Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

General Mathematics
SY 2022 – 2023

Unit I: Functions
Lesson #2: Operations on Functions

Introduction

As we go along with general mathematics, and as we

continue our lesson about functions, we will discuss the next topic
about the operations on functions.

Let’s recall the four basic operations in mathematics that our

elementary teachers taught us. We have, addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. We can also apply all these operations
in solving polynomials that our junior high school teacher taught us.
The functions have operations to, and this is like the operation in mathematics that we all know. Though,
there is an operation in functions that is new to you, and that is the compositions of functions, and we will
be discuss later on as we go along with this lesson.

Learning Objectives

After studying and completing this module with 80% to 100% accuracy, you are expected to:

a) State and apply the rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of function.
b) Perform the compositions of functions
c) Solve problems that involves operations of function.

Pre-requisite Skills / Review

Solve the following polynomials:

1. 4a2 + 3ab + 12b2 + 4ab + 3b2 + 6a2

2. 3x3 - 4xy + 9y2 – (15x2 + 23xy – 16y2)

3. (x2 + 3) (x + 4)

𝑥 2 +12𝑥+35
4.
𝑥−5

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
General Mathematics
SY 2022 – 2023

Lesson 2.1 – Operations on Functions

Given two functions f and g, then for all the values of x for which both f(x) and g(x) are defined,
𝑓
the function 𝑓 + 𝑔, 𝑓 − 𝑔, 𝑓𝑔, 𝑔.

Functions Notations Example f(x) = 5x,

g(x) = x+2
Sum (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) ( f + g )( x) = (5 x) + ( x + 2) = 6 x + 2
Difference (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) ( f − g )( x) = (5 x) − ( x + 2) = 4 x − 2
Product (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) ( fg )( x) = (5 x)( x + 2) = 5 x 2 + 10
Quotient 𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) f 5x
( ) (𝑥) =
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)
, 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0   ( x) =
g x+2

The domains of the sum, difference, product, and quotient functions consist of the x-values that are in the
domains of both f and g. Additionally, the domain of the quotient does not include x-values for which g(x)
= 0.

Examples:
1. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2 and g(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1. Find the following:
a. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution:
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2 + 𝑥 + 1
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 1
b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution:
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = (3𝑥 − 2) − (𝑥 + 1)
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2 − 𝑥 − 1
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3

c. (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution:
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = (3𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1)
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 2
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2
𝑓
d. (𝑔) (𝑥)
Solution:
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
( ) (𝑥) =
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓 3𝑥 − 2
( ) (𝑥) =
𝑔 𝑥+1

e. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(1)
Solution:
Since 𝑓(1) = 1 and g(1) = 2, use the definition to get
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(1) = 𝑓(1) + 𝑔(1)
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(1) = 1 + 2
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(1) = 3

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
General Mathematics
SY 2022 – 2023

f. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(−3)
Solution:
Since 𝑓(−3) = −11 and g(−3) = −2, use the definition to get
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(−3) = 𝑓(−3) − 𝑔(−3)
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(−3) = −11 − (−2)
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(−3) = −9
g. (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(5)
Solution:
Since 𝑓(5) = 13 and g(5) = 6, use the definition to get
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(5) = 𝑓(5) ∙ 𝑔(5)
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(5) = (13)(6)
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(5) = 78
𝑓
h. (𝑔) (0)
Solution:
Since 𝑓(0) = −2 and g(0) = 1, use the definition to get
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
( ) (𝑥) =
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓 −2
( ) (0) = = −2
𝑔 1
𝑓
( ) (0) = −2
𝑔

To think about…

Your friend claims that the addition of functions and the multiplication of functions are
commutative. Is your friend correct? Explain your reasoning on our discussion board.

Lesson 2.2 – Composition of Functions

Let f and g be two functions such that 𝑔(𝑥) is in the domain of f for all x in the domain of g. Then the
composition of the two functions, denoted by 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔, is the function whose value at x is given by
(𝒇 ∘ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)).

In composition of function it is very essential that we pay close attention to the order in which the
composition of the function is written. In many cases (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) is not the same as (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥). Let us
look at why the order is so important.

(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)), the g function is inside of the f function

(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥)), the f function is inside of the g function,

(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) and (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) are often different because in the composite (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥), 𝑓(𝑥) is the outside
function and 𝑔(𝑥) is inside the function. Whereas in the composite (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥), 𝑔(𝑥) is the outside function
and 𝑓(𝑥) is the inside function. This difference in order will often be the reason why we will get different
answers for (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) and (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥).

Example 1:
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1.
a. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥)
Solution:
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥))
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥 + 1)
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3(𝑥 + 1) − 2
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 3 − 2
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 1

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
General Mathematics
SY 2022 – 2023

b. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥)
Solution:
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥))
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(3𝑥 − 2)
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = (3𝑥 − 2) + 1
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2 + 1
(𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 1

Example 2:

Let f ( x) = 2 x + 1 and 𝑟(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 3. Find ( f r )(5)

Solution:

(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑟(𝑥))
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(𝑥) = 2𝑟(𝑥) + 1
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(𝑥) = 2(4𝑥 − 3) + 1
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(𝑥) = 8𝑥 − 6 + 1
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(𝑥) = 8𝑥 − 5

(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(5)
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(5) = 8𝑥 − 5
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(5) = 8(5) − 5

(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(5) = 40 − 5
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑟)(5) = 35

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
General Mathematics
SY 2022 – 2023

Learning Activity

Think – Pair - Share

Collaborate with your partner to answer the problem below:

The graphs of the functions f(x) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 and g(x) = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟒 are shown. Which graph
represents the function f + g? the function f − g? Explain your reasoning.

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
General Mathematics
SY 2022 – 2023

Key Concepts

✓ Operations on functions is just like solving polynomials.

✓ These are the following function notation of each operation:
o Addition (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
o Subtraction (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
o Multiplication (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
o Division (𝑔) (𝑥) = , 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑔(𝑥)

✓ The composition of the two functions, denoted by 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔, is the function whose value at x is given
by(𝒇 ∘ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)).
✓ In Composition of Functions, one of the given two functions will be the domain, and the other
will be the function itself.

Tutorial Videos

Here are some YouTube videos you can watch for you to have a better understanding about the
lesson.

✓ Operations on functions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5934UqzXvKA
✓ Composition of functions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clsaq_GytpA

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
General Mathematics
SY 2022 – 2023

Enrichment Activity

𝑓
A. Perform the following operations of functions; (𝑓 + 𝑔), (𝑓 − 𝑔), (𝑓 ∙ 𝑔), and (𝑔).

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 3 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1

2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 18 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 6

3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1

B. Perform the composition of function (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔) and (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓).

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1

2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥

3. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 − 1 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 4

References

Mario's Math Tutoring. (2016, February 5). Composition of Functions - How to. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clsaq_GytpA

MATHRoberg. (2010, December 1). Operations with Functions - How to Add, Subtract, Multiply, or
Divide Functions. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5934UqzXvKA

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