Foldable 2.7 Topic 2.

7 Composition of Functions
AP® Precalculus Notes for Topic 2.7 Combining functions in a manner where the output from
one function becomes the input for the next function is known
Source: AP® Precalculus Course as a Composition of Functions.
Notation:
and Exam Description f ( g ( x) ) g ( f ( x) )
or or
( f  g ) ( x) ( g  f ) ( x)
Print two-sided and fold. We read these as "f of g of x" or "g of f of x".
Example 1 – Analytical Representations:
Glue this side in the notebook.
1
Given:
= 2
f ( x) x= and g ( x)
x−4
Find: f ( g ( x) ) =
Created by Vicki Carter

Find: f ( g (6) ) =

Find : g ( f ( x ) )

Find : g ( f ( 3) )

What is the domain of the function given by h ( x ) = f ( g ( x ) ) ?

What is the domain of the function given by j ( x ) = g ( f ( x ) ) ?

Example 2 – Analytical Representation: If h ( x ) = f g ( x ) , ( ) Example 5 – Combination of Representations:
decompose the function h into two less complicated functions Graphical: The piecewise-linear Numerical
f and g. function f is defined on [–5, 4]. x g ( x)
( x)
h= 3
2x − 5 –3 0
-1 1
Example 3 – Numerical Representations: 0 3
1 2
x f ( x) x g ( x) 2 4
–1 –4 –2 0 4 5
0 1 1 1
1 3 3 2
2 5 6 4
Find the value of:
Find: f ( g (3) ) = Find : g ( f (1) ) f ( g ( 2)) =

Example 4 – Combination of Representations: f ( g ( −3) ) =

Graphical: The piecewise-linear Analytical
function f is defined on [–5, 4]. g ( x )= x + 1
Find the value of:
g ( f ( 2)) =
f ( g ( 2)) =
g ( f ( −3) ) = g ( f ( −3) ) =

( )
For x = −1, find the value of f g ( x ) + f ( x ) .

(
Sketch the graph of f g ( x ) . ) (
Sketch the graph of g f ( x ) )
( )
For x = 0, find the value of g 2 f ( x ) − g ( x ) .