Question

Determine whether the statements are True or False. Justify your answer with an explanation.

Answer 1

Problem 1

Answer: False

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Explanation:

The notation (f o g)(x) means f( g(x) ). Here g(x) is the inner function.

So,

f(x) = x+1

f( g(x) ) = g(x) + 1 .... replace every x with g(x)

f( g(x) ) = 6x+1 ... plug in g(x) = 6x

(f o g)(x) = 6x+1

Now let's flip things around

g(x) = 6x

g( f(x) ) = 6*( f(x) ) .... replace every x with f(x)

g( f(x) ) = 6(x+1) .... plug in f(x) = x+1

g( f(x) ) = 6x+6

(g o f)(x) = 6x+6

This shows that (f o g)(x) = (g o f)(x)  is a false equation for the given f(x) and g(x) functions.

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Problem 2

Answer: True

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Explanation:

Let's say that g(x) produced a number that wasn't in the domain of f(x). This would mean that f( g(x) ) would be undefined.

For example, let

f(x) = 1/(x+2)

g(x) = -2

The g(x) function will always produce the output -2 regardless of what the input x is. Feeding that -2 output into f(x) leads to 1/(x+2) = 1/(-2+2) = 1/0 which is undefined.

So it's important that the outputs of g(x) line up with the domain of f(x). Outputs of g(x) must be valid inputs of f(x).