In Exercises 31–50, find fg and determine the domain for each function. f(x) = 2x + 3, g(x) = x − 1
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the problem. We need to find the composition of two functions, denoted as \( (f \circ g)(x) \), which means we will substitute \( g(x) \) into \( f(x) \).
Step 2: Write down the expressions for the functions. We have \( f(x) = 2x + 3 \) and \( g(x) = x - 1 \).
Step 3: Substitute \( g(x) \) into \( f(x) \). This means replacing every \( x \) in \( f(x) \) with \( g(x) \). So, \( f(g(x)) = f(x - 1) = 2(x - 1) + 3 \).
Step 4: Simplify the expression obtained in Step 3. Distribute the 2 in \( 2(x - 1) \) to get \( 2x - 2 \), then add 3 to get \( 2x - 2 + 3 \).
Step 5: Determine the domain of the composition function \( f(g(x)) \). Since both \( f(x) \) and \( g(x) \) are linear functions, their domains are all real numbers. Therefore, the domain of \( f(g(x)) \) is also all real numbers.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
2m
Play a video:
Was this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Function Composition
Function composition involves combining two functions to create a new function. In this case, fg means f(g(x)), which requires substituting g(x) into f(x). Understanding how to perform this substitution is crucial for finding the resulting function.
The domain of a function is the set of all possible input values (x-values) for which the function is defined. When composing functions, the domain of the resulting function fg must consider the domain of g(x) and any restrictions imposed by f(x) after substitution.
Both f(x) = 2x + 3 and g(x) = x - 1 are linear functions, characterized by their constant rate of change and graphing as straight lines. Understanding the properties of linear functions, such as their slopes and intercepts, is essential for analyzing their composition and determining the overall behavior of fg.