Pre-Calculus 12

Section 2.3 – Composite Functions

• There is another way of combining functions, the COMPOSITION OF A FUNCTION
• We use the process of substitution, we substitute an entire function into another given one

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒇 𝑜𝑓 𝒈 𝑜𝑓 𝒙, 𝒐𝒓 𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒈

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) → 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙))

Given the two function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1

𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒙 = 𝟑

(𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)) 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)) → 𝒇(𝒈(𝟑))

𝒙𝟐 → (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 𝒈(𝟑) = 𝟐(𝟑) − 𝟏 = 𝟓

𝒔𝒐 … 𝒇(𝒈(𝟑)) = 𝒇(𝟓)
This is 𝑓(𝑥) This is 𝑓(𝑥) with
the 𝑔(𝑥) function 𝟓𝟐
subbed in for the 𝑥
in the 𝑓(𝑥) function 𝟐𝟓

We use this formal definition:

Composite of Functions (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)

The composite function (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔) of the two functions 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 is defined by (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) =

𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)).

For all 𝑥 in the Domain of 𝑔 such that 𝑔(𝑥) is in the Domain of 𝑓.

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Example 1: If 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 𝑥 2 , 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3, find

a) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) b) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥)

Solution 1:

a) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))

= 𝑓(2𝑥 + 3) Substitute the 𝑔(𝑥) for its function

= 1 − (2𝑥 + 3)2 Substitute the 𝑔(𝑥) function into the 𝑥 in the 𝑓(𝑥) function

= 1 − (2𝑥 + 3)(2𝑥 + 3)
Do not forget to FOIL
= 1 − (4𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 9)

= −𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟖 Simplify

b) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥)) Substitute the 𝑓(𝑥) for its function

= 𝑔(1 − 𝑥 2 ) Substitute the 𝑓(𝑥) function into the 𝑥 in the 𝑔(𝑥) function
= 2(1 − 𝑥 2 ) + 3
Do not forget to WATERBOMB
= 2 − 2𝑥 2 + 3

= −𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓 Simplify

Example 2: If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1, find (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(−2)

Solution 2:

Method 1: Abstract 1st Method 2: Piecewise

(𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1
= 𝑓(2𝑥 − 1) 𝑔(−2) = 2(−2) − 1
𝑔(−2) = −5
= (2𝑥 − 1)2
= 4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 So…
(𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(−2) = 𝑓(𝑔(−2))
So… = 𝑓(−5)
(𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(−2) = (−5)2
= 4(−2)2 − 4(−2) + 1 = 25
= 16 + 8 + 1
= 25

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Pre-Calculus 12

Example 3: If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥, find (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥), the Domain of (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥), and
sketch the graph

Solution 3: Start by identifying the Domains of the individual functions

Domain of 𝒇(𝒙): 𝒙 = 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 The Domain of (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) appears to be:
Domain of 𝒈(𝒙): 𝒙 ≥ 𝟎
𝑥 = 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠,
(𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) but it is restricted by the Domain of 𝑔(𝑥).
= 𝑓(√𝑥)
2
= √𝑥 − 1

=𝒙−𝟏

𝑥 1
Example 4: If 𝑓(𝑥) = and 𝑔(𝑥) = , find
𝑥−1 𝑥+1

a) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 b) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛

Solution 4:

a) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))

1 • Common denominator
= 𝑓( ) • Fractions of Fractions can get tricky
𝑥+1
• Helps to Flip and Multiply
1 1 • Keeps things clean
= 𝑥 + 1 = 𝑥 + 1
1 1−𝑥−1 1
𝑥+1−1 𝑥+1 The Domain of 𝑔(𝑥) = is, 𝑥 ≠ −1
𝑥+1
1 𝑥+1
= ∙ The Domain of (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) is, 𝑥 ≠ 0
𝑥+1 1−𝑥−1

1 𝑥+1 1 1 So, the Domain of (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) is 𝒙 ≠ 𝟎, −𝟏

= ∙ = =−
𝑥 + 1 −𝑥 −𝑥 𝑥

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b) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥))

𝑥 • Common Denominator
= 𝑔( )
𝑥−1 • Fractions of Fractions can get tricky
• Helps to Flip and Multiply
1 1 • Keeps things clean
= 𝑥 =
𝑥+𝑥−1
𝑥−1+1 𝑥−1 𝑥
The Domain of 𝑓(𝑥) = is, 𝑥 ≠ 1
𝑥−1
1 𝑥−1
= ∙
1 2𝑥 − 1 1
The Domain of (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥) is, 𝑥 ≠
2
𝑥−1
=
2𝑥 − 1 𝟏
So, the Domain of (𝒈 ◦ 𝒇)(𝒙) is 𝒙 ≠ 𝟏,
𝟐

Example 5: If 𝑓 = {(1, 𝑑), (3, 𝑒)} and 𝑔 = {(𝑎, 1), (𝑏, 3), (𝑐, 5)}, find (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙)

Solution 5: Need to run the inputs from function 𝑔 and match their outputs to the inputs from
function 𝑓 to get the output from 𝑓 as a solution.

