Operations with Functions

Composition of functions

The composition of two functions, g and h, such that g is applied first and h second, is given by:

(g ^o h)(x) = g(h(x))

The domain of the composite function (g ^o h) is the set of all x in the domain of h such that h(x) is in the domain of g.

Decomposing Composite Functions

The function that is applied first is the 'inside' function, and that applied second the 'outside' function. e.g. in $f(x) = (x+3)^2 = (g(h(x))$, the inside function is $h(x) = x+3$, and the outside function is $g(x) = x^2$.

Domains of Composite Functions

Composite functions have restricted interdependent domains

If x is in the domain of the composite function (g ^o h), then x must be in the domain of h, and h(x) must be in the domain of g.

The inverse of a function $f(x)$ is written as $f^{-1}$. The effect of the inverse of a function is to reverse the action of the function: if x undergoes a transformation to y through function $f(x)$, then applying $f^{-1}(x)$ to y will return the original value of x.

For example, if $f(x) = 2x + 4$, then $f^{-1}(x) = {x - 4}/2$.

Not all functions have an inverse. Be careful, $f^{-1}(x)$ is not the same as $[f(x)]^{-1}$. $f^{-1}(x)$ is a reflection across the line $y = x$, and $[f(x)]^{-1}$ is a reflection across the x-axis.

An inverse function is a reflection across the line y = x

Finding inverses algebraically

If $f(x) = 4x - 6$, the inverse can be found by setting y as $f(x)$, then exchanging the places of x and y:

$y = 4x - 6$, so $x = 4y - 6$ for the inverse.

Rearranging to return y to the left:

$y = {x + 6}/4$

This can be written as the inverse: $f^{-1}(x) = {x + 6}/4$

To check that a function is the inverse of another function, combine the functions:

Example above: $(f o f^{-1})(x) = 4({x + 6}/4) - 6 = x$

A self-inverse function is a function whose inverse is the same. e.g. $f(x) = a/x$ and $f(x) = a - x$, where a ∈ ℝ.

Identity Function

where $I(x) = x$. The identity function leaves $x$ unchanged.