Question

For f left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals x squared plus 7 and g left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals x squared minus 4 comma find the following functions.
a.  left parenthesis f circle g right parenthesis left parenthesis x right parenthesis​;    b.  left parenthesis g circle f right parenthesis left parenthesis x right parenthesis​;    c.  left parenthesis f circle g right parenthesis left parenthesis 3 right parenthesis​;    d.  left parenthesis g circle f right parenthesis left parenthesis 3 right parenthesis
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Part 1
a.  left parenthesis f circle g right parenthesis left parenthesis x right parenthesisequals
  
enter your response here
​(Simplify your​ answer.)

Answers

GPT-4o mini
To find the compositions of the functions \( f \) and \( g \) defined as:

- \( f(x) = x^2 + 7 \)
- \( g(x) = x^2 - 4 \)

we need to calculate \( (f \circ g)(x) \) and \( (g \circ f)(x) \).

### Part a: \( (f \circ g)(x) \)

The composition \( (f \circ g)(x) \) means we substitute \( g(x) \) into \( f(x) \).

1. Compute \( g(x) = x^2 - 4 \).
2. Substitute \( g(x) \) into \( f \):

\[
f(g(x)) = f(x^2 - 4) = (x^2 - 4)^2 + 7
\]

Now, expand \( (x^2 - 4)^2 \):

\[
(x^2 - 4)^2 = x^4 - 8x^2 + 16
\]

Now substitute back into \( f(g(x)) \):

\[
f(g(x)) = x^4 - 8x^2 + 16 + 7
\]

Simplify:

\[
f(g(x)) = x^4 - 8x^2 + 23
\]

**Final Answer for Part a:**
\[
(f \circ g)(x) = x^4 - 8x^2 + 23
\]

---

### Part b: \( (g \circ f)(x) \)

Now compute \( (g \circ f)(x) \).

1. Compute \( f(x) = x^2 + 7 \).
2. Substitute \( f(x) \) into \( g \):

\[
g(f(x)) = g(x^2 + 7) = (x^2 + 7)^2 - 4
\]

Now, expand \( (x^2 + 7)^2 \):

\[
(x^2 + 7)^2 = x^4 + 14x^2 + 49
\]

Now substitute back into \( g(f(x)) \):

\[
g(f(x)) = x^4 + 14x^2 + 49 - 4
\]

Simplify:

\[
g(f(x)) = x^4 + 14x^2 + 45
\]

**Final Answer for Part b:**
\[
(g \circ f)(x) = x^4 + 14x^2 + 45
\]

---

### Part c: \( (f \circ g)(3) \)

Now compute \( (f \circ g)(3) \).

1. Compute \( g(3) \):

\[
g(3) = 3^2 - 4 = 9 - 4 = 5
\]

2. Now compute \( f(5) \):

\[
f(5) = 5^2 + 7 = 25 + 7 = 32
\]

**Final Answer for Part c:**
\[
(f \circ g)(3) = 32
\]

---

### Part d: \( (g \circ f)(3) \)

Now compute \( (g \circ f)(3) \).

1. Compute \( f(3) \):

\[
f(3) = 3^2 + 7 = 9 + 7 = 16
\]

2. Now compute \( g(16) \):

\[
g(16) = 16^2 - 4 = 256 - 4 = 252
\]

**Final Answer for Part d:**
\[
(g \circ f)(3) = 252
\]

In summary:
- a: \( (f \circ g)(x) = x^4 - 8x^2 + 23 \)
- b: \( (g \circ f)(x) = x^4 + 14x^2 + 45 \)
- c: \( (f \circ g)(3) = 32 \)
- d: \( (g \circ f)(3) = 252 \)