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒂) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑎)) = 𝑓(1) = 𝒅

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒃) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑏)) = 𝑓(3) = 𝒆

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒄) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑐)) = 𝒇(𝟓) 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝟓 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒇(𝒙),

𝒔𝒐 (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒄) 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅

Therefore, (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) = {(𝒂, 𝒅), (𝒃, 𝒆)}

Example 6: Use the graph to find a) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(1) and b) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑔)(5)

Solution 6: 𝑓(𝑥)
a) (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝟏) = 𝑓(𝑔(1))

= 𝑓(−3)

=𝟏
𝑔(𝑥)
b) (𝒈 ◦ 𝒈)(𝟓) = 𝑔(𝑔(5))

= 𝑔(1)

= −𝟑
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𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
Example 7: Compute: ℎ ≠ 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 3
ℎ

Solution 7: This is a technique, and particular equation that is used as the generic form for calculating
limits in Calculus, you will see this in Calculus 12!!

𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 3

𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) = 2(𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 3

So…

𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥) [2(𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 3] − [2𝑥 2 + 3]

=
ℎ ℎ
[2(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥ℎ + ℎ2 ) + 3] − [2𝑥 2 + 3]
=
ℎ
2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥ℎ + 2ℎ2 − 2𝑥 2 − 3
=
ℎ
= 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟐𝒉

Decomposing a Composite Function

• When you get comfortable building them up, decomposing them will be quite intuitive
• Consider the input value (what’s on the inside) and the output value (what’s on the outside)

Example 8: Given ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2, find the two functions 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 so that (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒉(𝒙)

Solution 8:

• The inside: 𝑥 − 2 so let: (𝑥 − 2) = 𝑔(𝑥)

• The outside: √𝑥 and let: √𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥)

Check:

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)) = 𝒇(𝒙 − 𝟐)

√𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝒉(𝒙)

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Example 9: Given ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 5, find the two functions 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 so that (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒉(𝒙)

Solution 9:

• The inside: 𝑥 + 5 so let: (𝑥 + 5) = 𝑔(𝑥)

•
3 3
The outside: √𝑥 and let: √𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥)

Check:

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)) = 𝒇(𝒙 + 𝟓)

𝟑
√𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝒉(𝒙)

3
Example 10: Given ℎ(𝑥) = (√𝑥 + 1) − 2, find the two functions 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 so that (𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒉(𝒙)

Solution 10:

• The inside: √𝑥 + 1 so let: √𝑥 + 1 = 𝑔(𝑥)

• The outside: 𝑥 3 − 2 and let: 𝑥 3 − 2 = 𝑓(𝑥)

Check:

(𝒇 ◦ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)) = 𝒇(√𝑥 + 1)

𝟑
(√𝒙 + 𝟏) − 𝟐 = 𝒉(𝒙)

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Pre-Calculus 12

Section 2.3 – Practice Problems

1. What is the Domain of the following functions?

1 𝑥−3
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = b) 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥−2 𝑥2 − 9

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 2 d) 𝑓(𝑥) = √3 − 𝑥

1 f) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 2 − 1
e) 𝑓(𝑥) =
√𝑥

g) 𝑓(𝑥) = √1 − 𝑥 2 h) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥(𝑥 − 2)

𝑥−1
2. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1, 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1, ℎ(𝑥) = 5, 𝑗(𝑥) =
𝑥+1
Evaluate the following

a) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(2) b) (ℎ ◦ 𝑗)(−3)

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c) (𝑗 ◦ ℎ)(2) d) (𝑗 ◦ 𝑔)(0)

e) (ℎ ◦ 𝑗)(−1) f) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑗)(3)

g) (ℎ ◦ 𝑔 ◦ 𝑔)(2) h) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑓 ◦ 𝑓)(−1)

i) (𝑗 ◦ ℎ ◦ 𝑔)(−3) j) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑗 ◦ 𝑓)(4)

k) (𝑓 ◦ ℎ ◦ 𝑗)(2) l) (𝑗 ◦ 𝑗 ◦ 𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(−2)

