Comprehensive Notes on Even and Odd

Functions
David Nyirenda
Malawi University of Science and Technology
Email: bioengineerdavid@gmail.com
Contact: +265991270374

Comprehensive Notes
Definitions
1. Even Function: A function f (x) is said to be even if f (−x) = f (x) for
all x in its domain. Geometrically, even functions are symmetric about
the y-axis.
2. Odd Function: A function f (x) is said to be odd if f (−x) = −f (x)
for all x in its domain. Geometrically, odd functions exhibit rotational
symmetry about the origin.

Properties
• The product of two even functions is even.
• The product of two odd functions is even.
• The product of an even function and an odd function is odd.
• The sum of two even functions is even.
• The sum of two odd functions is odd.
• The sum of an even function and an odd function is neither even nor odd.

Proofs
• Property 1: The product of two even functions is even.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be even functions. Then f (−x) = f (x) and
g(−x) = g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the product (f ·
g)(−x):

(f · g)(−x) = f (−x) · g(−x) = f (x) · g(x)

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 This shows that f · g is even.
• Property 2: The product of two odd functions is even.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be odd functions. Then f (−x) = −f (x) and
g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the product
(f · g)(−x):

(f · g)(−x) = f (−x) · g(−x) = (−f (x)) · (−g(x)) = f (x) · g(x)

This shows that f · g is even.

• Property 3: The product of an even function and an odd function is
odd.
Proof: Let f (x) be an even function and g(x) be an odd function. Then
f (−x) = f (x) and g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider
the product (f · g)(−x):

(f · g)(−x) = f (−x) · g(−x) = f (x) · (−g(x)) = −f (x) · g(x)

This shows that f · g is odd.

• Property 4: The sum of two even functions is even.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be even functions. Then f (−x) = f (x) and
g(−x) = g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the sum (f +g)(−x):

(f + g)(−x) = f (−x) + g(−x) = f (x) + g(x)

This shows that f + g is even.

• Property 5: The sum of two odd functions is odd.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be odd functions. Then f (−x) = −f (x) and
g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the sum (f +
g)(−x):

(f + g)(−x) = f (−x) + g(−x) = −f (x) − g(x) = −(f (x) + g(x))

This shows that f + g is odd.

• Property 6: The sum of an even function and an odd function is neither
even nor odd.
Proof: Let f (x) be an even function and g(x) be an odd function. Then
f (−x) = f (x) and g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider
the sum (f + g)(−x):

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 (f + g)(−x) = f (−x) + g(−x) = f (x) − g(x)

This sum is neither equal to f (x) + g(x) nor −(f (x) + g(x)), hence f + g
is neither even nor odd.

Examples
Even Functions
1. f (x) = x2

2. g(x) = cos(x)
3. h(x) = |x|
4. j(x) = cosh(x)
2
5. k(x) = ex

Odd Functions
1. f (x) = x3
2. g(x) = sin(x)

3. h(x) = tan(x)
4. j(x) = sinh(x)
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5. k(x) = x

Neither Even Nor Odd

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

3. h(x) = ln(x)
√
4. j(x) = x
5. k(x) = sgn(x) (the signum function)

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Problems
1. Determine whether f (x) = x4 + 2x2 + 1 is even, odd, or neither.
2. Decide if g(x) = x3 + x is even, odd, or neither.
3. Determine the nature of h(x) = cos(x) + sin(x).
4. Decide if j(x) = x2 + x3 is even, odd, or neither.
5. Determine whether k(x) = sin(x) + cos(x) is even, odd, or neither.
6. Decide if f (x) = ex + e−x is even, odd, or neither.

Problems Suggestion Solutions

1. Determine whether f (x) = x4 + 2x2 + 1 is even, odd, or neither.

f (−x) = (−x)4 + 2(−x)2 + 1 = x4 + 2x2 + 1 = f (x)

Since f (−x) = f (x), f (x) is even.
2. Decide if g(x) = x3 + x is even, odd, or neither.

g(−x) = (−x)3 + (−x) = −x3 − x = −(x3 + x) = −g(x)

Since g(−x) = −g(x), g(x) is odd.
3. Determine the nature of h(x) = cos(x) + sin(x).

h(−x) = cos(−x) + sin(−x) = cos(x) − sin(x)

h(−x) is not equal to h(x) or −h(x), so h(x) is neither even nor odd.
4. Decide if j(x) = x2 + x3 is even, odd, or neither.

j(−x) = (−x)2 + (−x)3 = x2 − x3

j(−x) is not equal to j(x) or −j(x), so j(x) is neither even nor odd.
5. Determine whether k(x) = sin(x) + cos(x) is even, odd, or neither.

k(−x) = sin(−x) + cos(−x) = − sin(x) + cos(x)

k(−x) is not equal to k(x) or −k(x), so k(x) is neither even nor odd.
6. Decide if f (x) = ex + e−x is even, odd, or neither.

f (−x) = e−x + ex
f (−x) is not equal to f (x) or −f (x), so f (x) is neither even nor odd.