Lesson: Operations on Functions

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
a) Perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on functions;
and
b) Composite functions.
Recall: Addition and Subtraction
a) Find the least common denominator (LCD) of both fractions.
b) Rewrite the fractions as equivalent fractions with the same LCD.
c) The LCD is the denominator of the resulting fractions.
d) The sum or difference of the numerators is the numerator of the resulting fractions.
3 2
Example 3.1. Find the sum of 4 and 5.

Solution: The LCD of the two fractions is 20.

3 2 15 8 15 + 8 23 3
+ = + = = 𝑜𝑟 1
4 5 20 20 20 20 20
1 2
Example 3.2. Find the sum of 2𝑥−3 and .
𝑥−5

Solution: The LCD of the two rational expressions is (2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5) or 2𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 + 15.
So, better to choose the LCD that may easy to use in performing functions.
1 2 𝑥−5 2(2𝑥 − 3)
+ = 2 + 2
2𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 5 2𝑥 − 13𝑥 + 15 2𝑥 − 13𝑥 + 15
𝑥−5+2(2𝑥−3) 𝑥−5+4𝑥−6
= =
2𝑥 2 −13𝑥+15 2𝑥 2 −13𝑥+15
5𝑥 − 11
=
2𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 + 15
Recall: Multiplication
a) Rewrite the numerator and denominator in terms of its prime factors.
b) Common factors in the numerator and denominator can be simplified as (this is often
called cancelling)
c) Multiply the numerators together to get the new numerator.
d) Multiply the denominators together to get the new denominator.
12 16
Example 3.3. Find the product of 24 and . Use cancellation of factors when convenient.
9

Solution: Express the numerators and denominators of the two fractions into their prime
factors. Multiply and cancel out common factors in the numerator and the denominator to
reduce the final answer to lowest terms.
12 16 4 ∙ 3 8 ∙ 2 4 2 8
∙ = ∙ = ∙ =
24 9 8∙3 3∙3 3 3 9
 𝑥 2 −4𝑥−5 𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6
Example 3.4. Find the product of ∙ .
𝑥 2 −3𝑥+2 𝑥 2 −3𝑥−10

Solution: Express the numerators and denominators of the two rational expressions into their
prime factors. Multiply and cancel common factors in the numerator and the denominator to
reduce the final answer into lowest terms. Note the similarity in the process between this
example and the previous.
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 5 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 5) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3)
2
∙ 2 = ∙
𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 2 𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 10 (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 2)
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 5) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 3)
= ∙ =
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3
= .
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2
Recall: Division
To divide two fractions or rational expressions, multiply the dividend with the reciprocal of
the divisor.
Example 3.5. Find the quotient of 𝑥 + 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 2 − 4. Apply the rules.

Solution: 𝑥 + 2 ÷ 𝑥2 − 4 = 𝑥 + 2 ∙
1 Multiply numerator to numerator
𝑥 2 −4
and denominator to denominator.
𝑥+2 𝑥+2 1
= 2
= =
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2) 𝑥 − 2
Sum and difference of 𝑥 2 − 4 is
𝑥 −4
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2), then apply
cancellation.

𝑥 2 +1
Consider the following functions 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1, ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1, 𝑓(𝑥) = . Here, we can
𝑥−1
define 𝑓(𝑥) as a quotient of the function 𝑔(𝑥) and ℎ(𝑥). The function 𝑔(𝑥) is quadratic and
function ℎ(𝑥) is a linear, respectively while function 𝑓(𝑥) is a rational function. Therefore,
𝑥 2 +1
function 𝑓(𝑥) = already involved 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠.
𝑥−1

Definition 3.1: Sum and Difference of Functions

If 𝒇 and 𝒈 are functions respectively, their sum is the function defined as

(𝒇 + 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)

and their difference is the function defined as

(𝒇 − 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙).

Example 3.6. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 + 4 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6. Find (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥).
Solution: (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
= (2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 + 4) + (3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6)

= 2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 + 4 + 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 6

= 2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2.
𝑥+7
Example 3.7. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3 and ℎ(𝑥) = 2−𝑥. Find (𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥).

Solution: (𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥)

𝑥 + 7 (2 − 𝑥)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 7)
=𝑥+3+ = +
2−𝑥 2−𝑥 2−𝑥
(𝑥 + 3)(2 − 𝑥) + (𝑥 + 7) 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 6 − 3𝑥 + 𝑥 + 7
= =
2−𝑥 2−𝑥
−𝑥 2 + 13 −1 𝑥 2 − 13
= ∙ = .
2−𝑥 −1 𝑥−2
5𝑥−2 −7𝑥+3 9𝑥+4
Example 3.8. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = , 𝑔(𝑥) = , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ(𝑥) = .
3 4 6

Find (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) and (𝑔 − ℎ)(𝑥).

