Operations of Functions
General Mathematics
Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students must be
able to:
• find the sum of functions;
• determine the difference between functions;
• identify the product of functions;
• find the quotient between functions; and
• determine the composite of a function.
Addition of Functions
Let f and g be any two functions.
The sum f + g is a function whose domains are
the set of all real numbers common to the
domain of f and g, and defined as follows:
(f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)
Example 1
If f (x) = 3x – 2 and g (x) = x2 + 2x – 3,
find (f + g) (x).
Solution to Example 1
(f + g) (x) = f (x) + g (x)
= (3x – 2) + (x2+ 2x – 3)
= x2 + 5x – 5
Subtraction of Functions
Let f and g be any two functions.
The difference f – g is a function whose domains
are the set of all real numbers common to the
domain of f and g, and defined as follows:
(f – g)(x) = f(x) – g(x)
Example 2
Let f (x) = x2– 5 and g (x) = 5x + 4,
find (f – g)(x).
Solution to Example 2
(f – g)(x) = f (x) – g (x)
= (x2 – 5) – (5x + 4)
= x2 – 5 – 5x – 4
= x2 – 5x – 9
Multiplication of Functions
Let f and g be any two functions.
The product fg is a function whose domains are
the set of all real numbers common to the
domain of f and g, and defined as follows:
(fg)(x) = f(x) · g(x)
If f (x) = 3x – 2 and g (x) = x2 + 2x – 3,
find (fg) (x).
Solution to Example 2
(f )(x) =f(x) p(x)
=(x + 3)(2x – 7)
= 2x2 – 7x + 6x –21
= 2x2 - x – 21
Find (f) (x).
Solution :
(f )(x) =f(x) v(x)
=(x + 3)(x2 + 5x +4)
= x3 + 5x2 + 4x + 3x2 + 15x + 12
= x3 + 8x2 + 19x + 12
Example 3
If f (x) = 3x – 2 and g (x) = x2 + 2x – 3,
find (fg) (x).
Solution to Example 3
(f g)(x) = (3x – 2)(x2 + 2x – 3)
= 3x3 + 6x2 – 9x – 2x2 - 4x +6
= 3x3 + 4x2 – 13x + 6
Division of Functions
Let f and g be any two functions.
The quotient f/g is a function whose domains
are the set of all real numbers common to the
domain of f and g, and defined as follows: ,
where g(x) ≠ 0.
Example 4
If f (x) = x + 3 and g (x) = x2 + 2x – 3,
find (f/g) (x).
Solution to Example 4
Composition of Functions
The composition of the function f with g is
denoted by and is defined by the equation:
The domain of the composition function ( )(x)
is the set of all x such that
1. x is in the domain of g; and
2. g(x) is in the domain of f.
Example 1
Given f(x) = 4x – 5 and g(x) = x2 + 4,
find .
Solution to Example 1
(f g)(x) = (f g(x))
= f x2 + 4)
= 4x - 5
= 4(x2 + 4) – 5
= 4x2 + 16 – 5
(f g)(x) = 4x2 + 11
Example 2
Given f(x) = 4x – 5 and g(x) = x2 + 4,
find (g )(x) .
Solution to Example 2
(g )(x) = (g (x))
= g 4x-5)
= x2 + 4
= (4x-5)2 + 4
= 16x2 – 20x –
20x + 25 + 4
GIVEN FUNCTIONS:
f(x) = 2x + 1 q(x) = x2 -
2x + 2
g(x) = h(x) = x - 3
Example 3: Find and simplify : (g )(x)
(g )(x) = (g (x))
= g 2x+1)
=
=
(g )(x) =
GIVEN FUNCTIONS:
f(x) = 2x + 1 q(x) = x2 -
2x + 2
g(x) = h(x) = x - 3
Example
(q )(x) 4: Find and simplify
= (q (x)) : (q )(x)
= q 2x+1)
= x2 - 2x + 2
= (2x+1)2 - 2(2x+1)
+2
= (4x2+4x+1) -
(4x+2) + 2
= (4x2+4x+1) -
GIVEN FUNCTIONS:
f(x) = 2x + 1 q(x) = x2 -
2x + 2
g(x) = h(x) = x - 3
Example 5 : Find and simplify : (f )(x)
(f )(x) = (f (x))
= f x2 - 2x + 2 )
= 2x + 1
= 2(x2 - 2x + 2)
+1
= 2x - 4x + 4 +
2
1
GIVEN FUNCTIONS:
f(x) = 2x + 1 q(x) = x2 -
2x + 2
g(x) = h(x) = x - 3
Find and simplify :
1. (f )(x) = f (x))
2. (h )(x) = h (x))
Assignment: GIVEN FUNCTIONS:
f(x) = 3x + 1 q(x) = x2 -
4x + 2
g(x) = h(x) = x - 4
Find and simplify :
1. (g )(x) = g (x))
2. (q )(x) = q (x))
Exercise A
Add the following functions:
1. f (x) = 3x + 4 , g(x) =2x – 1
2. f (x) = 2x – 5 , g(x) =4x2
3. f (x) = x – 1 , g(x) = 2x2 + x – 3
4.
5. ,
Seatwork: (1 whole sheet of paper)
Find the sum of the given functions.
1. f (x) = 3x + 4 , g(x) =2x – 1
2. f (x) = 2x – 5 , g(x) =4x2
3. f (x) = x – 1 , g(x) = 2x2 + x – 3
4.
5. ,
Exercise A
Determine whether or not each statement is
True or False.
1. If f(x) = x – 3 and g(x) = x + 4,
then (f – g)(x) = –7.
2. If f(x) = 4x – 12 and g(x) = x – 3,
then (f + g)(2) = –5.
3. If f(x) = x + 3 and g(x) = 4x, then (f · g)(2) = 40.
4. If f(x) = x + 6 and g(x) = 3x, then (f/g)(3) = 1.
Exercise B
Find f + g, f – g, fg, and f/g. If f(x) = x – 3 and
g(x) = x + 4,
1. , g(x) =2x – 1
2. f (x) = 2x – 5, g(x) = 4x2
3. f (x) = x – 1, g(x) = 2x2 + x – 3
4.
5. ,
