1.

6 Operations with Functions and Composition

In this section, we will combine functions using the four basic operations: addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division. We will also learn a new operation called composition.
If f and g are functions and D is the intersection of the domains, then the following
definitions can be made: Sum  f  g  x   f  x   g  x 
Difference  f  g x   f  x   g  x 
Product  f  g x   f  x   g  x 
Quotient  f / g x   f  x  / g  x  , gx  0
Consider two functions, f(x) and g(x), where f(x)=x2+5x and g(x)=3x+7.
Note that the domains of these two functions are all real numbers.
Now, suppose we wanted to add these two functions together.
“f(x) + g(x)” would be the same as “(x2 +5x)+ (3x+7)”, or more precisely “ x2+8x+7” and the
domain of this sum would be the intersection of the domains of the original functions.
 
The domain of f(x)= Df:

 
The domain of f(x)= Dg:

 
The domain of f(x) + g(x)= Df+g:

Any value of x that is an element of both domains will be an element of the domain for the
sum of the functions. 1
 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

The procedure for finding the difference between two functions is just as easy.
Keep in mind that we are working with the functions f(x)=x2+5x and g(x)=3x+7.
The difference between the two functions would be written as “f(x) – g(x)”.

f(x) – g(x)=(x2+5x) – (3x+7)= x2+5x –3x – 7

f(x) – g(x)= x2+2x –7

Note: Putting temporary parentheses around the two functions that we are
combining is a good idea, but they are vital to obtaining a correct answer when
subtracting two functions, to ensure that the subtraction sign gets distributed to
each term of the second function.

Procedure: To find the domain of sum, difference and product of two functions.

The domain of the sum, difference, and product of two functions are the intersection of
the domains of the two functions.

Next Slide
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 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

9
Example 1. For f  x   and g(x)  x  3, find: (a) f+g, (b) f  g, and (c) f  g.
x 2

Solution: (a) f+g=f(x)+g(x) (b) f – g=f(x) – g(x) (c) f  g  f  x   g(x)

 9 
   x3 
 9 

 x 2

 x3   9 
   x3 
 x 2 x 2
9 9
  x3   x3 9 x3
x 2 x 2 
x 2

Your Turn Problem #1

For f  x   3x  5 and g(x)  4x  5, find:

(a) f+g, (b) f  g, and (c) f  g.
Answers:
(a) f+g = 7x,
(b) f  g   x  10
(c) f  g  12 x 2  5x  25

3
 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

9
Example 2. For f  x   and g(x)  x  3, find the domain of: (a) f+g, (b) f - g, and (c) f  g.
x 2
Solution: Find the domains of the individual functions f(x) and g(x).

Df Df :  , 2    2,  
x≠2 in the function f(x).
2

Dg x≥ – 3 in the function g(x).  Dg: 3,  

-3 2

Df+g:  Df+g: 3, 2 2, 

-3 2

The domain of f+g, f  g, and f  g is 3, 2  2,   .

Your Turn Problem #2

For f  x   x  2 and g(x)  2x  1, find the domain of: (a) f+g, (b) f  g, and (c) f  g.

1  1  1 
Answer: (a) f+g =  ,   , (b) f  g  2 ,   , (c) f  g   ,  
2    2 
4
 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

Consider the functions f(x)=x2+6x – 4 and g(x)=7x – 2. To find the quotient of these two
functions, we find f/g.
f x x 2  6x  4
f /g  
gx 7x  2

For this particular solution, the quotient cannot be simplified.

To find the domain of a quotient of two functions, you must still find the intersection of the
domains of the individual functions, but you must leave out any values of x that would cause
the function in the denominator to equal zero.

To find the domain of f/g for the functions f(x)=x2+6x–4 and g(x)=7x–2, we must consider the
domain of both f and g.
The domain of f is all real numbers, or, in interval notation,(-∞,∞). The domain of g is also
all real numbers. The intersection of these two domains is all real numbers.

