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Finding the domain of a composite function involving radicals

Find the domain of

( f g ) ( x )   where f ( x ) = x + 2   and   g ( x ) = 3 x

Because we cannot take the square root of a negative number, the domain of g is ( , 3 ] . Now we check the domain of the composite function

( f g ) ( x ) = 3 x + 2   or ( f g ) ( x ) = 5 x

The domain of this function is ( , 5 ] . To find the domain of f g , we ask ourselves if there are any further restrictions offered by the domain of the composite function. The answer is no, since ( , 3 ] is a proper subset of the domain of f g . This means the domain of f g is the same as the domain of g , namely, ( , 3 ] .

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Find the domain of

( f g ) ( x )   where f ( x ) = 1 x 2   and   g ( x ) = x + 4

[ 4 , 0 ) ( 0 , )

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Decomposing a composite function into its component functions

In some cases, it is necessary to decompose a complicated function. In other words, we can write it as a composition of two simpler functions. There may be more than one way to decompose a composite function , so we may choose the decomposition that appears to be most expedient.

Decomposing a function

Write f ( x ) = 5 x 2 as the composition of two functions.

We are looking for two functions, g and h , so f ( x ) = g ( h ( x ) ) . To do this, we look for a function inside a function in the formula for f ( x ) . As one possibility, we might notice that the expression 5 x 2 is the inside of the square root. We could then decompose the function as

h ( x ) = 5 x 2  and  g ( x ) = x

We can check our answer by recomposing the functions.

g ( h ( x ) ) = g ( 5 x 2 ) = 5 x 2
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Write f ( x ) = 4 3 4 + x 2 as the composition of two functions.

Possible answer:

g ( x ) = 4 + x 2 h ( x ) = 4 3 x f = h g

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Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with composite functions.

Key equation

Composite function ( f g ) ( x ) = f ( g ( x ) )

Key concepts

  • We can perform algebraic operations on functions. See [link] .
  • When functions are combined, the output of the first (inner) function becomes the input of the second (outer) function.
  • The function produced by combining two functions is a composite function. See [link] and [link] .
  • The order of function composition must be considered when interpreting the meaning of composite functions. See [link] .
  • A composite function can be evaluated by evaluating the inner function using the given input value and then evaluating the outer function taking as its input the output of the inner function.
  • A composite function can be evaluated from a table. See [link] .
  • A composite function can be evaluated from a graph. See [link] .
  • A composite function can be evaluated from a formula. See [link] .
  • The domain of a composite function consists of those inputs in the domain of the inner function that correspond to outputs of the inner function that are in the domain of the outer function. See [link] and [link] .
  • Just as functions can be combined to form a composite function, composite functions can be decomposed into simpler functions.
  • Functions can often be decomposed in more than one way. See [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

How does one find the domain of the quotient of two functions, f g ?

Find the numbers that make the function in the denominator g equal to zero, and check for any other domain restrictions on f and g , such as an even-indexed root or zeros in the denominator.

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Questions & Answers

A golfer on a fairway is 70 m away from the green, which sits below the level of the fairway by 20 m. If the golfer hits the ball at an angle of 40° with an initial speed of 20 m/s, how close to the green does she come?
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A mouse of mass 200 g falls 100 m down a vertical mine shaft and lands at the bottom with a speed of 8.0 m/s. During its fall, how much work is done on the mouse by air resistance
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what is inorganic
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Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter,it composition,it structure and the changes it undergoes
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A ball is thrown straight up.it passes a 2.0m high window 7.50 m off the ground on it path up and takes 1.30 s to go past the window.what was the ball initial velocity
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2. A sled plus passenger with total mass 50 kg is pulled 20 m across the snow (0.20) at constant velocity by a force directed 25° above the horizontal. Calculate (a) the work of the applied force, (b) the work of friction, and (c) the total work.
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can someone explain to me, an ignorant high school student, why the trend of the graph doesn't follow the fact that the higher frequency a sound wave is, the more power it is, hence, making me think the phons output would follow this general trend?
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Nevermind i just realied that the graph is the phons output for a person with normal hearing and not just the phons output of the sound waves power, I should read the entire thing next time
Joseph
Follow up question, does anyone know where I can find a graph that accuretly depicts the actual relative "power" output of sound over its frequency instead of just humans hearing
Joseph
"Generation of electrical energy from sound energy | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore" ***ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7150687?reload=true
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A string is 3.00 m long with a mass of 5.00 g. The string is held taut with a tension of 500.00 N applied to the string. A pulse is sent down the string. How long does it take the pulse to travel the 3.00 m of the string?
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Source:  OpenStax, College algebra. OpenStax CNX. Feb 06, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11759/1.3
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