College Algebra / Unit 5 Alg 278 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Composition Order Matters
Captions available
The idea
Function composition is not commutative and is not multiplication: f(g(x)), g(f(x)), and f(x) · g(x) are three different things.
In practice
For f(x) = x² and g(x) = x + 1 at 2: f(g(2)) = 9, g(f(2)) = 5, and f(2) · g(2) = 12 — three wirings, three answers.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
- Nothing. This is a starting point.
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for College Algebra