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OPERATION
ON FUNCTIONS
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OBJECTIVES:
1. define operations on functions
2. identify the different operations on functions.
3. perform addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, and composition of functions

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 Operations on Functions

Functions used four fundamental operation of

algebra.
Addition (+)
Subtraction (−)
Multiplication [∗,×,•, ()]
Division (÷,/)
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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.
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 Fundamental Operation of Algebra
Let f and g be functions with domain 𝐷𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷𝑔 respectively , then

Operation Symbol Domain

the sum 𝒇 + 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝒙 + 𝒈(𝒙) 𝐷𝑓 ∩ 𝐷𝑔

the difference 𝒇 − 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝒙 − 𝒈(𝒙) 𝐷𝑓 ∩ 𝐷𝑔

the product 𝒇 • 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒇 𝒙 • 𝒈(𝒙) 𝐷𝑓 ∩ 𝐷𝑔

𝒇 𝒇(𝒙)
the quotient 𝒙 = 𝐷𝑓 ∩ 𝐷𝑔 , 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝒈 𝒈(𝒙) 6
 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES:
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥, 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 4, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑕 𝑥 = 5 − 𝑥 3
EVALUATE:
1. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(2)

2. 𝑕 − 𝑔 2

3. 𝑓𝑕 2

𝑕
4. 𝑔
(2)
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 Solution
Since the given values of x is 2 for all functions, we have
𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 4 3
𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 𝑕 𝑥 = 5 − 𝑥
3 = −3
𝑓 2 = 2(2) = 4 𝑔 2 =2+4 = 6 𝑕 2 = 5 − 2
So by definitions;
1. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(2) = 𝑓 2 + 𝑔 2 3. (𝑓𝑕)(2) =𝑓 2 •𝑕 2
= 4 +6 = (4) (−3)
= 10 = −12
2. (𝑕 − 𝑔)(2) = 𝑕 2 − 𝑔 2 𝑕 𝑕(2) −3
4. (𝑔)(2) = =
= −3 − 6 𝑔(2) 6
= −9 1
=−
2 8
 EXERCISES
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 5𝑥 + 5, 𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 1, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑕 𝑥 = −5𝑥
EVALUATE:
1. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3)

2. 𝑕 − 𝑔 3

3. 𝑔𝑕 3

𝑓
4. 𝑕
(3)
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 Solution
Since the given values of x is 3 for all functions, we have
𝑓 𝑥 = 5𝑥 + 5 𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 1 𝑕 𝑥 = −5𝑥
𝑓 3 = 5 3 + 5 = 20 𝑔 3 = 2(32 ) + 1 = 19 𝑕 3 = −5(3) = −15
So by definitions;
1. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3) = 𝑓 3 + 𝑔 3 3. 𝑔𝑕 3 =𝑔 3 •𝑕 3
= 20 + 19 = (19) (−15)
= 39 = −285
2. 𝑕 − 𝑔 3 =𝑕 3 −𝑔 3 𝑓 𝑓(3) 20
4. (3) = =
𝑕 𝑕(3)
= −15 − 19 −15
= −34 4
=−
3 10
 EXAMPLE
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
EVALUATE:
1. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(5)

2. 𝑓 − 𝑔 −3

3. 𝑓𝑔 9

𝑓
4. 𝑔
(2)
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 SOLUTION
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
EVALUATE:
1. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(5) 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5 𝑔 5 = −5(5)
𝑓 5 = 2(5)2 − 5 𝑔 5 = −25
𝑓 5 = 45
Then, 𝑓 + 𝑔 5 = 𝑓 5 + 𝑔(5)
= 45 + (−25)
= 20
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 SOLUTION
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
EVALUATE:
2. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(−3) 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5 𝑔 −3 = −5(−3)
𝑓 −3 = 2(−3)2 − 5 𝑔 −3 = 15
𝑓 −3 = 13
Then, 𝑓 − 𝑔 −3 = 𝑓 −3 − 𝑔(−3)
= 13 − (15)
= −2
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 SOLUTION
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
EVALUATE:
3. (𝑓𝑔)(9) 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5 𝑔 9 = −5(9)
𝑓 9 = 2(9)2 − 5 𝑔 9 = −45
𝑓 9 = 157
Then, 𝑓𝑔 9 = 𝑓 9 • 𝑔(9)
= (157) (−45)
= −7,065
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 SOLUTION
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
EVALUATE:
𝑓
4. 𝑔
2 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 5 𝑔 2 = −5(2)
𝑓 2 = 2(2)2 − 5 𝑔 2 = −10
𝑓 2 = 3
𝑓 𝑓 2 3 3
Then, 𝑔
2 = 𝑔(2)
= =−
−10 10

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 ACTIVITY
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 4, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = −2𝑥
EVALUATE:
1. 𝑓 + 𝑔 −2 =4

2. 𝑓 − 𝑔 4 = 20

3. 𝑓𝑔 −3 = 30

𝑔 10
4. 𝑓
(−5) =
21
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COMPOSITION
OF FUNCTION
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 Composition of Functions

Let 𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 be functions. The

composition of functions g with 𝑓 ,
denoted by (𝑔 ○ 𝑓) and read as
“𝑔 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑓”, is the new function resulted
by performing f first then performing 𝑔
on the result of 𝑓. 18
 Composition of Functions

𝑔 ○ 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑓 𝑥 )

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 Composition of Functions

For example, f(x)= x2 and g = x + 2,

then write (g ○ f)(x).
(g ○ f)(x) = g(f(x))
= g(x2)
= x2 +2

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 ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES:
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 1
EVALUATE:
1. (𝑔 ○ 𝑓)(𝑥)

2. 𝑓 ○ 𝑔 𝑥

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 SOLUTION
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 1
EVALUATE:
1. (𝑔 ○ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑓 𝑥 )
= 𝑔(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥)
2
= 3 𝑥− 2𝑥) + 1
(𝑥
2
= 3𝑥 −6𝑥 +1

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 SOLUTION
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 1
EVALUATE:
2. 𝑓 ○ 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑔 𝑥 )
= 𝑔(3𝑥 + 1)
= (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥)
= (3𝑥 + 1) 2 −2(3𝑥 + 1)
2
= 9𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 1−6𝑥 −2
2
= 9𝑥 −1

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 EXERCISES
GIVEN: 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 5, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = −5𝑥
EVALUATE:
1. (𝑔 ○ 𝑓)(𝑥) = −15𝑥 − 25

2. 𝑓 ○ 𝑔 𝑥 = −15𝑥 + 5

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