[Katherine2007]

If f(x)= x^4 +7 and g(x) = x+5 and h(x) =x^1/2
then what does

f o g o h (x) =??

[Capuchin]

what is the o meant to represent?

you mean f(g(h(x))) ?

[Katherine2007]

what is the o meant to represent?

you mean f(g(h(x))) ?

Yes.

[Capuchin]

okay so that means you need to put h(x) as x into g(x), and then put that result (g(h(x))) as x into f(x).

for example if m(x) = 1+x and n(x) = x+2 then m(n(x)) is putting n(x) as x into m(x) so it's 1+(n(x)) = 1+(x+2) = 3+x

now can you do yours?

[Katherine2007]

okay so that means you need to put h(x) as x into g(x), and then put that result (g(h(x))) as x into f(x).

for example if m(x) = 1+x and n(x) = x+2 then m(n(x)) is putting n(x) as x into m(x) so it's 1+(n(x)) = 1+(x+2) = 3+x

now can you do yours?

so then

x^1/2 + 5 then becomes the (x) that you plug into f(x)= x^4 +7


?

just to double check x^1/2 is the same as the sqrt of x right?

[Capuchin]

Yup and yup.

[Katherine2007]

so then

x^1/2 + 5 then becomes the (x) that you plug into f(x)= x^4 +7


??

just to double check x^1/2 is the same as the sqrt of x right?

thanks, I got the right answer now! The computer was throwing me off a bit because it wouldn't recognize x^1/2... I had to enter it as x^.5... but your example really helped! I've never had calculus or pre-calculus and the last math I had was 5 years ago!