Question:
Given: f (x) = x + 4 g (x) = (x - 2)2 f (g (u (x))) = 4x2 - 8x + 8
Find u (x) = ?
Solution:
Substitute u(x) or u in the composite function: f (g (u (x)))
f (g (u (x))) = (u-2)2 + 4 = 4x2 - 8x + 8
(u-2)2 = 4x2 - 8x + 8 - 4
(u-2)2 = 4x2 - 8x + 4
(u-2)2 = 4 (x2 - 2x + 1)
(u-2)2 = 4 (x - 1)2
There are two solutions:
| Solution 1 | Solution 2 |
| u-2 =
+ 2 (x - 1)
u-2 = 2x - 2 u = 2x |
u-2 = -
2 (x - 1) u-2 = -2x + 2 u = - 2x + 4 |