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Understanding Composition Of Functions And Inverse Of A Function

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Definition Formula And Solved Examples Of Composition And Inverse Functions

What is a composite function? Well, a composite function is usually composed of other functions such that the output of one function is the input of the other function. In other words, when the value of a function is found from two other given functions by applying one function to an independent variable and the other to the result of the other function whose domain consists of those values of the independent variable for which the result yielded by the first function lies in the domain of the second.

Example: Two functions - 3y+5 and y2 together forms a composite function which can be written as (3y+5)2

Explanation of Composition Functions

To form a composite function by a composition of two other functions we need to take two functions say g(x) = \[x^{2}\] and f(x) = x+5. Now, we need to put one function inside the other function so here we can put f(x) into g(x) to form a new function, called their composition.


As mentioned above, to form composite functions we need to insert one function into another. Here f(x) can be plugged into g(x) to form a function g(f(x)). We know that f(x) = x + 5, thus we can substitute the function in. Therefore, g(f(x)) = g(x + 5). Knowing the fact that g(x) = \[x^{2}\] we can insert the function and evaluate g(x + 5) = \[(x + 5)^{2}\]. Therefore, g(f(x)) = g(x + 5) = \[(x + 5)^{2}\] .

For practice, download composition of functions examples with answers pdf. By downloading composition of functions examples with answers pdf, you will have enough composite functions questions for practising. 

Composite Functions Properties

There are four major properties of a composite function:

Property 1:  Composite functions are not commutative

                                 gof is not equal to fog

Property 2: Composite functions are associative

                   (fog)oh = fo(goh)

Property 3:  A function f: A -B and g: B-C is one-one then gof: A-C is also one-one.

Property 4: A function f: A-B and g: B-C is onto then gof: A-C is also onto.

What is Inverse Function? 

An inverse function is a function, which can reverse into another function. In other words, if any function “f” takes p to q then, the inverse of “f” i.e. “f-1” will take q to p.  A function accepts a value followed by performing particular operations on these values to generate an output. If you consider functions, f and g are inverse, then f(g(x)) is equal to g(f(x)) which is equal to x. 


Given below are the detailed summary of the Composition and inverse relation with examples:

Composite and Inverse Functions

Function

Inverse Function

Composite Function

Definition

In mathematics, a function, a, is defined as an inverse of another, b, if the output of b is given, a, returns the input value that was given to b. Also, it must be true for every element in the domain as well as the co-domain(range) of b. In other words, assuming p and q are constants if b(p) = q and a(q) = p then the function a will be called an inverse of the function b.

A function whose input is another function is called a composite function.. So, if we have two functions A(x), which draws elements from set B to set C, and D(x), which draws from set C to set E, then the composite of these two functions, will be written as DoA, which is a function that draws elements from B to E i.e. DoA is equal to D(A(x)).

Examples

Example of Inverse Function –

Consider the functions a(x) = 5x + 2 and b(y) = (y-2)/5. Here function b is an inverse function of a.This is visible by inserting values into the functions. For example when x is 1 the output of a is a(1) = 5(1) + 2 = 7. Using this output as y in function b gives b(7) = (7-2)/5 = 1 which was the input value to function a.


For example consider the functions A(x) = 5x + 2 and B(x) = x + 1. The composite function AoB = A(B(x)) = 5(x+1) + 2.


Properties

Listed below are some of the properties of Inverse Functions:

Two functions f and g will be referred to as an inverse of each other if:

  • Both f and g are one to one functions. In one to one functions, each value is mapped in their domain to exactly one value in the co-domain(range). Here is an example of a One to One function: f(x) = x

  • The co-domain(range) of one function(f) is the domain of another function(g) and vice versa

Note: Some functions are invertible only for a set of specific values in their domain. By chance, if both the range as well as the domain of the inverse function are restricted to only those values.


Listed below are some properties of Composite Functions:

Composite functions consist of the following properties:

  • Given that the composite function is fog = f(g(x)) the co-domain of g has to be a subset, i.e. either proper or improper subset, of the domain of f

  • Composite functions are always associative. Given that the composite function is a o b o c then the order of operation will be irrelevant i.e. (a o b) o c is equal to a o (b o c).

  • Composite functions  cannot be commutative. So AoB is not equal  to BoA. Using the example A(x) = 5x + 2 and B(x) = x + 1 AoB = A(B(x)) = 5(x+1) + 2 while BoA = B(A(x)) = (5x + 2) + 1.




