LESSON 3:

OPERATIONS OF FUNCTIONS
GENERAL MATHEMATICS
 OBJECTIVE
• Perform additions, subtraction, multiplication, division, and
composition of functions
OPERATIONS OF FUNCTIONS
- Functions can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided.
- Such procedures are called “ operations of functions or algebra of functions.

- Given two functions f and g.

a. Their sum, denoted by f +g, is the function defined by( f + g ) (x) = f (x) + g (x)
b. Their difference, denoted by f – g, is the function defined by ( f – g ) (x) = f (x) - g (x)
c. Their product, denoted by f· g, is the function defined by( f· g ) (x) = f (x) · g (x)
d. Their quotients, denoted by f/g, is the function defined by ( f/g) (x) =
Example: Given that f(x) = 2x² + x – 3 and g (x)= x – 1, find the following and
determine the
domain of the resulting function.

a. ( f + g )(x) b. ( f – g )(x) c. ( f· g )(x) d.( f / g )(x)

Solution:

a. ( f + g )(x) = ( 2x² + x- 3) + ( x – 1 )
= 2x² + x + x – 3 – 1
= 2x² + 2x – 4

The domain of ( f + g )(x) is the set of real

numbers.

b. ( f – g)(x)= ( 2x² + x – 3 )- ( x – 1 )
= 2x² - 2

The domain of ( f – g )(x) is the set of real

numbers.
c. ( f· g )(x) = (2x²+ x – 3)(x-1)
= 2x³ -x² - 4x + 3

The domain of ( f· g)(x) is the set of real numbers

d. (f/g)(x)= 2x² + x -3
x-1
= (2x+3)(x-1)
x-1
= 2x + 3

The domain of ( f/g)(x) is the set of real numbers except 1.

Another Example:
If f(x)= and g (x)= find the following and
determine the domain of the resulting function.

a. (f + g)(x) b. (f – g )(x) c. (f∙g)(x)

d. (f/g)(x)
Solution:

a. (f + g)(x)= +

b. (f-g)(x)= -

c. (f∙ g)(x)= ∙
=
or
d. (f/g)(x)= or
x-2
Oral Exercises.

1. Given that f(x)= 3x-5 and g(x)= 4x+6, find the following and determine
The domain of the resulting function.

a. (f+g)(x) b. (f-g)(x) c. (f∙ g)(x) d. (f/g)(x)

Example 2. Given that f(x)= 2x² +1 and h(x)= 7x-
11, find the following and determine the domain of
the
Resulting function.

a. (f+h)(x) b. (f-h)(x)
c. (f· g)(x) d. (f/g)(x)