COMPOSITE FUNCTIONS

Starter
Answer these questions, based on the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =5 𝑥 +5 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=9 𝑥 − 4 2
h ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 3 𝑥 −4
1) Find the value of 2) Find the value of x if: 3) Find the value of x if f(x) = 2g(x)
each function if x = 4 a) f(x) = 65
b) g(x) = -22
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =5 𝑥 +5 Sub in 4
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =2 𝑔(𝑥) Replace
𝑓 ( 4 )=5( 4)+5 Calculate
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =5 𝑥 +5 Replace 5 𝑥+5¿ 2(9 𝑥 − 4)
f(x) and
g(x)
Expand
𝑓 ( 4 )=25 65=5 𝑥+ 5 f(x) bracket
Subtract 5 5 𝑥+5¿ 18 𝑥 − 8 Add 8,
60=5 𝑥 Divide by 5
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=9 𝑥 − 4 Sub in 4 12=𝑥 13=13 𝑥 Subtract 5x
Divide by 13
𝑔 ( 4 )=9( 4)− 4 Calculate 1= 𝑥
𝑔 ( 4 )=32 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=9 𝑥 − 4 Replace
2 −22=9 𝑥 − 4 g(x)
h ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 3 𝑥 −4 Add 4
2
Sub in 4 −18=9 𝑥 Divide by 9
h ( 4 ) =( 4 ) − 3 ( 4 ) − 4 Calculate − 2= 𝑥
h ( 4 ) =0
 Composite Functions
• Today we will be continuing our work
on functions

• We will be looking at problems

involving ‘Composite functions’

• A Composite Function is one which

is made up of several functions
performed in a certain order
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥
2
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4

1a) Calculate fg(8) The function fg(8) means you calculate

g(8), and then calculate f(the answer)
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4
Sub in 8  So substitute 8 into g(x) to find the
𝑔 ( 8 )=8 − 4 value of g(8)
Calculate
𝑔 ( 8 )=4  Then take the answer, and substitute
it into f(x)
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥
Sub in 4, which was
2
𝑓𝑔 ( 8 )=(4 ) g(8) We are calculating ‘f of g of 8’
Calculate
𝑓 𝑔 ( 8 )=16

Therefore: 𝑓𝑔( 8)=16

 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥
2
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4

1b) Calculate gf(8) The function gf(8) means you calculate

f(8), and then calculate g(the answer)
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥
Sub in 8  So substitute 8 into f(x) to find the
2
𝑓 ( 8 ) =( 8) value of f(8)
Calculate
𝑓 ( 8 ) =64  Then take the answer, and substitute
it into g(x)
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4
Sub in 64, which was f(8)
𝑔 𝑓 ( 8 )=64 − 4 We are calculating ‘g of f of 8’
Calculate
𝑔 𝑓 ( 8 )=60 Notice that the order is
important – you get a different
Therefore:𝑔𝑓 (8)=60 answer if it is changed!
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥
2
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4

1c) Calculate fg(x) The function fg(x) means you calculate

g(x), and then calculate f(the answer)
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4 Sub in x (actually,
 So substitute x into g(x) to find the
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 − 4 nothing happens!)
value of g(x)
 Then take the answer, and substitute
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥
2 it into f(x)
Sub in (x – 4) for all ‘x’
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 − 4 ) =( 𝑥 −4 ) terms (This was g(x))
Calculate We are calculating ‘f of g of x’
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 − 4 ) =𝑥 −8 𝑥 +16

2
Therefore: 𝑓𝑔( 𝑥 )=( 𝑥 − 4)
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =3 𝑥 −1 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 +1 What this does is give us a

single function that can
replace the functions f and g
(in this particular order)
2a) Calculate fg(x)
 3x2 + 2
2
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 +1
Replace g(x) with its expression in This function is equivalent to
𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥¿) 𝑓 ( 𝑥 2 +1) fg(x) performing x2 + 1 followed
by 3x - 1

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =3 𝑥 −1 So we need to find f(x2 +

1)
 Replace all ‘x’ terms with ‘x2 + 1’
𝑓 ( 𝑥 2+ 1 )=3( 𝑥 2+ 1) −1 terms
Expand bracket
𝑓 ( 𝑥 2+ 1 )=3 𝑥 2 +3 −1
Simplify
𝑓 ( 𝑥 + 1 )=3 𝑥 +2
2 2
 Composite Functions
Lets start with the following functions:

𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =3 𝑥 −1 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 2 +1 What this does is give us a

single function that can
replace the functions f and g
(in this particular order)
2a) Calculate gf(x)
 9x2 - 6x + 2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =3 𝑥 −1
Replace g(x) with its expression in This function is equivalent to
𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥¿)𝑔 (3 𝑥 − 1) fg(x) performing 3x – 1 followed
by x2 + 1

2
𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 +1 So we need to find g(3x -
1)
 Replace all ‘x’ terms with ‘3x - 1’
𝑔 ( 3 𝑥 − 1 )=( 3 𝑥 − 1 )2 +1 terms
Expand bracket
2
𝑔 ( 3 𝑥 − 1 )=9 𝑥 − 6 𝑥+ 1+ 1
Simplify
2
𝑔 ( 3 𝑥 − 1 )=9 𝑥 − 6 𝑥+ 2
 Plenary
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥 +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 + 4
Set equal to
Find the value of for which fg(x) = gf(x)
each other
𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) Find fg(x) 𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) Find gf(x) 𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑔𝑓 (𝑥)
¿ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 + 4) 2
¿ 𝑔 ( 𝑥 + 8) 2 2
𝑥 + 8 𝑥+24 =¿𝑥 +12
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥 +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 + 4 8 𝑥 +24=¿12
𝑓 ( 𝑥 + 4 )=( 𝑥+ 4 )2 +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 2 +8 ) =( 𝑥 2 +8)+ 4 8 𝑥=− 12
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 + 4 )=𝑥 + 8 𝑥+16 +8 𝑔 ( 𝑥 2 +8 ) = 𝑥2 +12 𝑥=−1.5
2
𝑓 ( 𝑥 + 4 )=𝑥 + 8 𝑥+ 24
2
𝑔𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑥 +12
2
𝑓𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) =𝑥 + 8 𝑥 +24
 Summary
• We have looked at composite functions

• We have seen how they can combine multiple functions into a

single one

• Sometimes the combined equation is simpler, and sometimes

it can be more complicated

• Composite functions can be used in games to describe motion

 The two separate functions could be based on horizontal
and vertical movement (eg – throwing a ball)
 You can choose these and then combine them to form
an equation for the exact location of a ball at a particular
time…