Composition of Functions Calculator

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A calculator for the composition of functions is presented.

Definition of Composition of Functions

In the diagram below, function \( f \) has another function \( g \) as an input. Starting from the input \( x \), applying function \( g \) then function \( f \), we end up with a function called the composite function or composition of \( f \) and \( g \) denoted by \( f_o g \) and is defined by

\[ (f_o g)(x) = f(g(x)) \]

This composite function is defined if \(x \) is in the domain of \( g \) and \( g(x) \) is in the domain of \( f \). (see digram below). diagram of the composition of functions
According to the definition above, to find the composition \( (f_o g)(x) \), we substitute the variable of \( f \) by \( g(x) \)
Example
Let \( f(x) = x^3+2x^2 - 3x -1 \) and \( g(x) = x + 2 \). Find the composition \( (f_o g)(x) \)
Solution
Definition
\( (f_o g)(x) = f(g(x)) \)
Substitute the variable \( x \) in \( f \) by \( g(x) \)
\( = (g(x))^3+2(g(x))^2 - 3(g(x)) -1 \)
Substitute \( g(x) \) by its formula
\( = (x+2)^3+2(x+2)^2 - 3(x+2) -1 \)
Expand
\( (f_o g)(x) = x^3+8x^2+17x+9 \)


Use of the Composition Calculator

1 - Enter and edit functions \( f(x) \) and \( g(x) \) and click "Enter Functions" then check what you have entered and edit if needed.
2 - Press "Calculate Composition".
Note that the five operators used are: + (plus) , - (minus), / (division) , ^ (power) and * (multiplication). (example: f(x) = x^3+2*x^2 - 3*x -1 ).(more notes on editing functions are located below)


$f(x)$ =

$g(x)$ =








Notes: In editing functions, use the following:
1 - The function square root function is written as (sqrt). (example: sqrt(x^2-1)
2 - The exponential function is written as (e^x). (Example: e^(2*x+2) )
3 - The log base e function is written as ln(x). (Example: ln(2*x-2) )
Here are some examples of functions that you may copy and paste to practice:
sqrt(x)       x^2 + 2x - 3       (x^2+2x-1)/(x-1)       1/(x-2)       ln(2*x - 2)
sqrt(x^2-1)       2*sin(2x-2)       e^(2x-3)       1/sqrt(x^2-1)       x/(x+1)



More References and Links

Composition of Functions
Composition of Functions Questions with Solutions
Algebra and Trigonometry - Swokowsky Cole - 1997 - ISBN: 0-534-95308-5
Algebra and Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry - R.E.Larson , R.P. Hostetler , B.H. Edwards, D.E. Heyd - 1997 - ISBN: 0-669-41723-8