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3. Use 𝑓 and 𝑔 by the following table of values to evaluate the following:

𝑥 −2 0 3 7 𝑥 −1 1 4 6
𝑓(𝑥) 0 1 4 6 𝑔(𝑥) 3 2 −2 −4

a) 𝑓(0) b) 𝑔(1)

c) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(−1) d) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(4)

e) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(0) f) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(7)

g) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(1) h) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(−2)

4. For each pair of functions, find (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) and (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥). State the Domain of the result

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3 2 𝑥

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = and 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥 𝑥−1

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c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3 d) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2

e) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2 f) 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥| − 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) = −2𝑥 + 3

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3 1 1
g) 𝑓(𝑥) = and 𝑔(𝑥) = h) 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥 − 2| − 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) =
𝑥 𝑥−4 𝑥

5. Find two functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) such that ℎ(𝑥) = (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥). Answers may vary.

a) ℎ(𝑥) = (2𝑥 − 3)2 3

b) ℎ(𝑥) = √3𝑥 2 − 2

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1 2
c) ℎ(𝑥) = d) ℎ(𝑥) =
3𝑥 − 4 𝑥2 +4

3
e) ℎ(𝑥) = √𝑥 2 + 1 + 3 f) ℎ(𝑥) = √3𝑥 + 4 − 1

g) ℎ(𝑥) = 3(2𝑥 − 3)4 − (2𝑥 − 3)7 h) ℎ(𝑥) = 3(2𝑥 + 4)3 + 2(2𝑥 + 4)6

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6. Sketch the graph of the (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) for the following. State the Domain.

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥

𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛:

b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 2

𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛:

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Sketch the graph of the (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) for the following. State the Domain.

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 𝑥 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = √1 − 𝑥

𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛:

d) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = √4 − 𝑥 2

𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛:

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7. The first of the two graphs shows two functions 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔. The second shows two functions ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘.
Use the graphs to compute the following:

a) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(−4) =
𝑓(𝑥)

b) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(3) =

c) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑓)(−2) =

d) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑔)(3) =

e) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(−5) = 𝑔(𝑥)

f) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(−3) =

g) (ℎ ◦ 𝑘)(0) =

h) (ℎ ◦ 𝑘)(−1) =
ℎ(𝑥)

i) (ℎ ◦ 𝑘)(2) =

j) (ℎ ◦ 𝑘)(−3) =

k) (𝑘 ◦ ℎ)(0) =

l) (𝑘 ◦ ℎ)(2) =

m) (𝑘 ◦ ℎ)(−4) =

n) (𝑘 ◦ ℎ)(−2) =
𝑘(𝑥)

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8. If 𝑓 = {(3, 4), (4, 5), (5, 6), (6, 7)} and 𝑔 = {(5, 3), (6, 4), (7, −2), (8, 0)}, determine:

a) (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) b) (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥)

9. If 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 𝑏, find 𝑏 such that (𝑓 ◦ 𝑔)(𝑥) = (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑥) for all real
numbers 𝑥.

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𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
10. Find the difference quotient ℎ ≠ 0 for the given function 𝑓
ℎ

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 1
d) 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥

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Pre-Calculus 12

4 1
e) 𝑓(𝑥) = f) 𝑓(𝑥) =
2𝑥 − 1 √𝑥

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Pre-Calculus 12

11. A circle inscribed in a square.

a) Write the radius of the circle as a function of the length 𝑥 of the sides of the square.

b) Write the area 𝐴 of the circle as a function of the radius.

c) Find (𝐴 ◦ 𝑟)(𝑥).

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Pre-Calculus 12

12. A baseball diamond is a square 90𝑓𝑡 on each side. A batter is running to first base at a rate of
27 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐 2nd

𝑔(𝑡) 1st
3rd

𝑓(𝑡)

𝐻𝑜𝑚𝑒
a) Find the function 𝑓(𝑡) for the distance 𝑥 of the batter from first base in terms of time 𝑡

b) Find a function 𝑔(𝑓) for the distance the batter is from second base in terms of the distance 𝑓

c) Find (𝑔 ◦ 𝑓)(𝑡) and explain the meaning of the function.

See Website for Detailed Answer Key

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Pre-Calculus 12

Extra Work Space

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