Math 1201 Learning Journal Unit 4.

We know that a function is an expression, rule, or law that defines a relationship between one
variable (the independent variable) and another (the dependent variable). However, in this
learning journal we shall focus on the concepts of inverse functions and
nd compound functions.
In mathematics, the inverse function of a function f (also called the inverse of f)) is a function that
undoes the operation of f.. The inverse of f exists if and only if f is bijective,, and if it exists, is
denoted by f -1, (Wikipedia, 2001).
If f(x)= y, then the function g is its inverse which is g(y)=x. This means that given a function f(x)
its inverse function can represented as f -1(x) which is read as f inverse of x. The raised is part of
the notation. However, it is important to note that the concept of raising it to -11 is not an
exponent; it does not imply a power of -1According to Abram (2021, pg 207), “ff -1(x) does not
mean ( ) because ( ) is the reciprocal of f and not the inverse.
The other concept of inverse function is demonstrated by finding Domain and Range of Inverse
Functions. It should be noted that the outputs of the function f are the inputs to f -1 , so the range f
of is also the domain of f -1 . Likewise, because the inputs to f are the outputs of f -1 , the
domain of f is the range of f -1.
This concept can be visualized by figure below:
Figure 1.1: Domain and range of a function and its inverse (Katherine,
Katherine, 2023, pg: 297)
Therefore, from figure 1.1, it is noted here that the concept is that the range of a function f is the
domain of the inverse function f -1 , and the domain of f is the range of f -1.
The other concept of functions and their inverse functions that we need to accommodate is that
their graphs are symmetrical reflections of each other with respect to the line y=x
y=x.
Let take the function y=x5 its inverse function is y= , Graphing these function, we will have
Real application of inverse functions:
Inverse functions are used every day in real life. For example, when a computer reads a number
you type in, it converts the number to binary for internal storage, then it prints the number out
again onto the screen that you see – it’s utilizing an inverse function.
A basic example involves converting temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Another example, if one considers music notes on paper to be a function of the sound produced,
then the software Sibelius can be considered the inverse function, as it takes
takes a musician’s music
and converts it back to music notes.
Now let us look at the concepts of composite functions function:
The process of combining functions so that the output of one function becomes the input of
another is known as composition of functions.
f . The resulting function is known as a composite
function,, (Katherine S (2023, pg 286).
We represent this combination by the following notation: (f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x))

Here are some of the concepts of composite fubctions that we need to accommodate:
We read the left-hand

hand side as“ composed with at ,” and the right-hand
right hand side as“ of of .” The two
sides of the equation have the same mathematical meaning and are equal.
The open circle symbol o is called the composition operator.
oper
We should note that it is important not to confuse function composition with multiplication
because they are different operations.
Figure 1. 2: Explanation of the composite function, (Katherine S (2023, pg 287)
Another concept that we need to accommodate is that f o g, and g of are different functions. This
means that f(g(x))  g(f(x)) for all x.
We should also see that sometimes two functions can be composed only in one specific order
order.
Now let us talk about the domain and range of a composite

compo function:
The domain of a composite function is determined by the common domain of its component
functions. For example, if you have two functions, f(x) and g(x), the composite function of
(f o g)(x) is defined where both f and g are defined.
Therefore, domain of f o g = common domain of f and g.
Range, the range of a composite function is influenced by both the range of the inner function
and the range of the outer function.
Therefore, range of f o g = set of all possible values obtained by applying (f o g)(x) for all x in
the domain.
Note that understanding the domains and ranges of composite functions is crucial for analyzing
their behaviour and characteristics.
Here is an example of a composite function, let us consider the following two function:
i. f(x) = 2x + 1
ii. g(x) = x2
When we combine them, we will have this composite function (f o g (x)) = 2x2 + 1
Here are the strategies to analyze composite functions using a graph

1. Locate the given input to the inner function on the x-axis of its graph.
2. Read off the output of the inner function from the y-axis of its graph.
3. Locate the inner function output on the x-axis of the graph of the outer function.
4. Read the output of the outer function from the y-axis of its graph. This is the output of the
composite function.
Real life application of composite functions:

Composition of functions, as a process at least, is used by people every day in real life.
Composition of functions allows us to do many computations in a row; when working on real-
life things like taxes, one often does many computations in a row. Thus, many of the steps for
filing one's taxes may be viewed as representing the composition of functions. For instance,
instructions for some section may say something like this:
Take the value from line 31. Multiply by 0.03. Subtract 10,500 from this value. Write down this
amount or, if this amount is less than zero, write down zero.
If we label the original "value from line 31" as x, then the multiplication could be viewed as
being f (x) = 0.03x. The subtracting could be g(x) = x − 10,500. Then the last step would be
something like h(x) = max(x, 0). The tax computation, from beginning to end, could be viewed as
the following composition:
h(g(f(x)))
In conclusion, understanding the interplay between inverse functions and composite functions is
essential in various mathematical contexts and problem-solving scenarios.
References
Abramson, J. (2021). Algebra and trigonometry (2nd ed.). OpenStax, TX: Rice University.
Retrieved from https://openstax.org/details/books/algebra-and-trigonometry-2e
Desmos Calculator. https://www.desmos.com/calculator
Katherine S (2023) Highline College Corequisite Precalculus.

LibreText.https://math.libretexts.org/Courses/Highline_College/MATH_141%3A_Precalculus_I
_(2nd_Edition)/03%3A_Polynomial_and_Rational_Functions/3.07%3A_Graphing_Rational_Fu
nctions
Wikipedia (2001), "Inverse function", Encyclopedia of Mathematics, EMS Press, 2001 [1994].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse_function

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We know that a function is an expression, rule, or law that defines a relationship between one

This concept can be visualized by figure below:

A basic example involves converting temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

Now let us look at the concepts of composite functions function:

We represent this combination by the following notation: (f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x))

We read the left-hand

Figure 1. 2: Explanation of the composite function, (Katherine S (2023, pg 287)

Now let us talk about the domain and range of a composite

Here are the strategies to analyze composite functions using a graph

Real life application of composite functions:

Desmos Calculator. https://www.desmos.com/calculator

Katherine S (2023) Highline College Corequisite Precalculus.

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