Intermediate Algebra for College Students (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13417-894-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-13417-894-3

Chapter 9 - Section 9.2 - Composite and Inverse Functions - Exercise Set - Page 686: 7

Answer

(a.)$(f\circ g)(x) =x^4-4x^2+6$. (b.)$(g\circ f)(x) =x^4+4x^2+2$. (c.)$(f\circ g)(2) =6$.

Work Step by Step

The given functions are $f(x)=x^2+2$ and $g(x)=x^2-2$. (a) $(f\circ g)(x) = f(g(x))$ Replace $x$ with $g(x)$ in the function $f(x)$. $f(g(x))=(g(x))^2+2$ Plug value of $g(x)$ in the right hand side. $f(g(x))=(x^2-2)^2+2$ $f(g(x))=x^4+4-4x^2+2$ $f(g(x))=x^4-4x^2+6$. Hence, $(f\circ g)(x) =x^4-4x^2+6$. (b) $(g\circ f)(x) = g(f(x))$ Replace $x$ with $f(x)$ in the function $g(x)$. $g(f(x))=2(f(x))^2-9$ Plug value of $f(x)$ in the right hand side. $g(f(x))=(x^2+2)^2-2$ $g(f(x))=x^4+4+4x^2-2$ $g(f(x))=x^4+4x^2+2$. Hence, $(g\circ f)(x) =x^4+4x^2+2$. (c) Replace $x$ with $2$ in the part (a) solution. $(f\circ g)(2) =(2)^4-4(2)^2+6$ $(f\circ g)(2) =16-4(4)+6$ $(f\circ g)(2) =16-16+6$ $(f\circ g)(2) =6$.
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