What's the difference between $f(x)=\sqrt{x^2+9}$ and $k(x^2+9)=\sqrt{x^2+9}$? Let's say we 've got a function $f(x)=\sqrt{x^2+9}$, which is a composite function. $f(x)=\sqrt{g(x)}$ and $g(x)=x^2+9$.
When we have a function like $h(x)=x$, we are allowed to set $x$ to $x+9$ and have $h(x+9)=x+9$.
So why do we need $g(x)$ and can't just set $x=x^2+9$, which with a function like $k(x)=\sqrt{x}$ leads to $k(x^2+9)=\sqrt{x^2+9}$ (same as f(x) above)? 
Where's the difference between these two ($f(x),k(x)$)? Is $x^2+9$ even a valid argument for $k(x)$?
 A: A function is a mapping from elements of a domain set to elements of a range set (also called the "codomain").  Let's consider your example of $k(x) = \sqrt{x}$.  This actually is an incomplete definition of a function; you also need to specify the domain and range.  So suppose $k$ takes nonnegative real numbers to nonnegative real numbers.
Then when we take the function $g(x) = x^2+9$, we again have to specify the domain and range.  So let's say $g$ takes real numbers to real numbers greater than or equal to 9.
Now consider the composition $f(x) = k(g(x))$.  The equation is $\sqrt{x^2+9}$.  But now the domain and range have changed a bit from the original $k$ or $g$.  In particular, now the domain is all real numbers, and the range is real numbers greater than or equal to 3.  So there is a subtle difference between the functions $f(x)$ and $k(x)$.  It's important to keep the domain and range/codomain in mind whenever you do function composition.
Now to address your confusion regarding how we are "allowed" to set $x = x^2+9$ and write $k(x^2+9) = \sqrt{x^2+9}$.  Again, think about a function as taking inputs to outputs.  So when you write $k(x^2+9) = \sqrt{x^2+9}$, what you're saying is that given a number $x$, $k$ maps the number $x^2+9$ to $\sqrt{x^2+9}$.  This is really just a variable substitution.  There is nothing wrong with writing down $k(x^2+9)$, or $k(e^x)$; just like with $k(2)$ or $k(\pi)$, it represents passing some value into the function $k$.
Hopefully that addresses your questions, and let me know in the comments if I can clarify further!
A: $f(y)$ is a function which maps $y$ to $\sqrt{y^2+9}$, and you've fed $y=x$ into it to get your first function.
$k(y)$ is a function which maps $y$ to $\sqrt y$, and you've fed $y=x^2+9$ into it to get your second function.
