Operations on Functions
Composite Function: Combining a function within another
function. Written as follows:
f ( g ( x)) or ( f g )( x)
Operations Notation:
Sum: f ( x) g ( x) or ( f g )( x)
Difference: f ( x) g ( x) or ( f g )( x)
Product: f ( x) g ( x) or ( f g )( x)
Quotient: f ( x) / g ( x) or ( f / g )( x)
Example 1 Add / Subtract Functions
f ( x) 3x 2 7 x
g ( x) 2 x 2 x 1
a) ( f g )( x ) b) ( f g )( x)
f ( x) g ( x) f ( x) g ( x)
3x 2 7 x 2 x 2 x 1 3x 2 7 x (2x 2 x 1)
5x 6 x 1
2 3x 2 7 x 2 x 2 x 1
x 2 8x 1
Example 2 Multiply / Divide Functions
f ( x) 3x 2 2 x 1
g ( x) x 4
a) ( f g )( x) b) ( f / g )( x)
(3x 2 2x 1)( x 4) 3x 2 2 x 1
3x3 2 x 2 x 12 x 2 8x 4 x4
3x3 14 x 2 9 x 4 4 3 2 1
12 40
3 10 41
41
3 x 10
x4
Example 3 Evaluate Composites of Functions
f ( x) 3x 2 x 4 Recall: (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
g ( x) 2 x 1
a) ( f g )( x) b) ( g f )( x)
f ( g ( x)) g ( f ( x))
f (2 x 1) g (3x 2 x 4)
3(2x 1)2 (2x 1) 4
2(3x 2 x 4) 1
3(4x 2 4x 1) 2x 1 4
6x2 2x 8 1
12 x 2 12 x 3 2 x 5
6x2 2x 7
12 x 2 14 x 8
Example 4 Composites of a Function Set
f ( x) {( 7, 3), (5, 3), (9, 8), (11, 4)}
g ( x) {( 5, 7), (3, 5), (7, 9), (9, 11)}
a) ( f g )( x)
f ( g (5)) f (7 ) 3
f ( g (3)) f (5) 3
f ( g (7)) f (9) 8
f ( g (9)) f (11) 4
( f g )( x) {( 5, 3), (3, 3), (7, 8), (9, 4)}
Example 4 Composites of a Function Set
f ( x) {( 7, 3), (5, 3), (9, 8), (11, 4)}
g ( x) {( 5, 7), (3, 5), (7, 9), (9, 11)}
b) ( g f )( x)
g ( f (7)) g (3) 5
g ( f (5)) g (3) 5
g ( f (9)) g (8) Undefined
g ( f (11)) g (4) Undefined
( g f )( x) {( 7, 5), (5, 5)}
Inverse Functions and Relations
Inverse Relation: Relation (function) where you switch the
Domain and range values
Inverse Notation: f 1( x)
Inverse Properties: If f and g are inverses.
1] f (a) b iff g (b) a
2] f ( g ( x)) x and g ( f ( x)) x
Steps to Find Inverses
[1] Replace f(x) with y
[2] Interchange x and y
[3] Solve for y and replace it with f 1( x)
One-to-One: A function whose inverse is also a function
(horizontal line test)
Inverse is not a function
Example 1 Inverses of Ordered Pair Relations
f ( x) {( 7, 3), (5, 3), (9, 8), (11, 4)}
g ( x) {( 5, 7), (3, 5), (7, 9), (9, 11)}
a) f 1( x) {( 3, 7), (3, 5), (8, 9), (4, 11)}
b) g 1 ( x) {( 7, 5), (5, 3), (9, 7), (11, 9)}
Inverses of Graphed Relations
The graphs of inverses are reflections
about the line y=x
Example 2 Find an Inverse Function
1 x4
a) f ( x) x 1 b) g ( x)
2 2
1 x4
y x 1 y
2 2
1 y4
x y 1 x
2 2
2x y 4
1
x 1 y
2 2x 4 y
2x 2 y g 1( x) 2x 4
f 1( x) 2 x 2
Example 2 Continued
c) f ( x) x 2 d) f ( x) x 2 4
y x2 y x2 4
x y2 x y2 4
x y2
2 x 4 y2
f 1
( x) x 2
2 f 1 ( x) x 4
Inverse is not a 1-1 function. (BUT the
inverse is 2 different functions:
f 1 ( x) x 4 f 1 ( x) x 4
If you restrict the domain in the original
function, then the inverse will become a
function.
Example 3 Verify two Functions are Inverses
1
f ( x) 5 x 10 g ( x) x 2
5
a) Method 1 b) Method 2
y 5 x 10 Show that f ( g ( x)) x
x 5 y 10 1
x 10 5 y f ( g ( x)) 5 x 2 10
5
1 1
f ( x) x 2 x 10 10
5
x
Yes, Inverses
Yes, Inverses
Example 4 One-to-One (Horizontal Line Test)
Determine whether the functions are one-to-one.
a) f ( x) x 2 b) f ( x) x 2 4
One-to-One Not One-to-One