Solved Examples

Question 1) Let f(x) = \[x^{2}\] and g(x) = \[\sqrt{1 - x^{2}}\] Find (gof)(x) and (fog)(x).

Solution 1) (gof)(x) = g(f(x)) = g(\[x^{2}\]) = \[\sqrt{1 - (x^{2})^{2} = \sqrt{1 - x^{4}}}\]



(fog) (x) = f(g(x)) = f (\[\sqrt{1 -x^{2})}\] = 1 -\[(x^{2})^{2}\] = 1 - \[x^{2}\] 


Question 2)  If f(x) =\[x^{2}\] , g(x) = \[\frac{x}{3}\]  and h(x) = 3x+2 . Find out fohog(x).

Solution 2) h(g(x)) = 3 \[\left ( \frac{x}{3} \right )\] + 2 = x + 2 

fohog(x) = f [h(g(x))]  = \[(x + 2)^{2}\]

Therefore this is the required solution.

FAQs on Understanding Composition Of Functions And Inverse Of A Function

1. What is the composition of functions?

The composition of functions is a function formed by applying one function to the result of another function. If f and g are functions, then the composition is written as (f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x)).

  • First apply g to x.
  • Then apply f to the result g(x).
For example, if f(x) = 2x + 1 and g(x) = x², then (f ∘ g)(x) = f(x²) = 2x² + 1.

2. How do you find the composition of two functions?

To find the composition of two functions, substitute one function into the other. Follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the inner function (e.g., g(x)).
  • Step 2: Substitute g(x) into f(x).
  • Step 3: Simplify the result.
Example: If f(x) = 3x − 2 and g(x) = x + 4, then (f ∘ g)(x) = f(x + 4) = 3(x + 4) − 2 = 3x + 10.

3. Is composition of functions commutative?

No, composition of functions is not commutative, meaning (f ∘ g)(x) ≠ (g ∘ f)(x) in general. For example:

  • Let f(x) = x + 1 and g(x) = x².
  • (f ∘ g)(x) = f(x²) = x² + 1.
  • (g ∘ f)(x) = g(x + 1) = (x + 1)² = x² + 2x + 1.
Since x² + 1 ≠ x² + 2x + 1, the compositions are different.

4. What is the domain of a composite function?

The domain of a composite function consists of all values of x for which the inner function is defined and its output lies in the domain of the outer function. To find it:

  • Find the domain of g(x).
  • Ensure g(x) is within the domain of f(x).
For example, if f(x) = √x and g(x) = x − 3, then (f ∘ g)(x) = √(x − 3), and the domain is x ≥ 3.

5. What is the inverse of a function?

The inverse of a function is a function that reverses the effect of the original function. If f(x) = y, then its inverse satisfies f⁻¹(y) = x. In other words, f(f⁻¹(x)) = x and f⁻¹(f(x)) = x. The inverse undoes the original function.

6. How do you find the inverse of a function step by step?

To find the inverse function, interchange x and y and solve for y. Steps:

  • Step 1: Let y = f(x).
  • Step 2: Swap x and y.
  • Step 3: Solve for y.
  • Step 4: Replace y with f⁻¹(x).
Example: If f(x) = 2x + 3,
  • y = 2x + 3
  • x = 2y + 3
  • y = (x − 3)/2
So, f⁻¹(x) = (x − 3)/2.

7. What is the formula for the inverse of a linear function?

The inverse of a linear function f(x) = ax + b (a ≠ 0) is f⁻¹(x) = (x − b)/a. This is found by solving y = ax + b for x. For example, if f(x) = 5x − 7, then the inverse is f⁻¹(x) = (x + 7)/5.

8. How do you verify if two functions are inverses of each other?

Two functions are inverses if their compositions give x. That is, f(g(x)) = x and g(f(x)) = x. To verify:

  • Find (f ∘ g)(x) and simplify.
  • Find (g ∘ f)(x) and simplify.
  • If both equal x, the functions are inverses.
This confirms they undo each other.

9. What is the relationship between composition and inverse of a function?

The relationship is that a function composed with its inverse gives the identity function. Specifically, f(f⁻¹(x)) = x and f⁻¹(f(x)) = x. This means the inverse reverses the effect of the original function, resulting in the identity function I(x) = x.

10. Can every function have an inverse?

No, a function has an inverse only if it is one-to-one (injective). A function is one-to-one if different inputs give different outputs. If a function fails the horizontal line test, it does not have an inverse unless its domain is restricted. For example, f(x) = x² is not one-to-one over all real numbers, but it has an inverse if defined for x ≥ 0.