Solution: (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
5𝑥 − 2 −7𝑥 + 3 4(5𝑥 − 2) 3(−7𝑥 + 3)
= − = −
3 4 12 12
20𝑥 − 8 −21𝑥 + 9 20𝑥 − 8 + 21𝑥 − 9
= − =
12 12 12
41𝑥 − 17
= .
12
Solution: (𝑔 − ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) − ℎ(𝑥)
−7𝑥 + 3 9𝑥 + 4 3(−7𝑥 + 3) 2(9𝑥 + 4)
= − = −
4 6 12 12
−21𝑥 + 9 18𝑥 + 8 −21𝑥 + 9 − 18𝑥 − 8
= − =
12 12 12
−39𝑥 + 1
= .
12
Definition 3.2: Product and Quotient of Functions
If 𝒇 and 𝒈 are functions respectively, their product is the function defined as
(𝒇 ∙ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙)

and their quotient is the function defined as

𝒇 𝒇(𝒙)
( ) (𝒙) = .
𝒈 𝒈(𝒙)
Example 3.9. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 7. Find the product of (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥).
Solution: (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
= (𝑥 + 3)(2𝑥 − 7) = 2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 21
= 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 21.
3𝑥 2 −7𝑥−6 3𝑥 2 +𝑥−2
Example 3.10. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−3. Find the product of (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥).
9𝑥 2 −4

Solution: Observe how factoring techniques help facilitate the multiplication process.
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 6 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2
= ∙
9𝑥 2 − 4 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3
(3𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) (3𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1)
= ∙
(3𝑥 + 2)(3𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1)
= 1.
𝒇
Example 3.11. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = √2𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 1. Find (𝒈) (𝒙).

𝒇 𝒇(𝒙)
Solution: (𝒈) (𝒙) = 𝒈(𝒙)

√2𝑥 √2𝑥 √𝑥 − 1 √(2𝑥)(𝑥 − 1) √2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥

= = ∙ = = .
√𝑥 − 1 √𝑥 − 1 √𝑥 − 1 √(𝑥 − 1)2 𝑥−1

Lesson 4: Compositions of Functions

Definition 4.1: Composite of Functions
If 𝒇 and 𝒈 are functions respectively, the composite function denoted by (𝒇 𝝄 𝒈), is defined
by
(𝒇 𝝄 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)).

The process of obtaining a composite function is called function composition.

2𝑥+1
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1, 𝑞(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2, 𝑟(𝑥) = 𝑥−1 , 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1, and 𝐹(𝑥) =
⌊𝑥⌋ + 1.
Example 4.1. Find and simplify (𝑔 𝜊 𝑓)(𝑥).
Solution:
(𝑔 𝜊 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥)

= √𝑓(𝑥) + 1

= √(2𝑥 + 1) + 1

= √2𝑥 + 2
Example 4.2. Find and simplify (𝑞 𝜊 𝑓)(𝑥). Is it the same with (𝑓 𝜊 𝑞)(𝑥)?
Solution:
(𝑞 𝜊 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑞(𝑓(𝑥) (𝑓 𝜊 𝑞)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑞(𝑥)
= 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2 = 2[𝑞(𝑥)] + 1
= [𝑓(𝑥)]2 − 2[𝑓(𝑥)] + 2 = 2(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2) + 1
= (2𝑥 + 1)2 − 2(2𝑥 + 1) + 2 = 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4 + 1
= 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 − 4𝑥 − 2 + 2 = 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5.
= 4𝑥 2 + 1.

The functions (𝑞 𝜊 𝑓)(𝑥) and (𝑓 𝜊 𝑞)(𝑥) are not the same.

Example 4.3. Find and simplify (𝑓 𝜊 𝑟)(𝑥).

Solution: (𝑓 𝜊 𝑟)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑟(𝑥))

2𝑥 + 1
= 2[𝑟(𝑥)] + 1 = 2 [ ]+1
𝑥−1
4𝑥 + 2
= +1
𝑥−1
4𝑥 + 2 1
= +
𝑥−1 𝑥−1
(4𝑥 + 2) + (𝑥 − 1)
=
𝑥−1
5𝑥 + 1
= .
𝑥−1