How do you compute (fog) and (gof) if f(x)= x/(x-2), g(x)=3/x?

1 Answer
Jan 2, 2016

(f@g)(x)=3/(3-2x),(g@f)(x)=(3(x-2))/x

Explanation:

(f@g)(x) is the same as f(g(x)). This means that you take g(x), or 3/x, plug it in for all the spots with x in f(x).

f(g(x))=(3/x)/(3/x-2)

Find a common denominator in the denominator.

f(g(x))=(3/x)/(3/x-(2x)/x)

Simplify.

f(g(x))=(3/x)/((3-2x)/x)

Multiply by x/x.

f(g(x))=3/(3-2x)=(f@g)(x)

To find (g@f)(x), use a similar method: plug x/(x-2) into the x in 3/x.

g(f(x))=3/(x/(x-2))

Recall that division is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal.

g(f(x))=3((x-2)/x)

Simplify for the final answer.

g(f(x))=(3(x-2))/x=(g@f)(x)