However, we must omit from the domain of f/g any values of x that would cause the function
g(x) to equal zero.

Setting g(x) equal to zero and solving for x yields: 7x – 2=0 7x=2
2
The domain of f/g is all real numbers except x=2/7. x
7
 2 2 
In interval notation, Df/g=  ,   7 , .
 7   5
 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

Example 3. If f(x)=x2 –2x –15 and g(x)=x2+5x+4, find f/g. Also specify its domain.
Solution: f xx 2  2x  15
f /g   2
gx x  5x  4

Although you could factor both the numerator as well as the denominator

to yield
 x  5  x  3 , this is really no improvement on the original answer.
 x  4  x  1
Since the domains of the individual functions f and g are both “all real numbers”, all we need
to do is find what values of x make the function in the denominator, g(x), equal zero, and
then exclude those values from the domain of f/g.
0= x2+5x+4
The domain of f/g is:
0   x  4  x  1 all real numbers except x= –4 and x= –1.
x= –4 x= –1

Your Turn Problem #3

For f  x   3x  2 and g(x)  4x 2  25, find f/g and the domain of f/g.

3x  2 The domain of f/g is all real

Answer: f/g =
4x 2  25 5
numbers except x=  .
2 6
 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition
Composition
Consider the function f(x)= x2 – 3. The domain of this function is all real numbers.

f(5) can be found by replacing the “x” in “x2 – 3” with a “5”, and simplifying.
f(5)=(5)2 – 3=25 – 3=22
f(5)= 22
“x” can also be replaced with variables or expressions that represent real numbers.
f(m)=(m)2 – 3 or f(a+b)=(a+b)2 – 3
=m2 – 3 =a2+2ab+b2 – 3
Let’s now consider the function g(x)=x – 7. The domain of this function is all real
numbers. It is possible to find f(g(x)), which is equivalent to f(x – 7).
f(g(x))=f(x – 7)
=(x – 7)2 – 3
= x2 – 14x+49 – 3
f(g(x))= x2 – 14x+46

We have just composed two functions to produce a brand new function.

The notation we will use for the composition of functions is: f  g(x)    f g x  .

Next Slide 7
 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

Example 4. Given f(x)=x 2  6x+2 and g(x)=x  8, find  f g   x  .

Solution: f g  x   f  g  x  

 f  x  8

  x  8  6  x  8  2
2

Although you are done

 
 x 2  16x  64   6x  48   2 composing the two
functions, it is necessary
 x2  16x  64  6x  48  2 to simplify the answer if
possible.
f g x   x 2  20x  114

Your Turn Problem #4

Given f(x)=x 2  3x and g(x)=x  4, find  f g x  .

Answer: f g  x   x 2  11x  28

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 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

Example 5. Given f(x)=x 2  3x  5 and g(x)=2x  1, find  g f   x  .

Solution: g f   x   g  f  x 

 g x 2  3x  5 
 2 x 2
 3x  5   1

 2x2  6x  10  1
 g f  x   2x 2  6x  11

Your Turn Problem #5

1
Given f(x)= and g(x)=3x  2, find  g f  x  .
x
3  2x
Answer:  g f  x  
x

9
 1.6 Operations with Functions and Composition

The following example will demonstrate how to evaluate a composition for a given value.

Example 6. Given f(x)=x 2  2x  3 and g(x)=5x  13, find  f g  2  .

Solution: Since  f g   2   f  g  2   , evaluate the inner function, g(2).

g  2   5(2)  13  3 Now,replace g(2) with -3.

f  g  2    f  3  Find f(-3). This will be the answer

f(3)   3   2  3   3
2
to (f  g)(2).
 963

Answer: f g 2   0

Your Turn Problem #6

Given f(x)= x  1 and g(x)=3x  2, evaluate  g f 10  .

Answer: 11

The End
B.R.
1-6-07
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