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Even and Odd Functions

The document defines even and odd functions and their properties. It provides definitions, properties, proofs and examples of even and odd functions. It also includes problems and their suggested solutions to determine if functions are even, odd or neither.

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36 views

Even and Odd Functions

The document defines even and odd functions and their properties. It provides definitions, properties, proofs and examples of even and odd functions. It also includes problems and their suggested solutions to determine if functions are even, odd or neither.

Uploaded by

Beta Mathematica
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Comprehensive Notes on Even and Odd

Functions
David Nyirenda
Malawi University of Science and Technology
Email: [email protected]
Contact: +265991270374

Comprehensive Notes
Definitions
1. Even Function: A function f (x) is said to be even if f (−x) = f (x) for
all x in its domain. Geometrically, even functions are symmetric about
the y-axis.
2. Odd Function: A function f (x) is said to be odd if f (−x) = −f (x)
for all x in its domain. Geometrically, odd functions exhibit rotational
symmetry about the origin.

Properties
• The product of two even functions is even.
• The product of two odd functions is even.
• The product of an even function and an odd function is odd.
• The sum of two even functions is even.
• The sum of two odd functions is odd.
• The sum of an even function and an odd function is neither even nor odd.

Proofs
• Property 1: The product of two even functions is even.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be even functions. Then f (−x) = f (x) and
g(−x) = g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the product (f ·
g)(−x):

(f · g)(−x) = f (−x) · g(−x) = f (x) · g(x)

1
This shows that f · g is even.
• Property 2: The product of two odd functions is even.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be odd functions. Then f (−x) = −f (x) and
g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the product
(f · g)(−x):

(f · g)(−x) = f (−x) · g(−x) = (−f (x)) · (−g(x)) = f (x) · g(x)

This shows that f · g is even.


• Property 3: The product of an even function and an odd function is
odd.
Proof: Let f (x) be an even function and g(x) be an odd function. Then
f (−x) = f (x) and g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider
the product (f · g)(−x):

(f · g)(−x) = f (−x) · g(−x) = f (x) · (−g(x)) = −f (x) · g(x)

This shows that f · g is odd.


• Property 4: The sum of two even functions is even.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be even functions. Then f (−x) = f (x) and
g(−x) = g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the sum (f +g)(−x):

(f + g)(−x) = f (−x) + g(−x) = f (x) + g(x)

This shows that f + g is even.


• Property 5: The sum of two odd functions is odd.
Proof: Let f (x) and g(x) be odd functions. Then f (−x) = −f (x) and
g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider the sum (f +
g)(−x):

(f + g)(−x) = f (−x) + g(−x) = −f (x) − g(x) = −(f (x) + g(x))

This shows that f + g is odd.


• Property 6: The sum of an even function and an odd function is neither
even nor odd.
Proof: Let f (x) be an even function and g(x) be an odd function. Then
f (−x) = f (x) and g(−x) = −g(x) for all x in their domains. Now consider
the sum (f + g)(−x):

2
(f + g)(−x) = f (−x) + g(−x) = f (x) − g(x)

This sum is neither equal to f (x) + g(x) nor −(f (x) + g(x)), hence f + g
is neither even nor odd.

Examples
Even Functions
1. f (x) = x2

2. g(x) = cos(x)
3. h(x) = |x|
4. j(x) = cosh(x)
2
5. k(x) = ex

Odd Functions
1. f (x) = x3
2. g(x) = sin(x)

3. h(x) = tan(x)
4. j(x) = sinh(x)
1
5. k(x) = x

Neither Even Nor Odd


1. f (x) = x + 1
2. g(x) = ex

3. h(x) = ln(x)
√
4. j(x) = x
5. k(x) = sgn(x) (the signum function)

3
Problems
1. Determine whether f (x) = x4 + 2x2 + 1 is even, odd, or neither.
2. Decide if g(x) = x3 + x is even, odd, or neither.
3. Determine the nature of h(x) = cos(x) + sin(x).
4. Decide if j(x) = x2 + x3 is even, odd, or neither.
5. Determine whether k(x) = sin(x) + cos(x) is even, odd, or neither.
6. Decide if f (x) = ex + e−x is even, odd, or neither.

Problems Suggestion Solutions


1. Determine whether f (x) = x4 + 2x2 + 1 is even, odd, or neither.

f (−x) = (−x)4 + 2(−x)2 + 1 = x4 + 2x2 + 1 = f (x)


Since f (−x) = f (x), f (x) is even.
2. Decide if g(x) = x3 + x is even, odd, or neither.

g(−x) = (−x)3 + (−x) = −x3 − x = −(x3 + x) = −g(x)


Since g(−x) = −g(x), g(x) is odd.
3. Determine the nature of h(x) = cos(x) + sin(x).

h(−x) = cos(−x) + sin(−x) = cos(x) − sin(x)


h(−x) is not equal to h(x) or −h(x), so h(x) is neither even nor odd.
4. Decide if j(x) = x2 + x3 is even, odd, or neither.

j(−x) = (−x)2 + (−x)3 = x2 − x3


j(−x) is not equal to j(x) or −j(x), so j(x) is neither even nor odd.
5. Determine whether k(x) = sin(x) + cos(x) is even, odd, or neither.

k(−x) = sin(−x) + cos(−x) = − sin(x) + cos(x)


k(−x) is not equal to k(x) or −k(x), so k(x) is neither even nor odd.
6. Decide if f (x) = ex + e−x is even, odd, or neither.

f (−x) = e−x + ex
f (−x) is not equal to f (x) or −f (x), so f (x) is neither even nor odd.

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