3/17/2019 Composition of Functions

Composition of Functions

Advanced
"Function Composition" is applying one function to the results of another:

f( ) g( )

The result of f() is sent through g()

It is written: (g º f)(x)
Which means: g(f(x))

Example: f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

"x" is just a placeholder. To avoid confusion let's just call it "input":

f(input) = 2(input)+3

g(input) = (input)2

Let's start:

(g º f)(x) = g(f(x))

First we apply f, then apply g to that result:

2
x 2x+3 (2x+3)
2
2(input)+3 (input)

(g º f)(x) = (2x+3)2

What if we reverse the order of f and g?

(f º g)(x) = f(g(x))

First we apply g, then apply f to that result:

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x x2 2x 2 +3
2
(input) 2(input)+3

(f º g)(x) = 2x2+3

We get a different result!

When we reverse the order the result is rarely the same.

So be careful which function comes first.

Symbol
The symbol for composition is a small circle:

(g º f)(x)

It is not a filled in dot: (g · f)(x), as that means multiply.

Composed With Itself

We can even compose a function with itself!

Example: f(x) = 2x+3

(f º f)(x) = f(f(x))

First we apply f, then apply f to that result:

x 2x+3 2(2x+3)+3
2(input)+3 2(input)+3

(f º f)(x) = 2(2x+3)+3 = 4x + 9

We should be able to do it without the pretty diagram:

(f º f)(x) = f(f(x))
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= f(2x+3)

= 2(2x+3)+3

= 4x + 9

Domains
It has been easy so far, but now we must consider the Domains of the functions.

f(x) The domain is the set of all the values that go into
a function.

Range The function must work for all values we give it, so it
is up to us to make sure we get the domain correct!

Domain x

Example: the domain for √x (the square root of x)

We can't have the square root of a negative number (unless we use imaginary numbers,
but we aren't), so we must exclude negative numbers:

The Domain of √x is all non-negative Real Numbers

On the Number Line it looks like:

Using set-builder notation it is written:

{x | x ≥ 0}

Or using interval notation it is:

[0,+∞)

It is important to get the Domain right, or we will get bad results!

Domain of Composite Function

We must get both Domains right (the composed function and the first function used).
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When doing, for example, (g º f)(x) = g(f(x)):

Make sure we get the Domain for f(x) right,

Then also make sure that g(x) gets the correct Domain

Example: f(x) = √x and g(x) = x2

The Domain of f(x) = √x is all non-negative Real Numbers

The Domain of g(x) = x2 is all the Real Numbers

The composed function is:

(g º f)(x) = g(f(x))

= (√x)2
=x

Now, "x" normally has the Domain of all Real Numbers ...

... but because it is a composed function we must also consider f(x),

So the Domain is all non-negative Real Numbers

Why Both Domains?

Well, imagine the functions are machines ... the first one melts a hole with a flame (only for
metal), the second one drills the hole a little bigger (works on wood or metal):

g f
f( ) g( )

Metal Only Wood or Metal

What we see at the end is a drilled hole, and we may think "that
should work for wood or metal".

But if we put wood into g º f then the first function f will make a
fire and burn everything down!

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So what happens "inside the machine" is important.

De-Composing Function
We can go the other way and break up a function into a composition of other functions.

Example: (x+1/x)2

That function can be made from these two functions:

f(x) = x + 1/x

g(x) = x2

And we get:

(g º f)(x) = g(f(x))
= g(x + 1/x)

= (x + 1/x)2

This can be useful if the original function is too complicated to work on.

Summary
"Function Composition" is applying one function to the results of another.

(g º f)(x) = g(f(x)), first apply f(), then apply g()

We must also respect the domain of the first function

Some functions can be de-composed into two (or more) simpler functions.

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