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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

Ayele, K., 2003. Introductory Economics, 3rd ed., Addis Ababa.
Widad Reply
can you send the book attached ?
Ariel
?
Ariel
What is economics
Widad Reply
the study of how humans make choices under conditions of scarcity
AI-Robot
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn Reply
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn
what is ecnomics
Jan Reply
this is the study of how the society manages it's scarce resources
Belonwu
what is macroeconomic
John Reply
macroeconomic is the branch of economics which studies actions, scale, activities and behaviour of the aggregate economy as a whole.
husaini
etc
husaini
difference between firm and industry
husaini Reply
what's the difference between a firm and an industry
Abdul
firm is the unit which transform inputs to output where as industry contain combination of firms with similar production 😅😅
Abdulraufu
Suppose the demand function that a firm faces shifted from Qd  120 3P to Qd  90  3P and the supply function has shifted from QS  20  2P to QS 10  2P . a) Find the effect of this change on price and quantity. b) Which of the changes in demand and supply is higher?
Toofiq Reply
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innocent Reply
factors influencing supply
Petrus Reply
what is economic.
Milan Reply
scares means__________________ends resources. unlimited
Jan
economics is a science that studies human behaviour as a relationship b/w ends and scares means which have alternative uses
Jan
calculate the profit maximizing for demand and supply
Zarshad Reply
Why qualify 28 supplies
Milan
what are explicit costs
Nomsa Reply
out-of-pocket costs for a firm, for example, payments for wages and salaries, rent, or materials
AI-Robot
concepts of supply in microeconomics
David Reply
economic overview notes
Amahle Reply
identify a demand and a supply curve
Salome Reply
i don't know
Parul
there's a difference
Aryan
Demand curve shows that how supply and others conditions affect on demand of a particular thing and what percent demand increase whith increase of supply of goods
Israr
Hi Sir please how do u calculate Cross elastic demand and income elastic demand?
Abari
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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