ACT Math · Function notation and transformations

If f(x) = √(x) and g(x) = x - 5, what is the domain of f(g(x))?

If f(x)=xf(x) = \sqrt{x} and g(x)=x−5g(x) = x - 5, what is the domain of f(g(x))f(g(x))?

Answer and explanation

Answer: B: x ≥ 5

Form the composition: f(g(x))=g(x)=x−5f(g(x))=\sqrt{g(x)}=\sqrt{x-5}. The expression under the radical must be non-negative: x−5≥0x-5\ge0, so x≥5x\ge5, choice B. Check: at x=5x=5 the value is 0=0\sqrt0=0, and at x=4x=4 it would be −1\sqrt{-1}, which is not real. Choice A (x≥0x\ge0) applies the radical restriction to xx instead of to g(x)g(x), forgetting the shift by 55. Choice C (x≤5x\le5) reverses the inequality. Choice D (all real numbers) is the domain of gg alone, ignoring the square root.

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