Function Composition

Key Questions

  • Answer:

    Yes

    Explanation:

    Given composable functions f, g and h

    (f@(g@h))(x)

    = f((g@h)(x)) = f(g(h(x))) = (f@g)(h(x))

    = ((f@g)@h)(x)

    So f@(g@h) = (f@g)@h

  • Answer:

    If g:A->B and f:B->C, then the domain of f@g is

    bar(g)^(-1)@bar(f)^(-1)(C)

    using the notation described below...

    Explanation:

    If g is a function that maps some elements of a set A to elements of a set B, then the domain of g is the subset of A for which g(a) is defined.

    More formally:

    g sube A xx B :

    AA a in A AA b_1, b_2 in B

    ((a, b_1) in g ^^ (a, b_2) in g) => b_1 = b_2

    Use the notation 2^A to represent the set of subsets of A and 2^B the set of subsets of B.

    Then we can define the pre-image function:

    bar(g)^(-1): 2^B -> 2^A by bar(g)^(-1)(B_1) = {a in A : g(a) in B_1}

    Then the domain of g is simply bar(g)^(-1)(B)

    If f is a function that maps some elements of set B to elements of a set C, then:

    bar(f)^(-1): 2^C -> 2^B is defined by bar(f)^(-1)(C_1) = {b in B : f(b) in C_1}

    Using this notation, the domain of f@g is simply

    bar(g)^(-1)(bar(f)^(-1)(C)) = (bar(g)^(-1)@bar(f)^(-1))(C)

  • To compose a function is to input one function into the other to form a different function. Here's a few examples.

    Example 1: If f(x) = 2x + 5 and g(x) = 4x - 1, determine f(g(x))

    This would mean inputting g(x) for x inside f(x).

    f(g(x)) = 2(4x- 1) + 5 = 8x- 2 + 5 = 8x + 3

    Example 2: If f(x) = 3x^2 + 12 + 12x and g(x) =sqrt(3x), determine g(f(x)) and state the domain

    Put f(x) into g(x).

    g(f(x)) = sqrt(3(3x^2 + 12x + 12))

    g(f(x)) = sqrt(9x^2 + 36x + 36)

    g(f(x)) = sqrt((3x + 6)^2)

    g(f(x)) = |3x + 6|

    The domain of f(x) is x in RR. The domain of g(x) is x > 0. Hence, the domain of g(f(x)) is x > 0.

    **Example 3: if h(x) = log_2 (3x^2 + 5) and m(x) = sqrt(x + 1), find the value of h(m(0))? **

    Find the composition, and then evaluate at the given point.

    h(m(x)) = log_2 (3(sqrt(x + 1))^2 + 5)

    h(m(x)) = log_2 (3(x + 1) + 5)

    h(m(x)) = log_2 (3x + 3 + 5)

    h(m(x)) = log_2 (3x + 8)

    h(m(2)) = log_2 (3(0) + 8)

    h(m(2)) = log_2 8

    h(m(2)) = 3

    Practice exercises

    For the following exercises: f(x) = 2x + 7, g(x) = 2^(x - 7) and h(x) = 2x^3 - 4

    a) Determine f(g(x))

    b) Determine h(f(x))

    c) Determine g(h(2))

    Hopefully this helps, and good luck!

Questions