Find the compositions of these functions?

  • Thread starter Thread starter thereddevils
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Functions
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
7 replies · 2K views
thereddevils
Messages
436
Reaction score
0
Given two functions , f(x)=x^2+3 , where x is real , g(x)=|x|-5 , x is real , find gf(x).

i found gf(x)=x^2-2

is it true that the range of gf(x) is the same as the range of g(x) ? If so,

the range of g(x) is [-5 , infinity) and the range of gf(x) is [-2 , infinity)

why arent they the same ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org


I think everything is correct, why would you think the range of g(f(x)) is the same as the range of g(x)?
 


I'll pose the reverse question: why should they be the same? g(x) and gf(x) are different functions.
 


Take a look at the diagram i attached . Isn't that the image of gf(x) the same as the image function g(x) ?
 


The range of [itex]f[/itex] needn't be the whole of the domain of [itex]g[/itex] so some of the images under [itex]g[/itex] may not occur in [itex]gf[/itex]. You only have [itex]range(gf)\subseteq range(g)[/itex]. In fact you could say they're not equal because you have yourself provided a counterexample.
 


Martin Rattigan said:
The range of [itex]f[/itex] needn't be the whole of the domain of [itex]g[/itex] so some of the images under [itex]g[/itex] may not occur in [itex]gf[/itex]. You only have [itex]range(gf)\subseteq range(g)[/itex]. In fact you could say they're not equal because you have yourself provided a counterexample.

thanks Martin , how about the domains , is the domain of f(x) the same as domain gf(x) because both of them started from the same set or it needn't also be the same in this case.
 


Yes, [itex]dom(gf)=dom(f)[/itex], assuming you only define the composition [itex]gf[/itex] when [itex]range(f)\subseteq dom(g)[/itex].
 


Martin Rattigan said:
Yes, [itex]dom(gf)=dom(f)[/itex], assuming you only define the composition [itex]gf[/itex] when [itex]range(f)\subseteq dom(g)[/itex].

thanks again Martin !