Operations on Function

Definition. Let f and g be functions.

1. Their sum, denoted by 𝑓 + 𝑔, is the function denoted by
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥).

2. Their difference, denoted by 𝑓 − 𝑔, is the function denoted by

(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥).

3. Their product, denoted by 𝑓 • 𝑔, is the function denoted by

(𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔(𝑥).
4. Their quotient, denoted by f/𝑔, is the function denoted by
(𝑓/𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)/𝑔(𝑥),
excluding the values of x where 𝑔(𝑥) = 0.

5. The composite function denoted by

(𝑓 ° 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)).
The process of obtaining a composite function is called function
composition
Example
Given the functions:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1 ℎ(𝑥) = 2x^2 + 9𝑥 − 5

Determine the following functions:

a. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥)

b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)

c. (𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥)

d. (ℎ/𝑔)(𝑥)
Example
𝑒. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3)

𝑓. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(3)

𝑔. (𝑓 • 𝑔)(3)

ℎ. (ℎ/𝑔)(3)
 Example
Solution:
𝑎. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) definition of addition of functions
= (𝑥 + 5) + (2𝑥 − 1) replace f(x) and g(x) by the given values
= 3𝑥 + 4 combine like term
 Example
b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)
= 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) definition of subtraction of functions
= (𝑥 + 5) − (2𝑥 − 1) replace f(x) and g(x) by the given values
= 𝑥 + 5 − 2𝑥 + 1 distribute the negative sign
(f-g)(x)= −𝑥 + 6 combine like terms
 Example
c. (𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔(𝑥) definition of multiplication of functions
= (𝑥 + 5) • (2𝑥 − 1) replace f(x) and g(x) by the given values
(f = + 9𝑥 − 5 multiply the binomials

- x + 10x - 5 = + 9x - 5
Example

d. (h/𝑔) (𝑥) = definition of division of functions

= replace h(x) and g(x) by the given values
= factor the numerator
= cancel out common factors
(h(x)/g(x)) = 𝑥 + 5

(x + 5)(2x - 1) = -x +10x -5
= + 9x - 5
Example
e. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3) = 𝑓(3) + 𝑔(3)

Solve for 𝑓(3) and 𝑔(3) separately:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1
𝑓(3) = 3 + 5 𝑔(3) = 2(3) − 1
=8 =5
∴ 𝑓(3) + 𝑔(3) = 8 + 5 = 13
Continuation.
Alternative solutions:

(f + g)(x) = 3x + 4 function from item a

(f + g)(3) = 3(3) + 4 replace x by 3
=9+4 multiply
= 13 add
For item f to h we will use the values of f(3) = 8 and g(3) = 5
f. (f - g)(3) = f(3) - g(3) definition of subtraction of functions
=8-5 replace f(3) and g(3) by the given values
=3 subtract

Alternative solution:
(f - g)(x) = -x + 6 resulted functions from item b
(f - g)(3) = -3 + 6 replace x by 3
=3 simplify
g. (f g)(3) = f(3) g(3) definition of multiplication of functions
=8 replace f(3) and g(3) by the given values
= 40 multiply

Alternative solution:
(f g)(x) = resulted function from item c
() = + 9(3) - 5 replace x by 3
= 2(9) + 27 - 5 multiply
= 40
h. )(3) =

Solve for h(3) and g(3) separately:

h(x) = + 9x - 5 g(x) = 2x - 1
h(3) = + 9(3) - 5 g(3) = 2(3) - 1
= 18 + 27 - 5 =5
= 40
(3) = = = 8
Alternative solution:

()(x) = x + 5 resulted function from item d

()(x) = 3 + 5 replace x by 3
=8 simplify
Composition of functions:
Example: Given 𝑓(𝑥) = + 5𝑥 + 6, and ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2
Find the following:
a. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥)
b. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4)
Solution:
a. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑓(ℎ(𝑥)) definition of function composition
= 𝑓(𝑥 + 2) replace h(x) by x + 2
Since f(𝑥) = + 5𝑥 + 6 given
𝑓(𝑥 + 2) = + 5(𝑥 + 2) + 6 replace x by x + 2
= + 4𝑥+ 4 + 5𝑥+ 10 + 6 perform the operations
= + 9𝑥 + 20 combine similar terms
b. (𝑓∘ℎ)(4) = f(ℎ(4))
Step 1. Evaluate h(4) Step 2. Evaluate 𝑓(6)
ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 𝑓(𝑥) = + 5𝑥 + 6
h(4) = 4 + 2 f(6) = + 5(6) + 6
=6 = 36 + 30 + 6
= 72
(𝑓∘ℎ)(4) = 𝑓(ℎ((4))
= f(6)
= 72
Alternative solution:
(𝑓 ∘h)(𝑥)) = 𝑓(ℎ(𝑥)) definition of function composition
𝑓(ℎ(𝑥)) = + 9𝑥 + 20, from item a
(𝑓∘h)(4)) = + 9(4) + 20 replace all x’s by 4
= 16 + 36 + 20 perform the indicated operations
= 72 simplify