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L1 Functions and Its Operations PDF
L1 Functions and Its Operations PDF
Mathematics 100
Institute of Mathematics
1 Functions
Domain of Some Functions
Operations on Functions
2 Lecture Exercise
"Intuitive" Definition
A function can be thought of as a correspondence from a set X of real
numbers x to a set Y of real numbers y, where y is unique for a specific value
of x.
We say that "y is a function of x", and write this symbolically as
Example
The equation y = x2 + 1 defines a function from the set of real numbers to the
set of real numbers.
x 4 3 2 1
y = f (x) = x2 + 1 17 10 5 2
f = {(x, y) R2 : y = x2 + 1}.
Remark:
Observe that a function can have the same value at two different values
of x from X, but each x is assigned to a single element y of Y .
Definition
Let X and Y be nonempty sets.
A function f from X to Y , denoted f : X Y , is a rule that assigns to each
element x X a unique element y Y .
The set of all admissible values of x is called the domain of the function,
written dom f .
The set of all resulting values of y is called the range of the function,
written ran f .
Example
The equation x + y = 1 defines a function.
To see this, we isolate the dependent variable on the left hand side so that
y = x + 1.
Note that for any given value of x, there is exactly one value for y.
Example
The equation |y| = x + 1 does not define a function.
Observe that (x, y) = (1, 2) and (x, y) = (1, 2) both satisfy the given
equation.
So there are two distinct ordered pairs having the same x-coordinate that
satisfy the given equation.
Example
Is x2 + y = 3 a function?
Solution:
It is equivalent to
y = x2 + 3.
Example
Is x2 + y 2 = 4 a function?
Solution:
Solve for y in terms of x: p
y= 4 x2 .
Example
The equation y = 4 x2 defines a function.
Example
The expression y 3x + 2 does not define a function.
Note that the ordered pairs (x, y) = (1, 5) and (x, y) = (1, 6) satisfy the given
expression.
h(x)
Rational Functions - functions of the form f (x) = , where h and g are
g(x)
polynomial functions, and g is not the constant zero function
dom f = {x R : g(x) 6= 0}
p
n
Functions involving radicals - functions of the form f (x) = g(x)
Example
Consider the function f (x) = x 3.
Example
Consider the quadratic function defined by g(x) = x2 + 5x + 6.
dom g = R
Example
Find the domain of h(x) = 4 x2 .
Solution:
Since h is a radical function with even index, then
dom h = {x R : 4 x2 0}.
4 x2 0
(2 x)(2 + x) 0
Solution contd.:
Table of Signs:
(, 2) (2, 2) (2, +)
Test number 3 0 3
2x + +
2+x + +
(2 x)(2 + x) +
Example
4
Find the domain of f (x) = .
x2 9
Solution:
Since f is a rational function,
dom f = {x R : x2 9 6= 0} = {x R : x 6= 3} = R \ {3}.
Example
p
Find the domain of g(x) = |x + 3| 4.
Solution:
Since g is a radical function,
dom g = {x R : |x + 3| 4 0}
= {x R : |x + 3| 4}
Next, we solve the inequality |x + 3| 4:
x+34
x + 3 4
x43 or
x 7
x1
Example
3
x+2
Find the domain of h(x) = .
x2 1
Solution:
Since h is written as a fraction, we want all values of x for which its
denominator is nonzero. At the same time, the numerator must be defined.
numerator - always defined for any real number value of x
denominator -
dom h = {x R : x2 1 6= 0} = R \ {1}.
Definition
If f and g are functions, then their
sum, denoted by f + g, is the function defined by
(f + g)(x) = f (x) + g(x);
difference, denoted by f g, is the function defined by
(f g)(x) = f (x) g(x);
product, denoted by f g, is the function defined by (f g)(x) = f (x) g(x);
quotient,
denoted by f /g, is the function defined by
f f (x)
g (x) = g(x) , g(x) 6= 0;
with dom (f + g) = dom (f g) = dom (f g) = dom f dom g,
and dom (f /g) = (dom f dom g) \ {x : g(x) = 0}. R
Example
Let f (x) = 4 x and g(x) = 3 + x. Find the functions f + g, f g, f g and
f /g, and find their respective domains.
Solution:
(f + g)(x) = f (x) + g(x) = 4x+ 3 + x,
(f g)(x) = f (x) g(x) = 4 x 3 + x,
p
(f g)(x) = f (x) g(x) = 4 x 3 + x = (4 x)(3 + x),
r
f f (x) 4x 4x
(x) = = = .
g g(x) 3+x 3+x
Solution contd.:
The domains of f and g are:
dom f = {x R : x 4} = (, 4],
dom g = {x R : x 3} = [3, +).
Definition
If f and g are functions, their composite function, denoted by f g, is
defined by
(f g)(x) = f (g(x)).
The domain of f g is the set of all real numbers x in the domain of g such
that g(x) is in the domain of f . That is,
Solution:
We first state the domains of f and g:
Solution contd.:
Even though 1 + x is defined for all x 1, we must restrict the domain of
f g to those values that are also in the domain of g. Thus,
Solution:
Note that dom f = R and dom g = (0, +).
For f g:
1
(f g)(x) = f (g(x)) = f
x
1
= + 3 2
x
1
= +32
x
1+ x
=
x
Thus, dom (f g) = (0, +).
Math 100 (Institute of Mathematics) Functions and Its Operations 28 / 30
Composition of Two Functions
Solution contd.:
For g f :
x 1
Let f (x) = 1 x and g(x) = . Find the composite function f g
x + 1
and its domain.