
Subtracting Functions
Continuation of the same problem.
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
x
y
[ )
The graph of (f+g)(x)= x+3 2
confirms that the domain of this functio n is 2,
x +
The domain of f g is the set of all real numbers that
are common to the domain of f and the domain of g.
Thus we must find the domains of f and g before
finding their intersection.
5
Suppose ( ) an
x
f x
( )
3
d g(x)= then
x-2
15
(fg)(x)=
x x-2
Now for their domains.
5 3
( ) g(x)=
x x-2
0 x-2 0
x 2
So the domain for the product of the functions
is x 0, x 2 which in
f x
x
( ) ( ) ( )
interval notation is
- ,0 0, 2 2,
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
x
y
Determining Domains when Multiplying Functions
Example
2
If f(x)=5x-1 g(x)=x 2 1 Find each of the following:
(f+g)(x)
(f-g)(x)
(fg)(x)
f
( )
g
x
x
+
_
,
Example
2
If f(x)=5x-1 g(x)=5x 9 2 Find the domain
of the following:
(fg)(x)
f
( )
g
x
x
+
_
,
Example
1 1
If f(x)= g(x)= Find the domain
2 1
of the following:
(fg)(x)
f
( )
g
x x
x
_
,
Example
If f(x)= x-1 g(x)= x-6 Find the domain for:
(f-g)(x)
Composite Functions
f(g(x))=0.85x - 300
We read this equation as "f of g of x is equal to 0.85x-300."
We call f(g(x)) the composition of the function f with g, or a
composite function. This composite function is written f g o
( ) ( ) ( )
The domain of f g is , 0 0, 3 3, o
Example
( ) ( )
3 2
Given f(x)= and g(x)= .
x-4 x
a. Find f g b. Find the domain of f g x o o
Example
( ) ( )
2
Given f(x)= and g(x)= x.
x-3
a. Find f g b. Find the domain of f g x o o
Decomposing Functions
Example
( )
4
2
Express h(x) as a composition of two functions:
( ) 6 5 h x x x +
Example
2
Express h(x) as a composition of two functions:
1
( )
9 64
h x
x
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2
Find the domain of the function
3x-1
f(x)=
x 6 7 x
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ] [ )
( ] [ ] [ )
, 1 1, 7 7,
,1 1, 7 7,
, 1 7,
, 1 1, 7 7,
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2
If f(x)=3x-1 and g(x)=x ,
Find (f+g)(x)
2
2
2
2
3 1
(3 1)
3 1
3 1
x
x
x x
x x
+
+
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
( ) ( )
Find the domain of f g
if f(x)= x-4 and g(x)=4 3
x
x
o
[ )
[ )
( ]
( ]
0,
3,
, 3
, 0