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Ch. 2 - Functions and Graphs
Blitzer - College Algebra 8th Edition
Blitzer8th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136970514Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 71

Find a. (fog) (x) b. the domain of f o g.
f(x) = √x, g(x) = x − 2

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1
Step 1: Understand the composition of functions. The notation (fog)(x) represents the composition of f and g, which means f(g(x)). To find this, substitute g(x) into f(x).
Step 2: Substitute g(x) = x − 2 into f(x) = √x. This gives f(g(x)) = √(x − 2).
Step 3: Analyze the domain of the composition f(g(x)). Since f(x) = √x involves a square root, the expression inside the square root must be non-negative. Therefore, x − 2 ≥ 0.
Step 4: Solve the inequality x − 2 ≥ 0 to find the domain. Add 2 to both sides to get x ≥ 2.
Step 5: Conclude that the domain of f o g is all x-values such that x ≥ 2. In interval notation, this is [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, where the output of one function becomes the input of another. In this case, (f o g)(x) means applying g first and then applying f to the result of g. Understanding how to correctly perform this operation is essential for solving the problem.
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Domain of a Function

The domain of a function is the set of all possible input values (x-values) for which the function is defined. For the composition of functions, the domain of f o g is determined by the values that g can take and the values that f can accept. Identifying these domains is crucial for ensuring that the composed function is valid.
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Domain Restrictions of Composed Functions

Square Root Function

The square root function, denoted as f(x) = √x, is defined only for non-negative values of x. This means that for f to be valid, the input must be greater than or equal to zero. Understanding the restrictions imposed by the square root function is vital for determining the overall domain of the composed function f o g.
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