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Ch. 2 - Functions and Graphs
Blitzer - College Algebra 8th Edition
Blitzer8th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136970514Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBlitzer 8th EditionCh. 2 - Functions and GraphsProblem 53a
Chapter 3, Problem 53a

Find
a. (fog) (x)
b. (go f) (x)
c. (fog) (2)
d. (go f) (2).
f(x) = x+4, g(x) = 2x + 1

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the problem. You are tasked with finding the compositions of two functions, f(x) = x + 4 and g(x) = 2x + 1. Specifically, you need to compute (f ∘ g)(x), (g ∘ f)(x), (f ∘ g)(2), and (g ∘ f)(2). The notation (f ∘ g)(x) means f(g(x)), and (g ∘ f)(x) means g(f(x)).
Step 2: Compute (f ∘ g)(x). Substitute g(x) = 2x + 1 into f(x). This means replacing x in f(x) = x + 4 with g(x). The result is f(g(x)) = (2x + 1) + 4. Simplify the expression to get the formula for (f ∘ g)(x).
Step 3: Compute (g ∘ f)(x). Substitute f(x) = x + 4 into g(x). This means replacing x in g(x) = 2x + 1 with f(x). The result is g(f(x)) = 2(x + 4) + 1. Simplify the expression to get the formula for (g ∘ f)(x).
Step 4: Compute (f ∘ g)(2). Use the formula for (f ∘ g)(x) derived in Step 2 and substitute x = 2. Simplify the expression to find the value of (f ∘ g)(2).
Step 5: Compute (g ∘ f)(2). Use the formula for (g ∘ f)(x) derived in Step 3 and substitute x = 2. Simplify the expression to find the value of (g ∘ f)(2).

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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. If f(x) and g(x) are two functions, the composition (fog)(x) means applying g first and then f to the result, expressed as f(g(x)). This concept is essential for solving the given exercises, as it requires understanding how to manipulate and evaluate the functions in sequence.
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Evaluating Functions

Evaluating functions means substituting a specific value into a function to find its output. For example, if f(x) = x + 4, then f(2) = 2 + 4 = 6. This skill is crucial for calculating the values of (fog)(2) and (go f)(2) in the exercises, as it requires substituting values into the composed functions.
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Algebraic Manipulation

Algebraic manipulation refers to the process of rearranging and simplifying expressions using algebraic rules. This includes operations like addition, multiplication, and applying the distributive property. Mastery of algebraic manipulation is necessary for simplifying the results of the function compositions and ensuring accurate calculations in the exercises.
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