Domain and range of a composite function
The domain of a composite function f(g(x)) is the set of those inputs x in the
domain of g for which g(x) is in the domain of f.
Let f is a function from set A to set B i.e., f:A→B and g is a function from set B to
set C i.e., g:B→C, then the function gof from set A to set C i.e., gof:A→C defined
as (gof)(x)=g(f(x)) ∀xϵA is called the composition of f and g.
NOTE:
The domain of a composed function is either the same as the domain of the first function, or else lies
inside it.
The range of a composed function is either the same as the range of the second function, or else lies inside
it.
HOW TO DETERMINE THE DOMAIN OF A COMPOSITION FUNCTION
1. Find the domain of g.
2. Find the domain of f.
3. Find those inputs, x, in the domain of g for which g(x) is in the domain of f.
That is, exclude those inputs, x, from the domain of g for which g(x) is not in
the domain of f. The resulting set is the domain of f∘g.
Example:
Find the domain of
5 4
(f∘g)(x) where f (x)= x−1 and g(x )= 3 x −2
Solution:
2
The domain of g(x) consists of all real numbers except x= 3 , since that input value
would cause us to divide by 0.
Likewise, the domain of f consists of all real numbers except 1.
So we need to exclude from the domain of g(x) that value of x for which g(x)= 1.
Setting g(x)=1, we get
4 6
=1⟹ 3 x−2=4 ⟹ 3 x=4 +2⟹ 3 x=6 ⟹ x= ⟹ x=2
3 x −2 3
So the domain of f∘g is the set of all real numbers except 2/3 and 2. This means
that
x≠2/3 or x≠2
We can write this in interval notation as
2 2
(−∞ , )∪ ( , 2)∪( 2, ∞ )
3 3
