Operations On Functions
Operations On Functions
f x 2x 3 2
g x 4x 1 3
f g 2x 3 4x 1
2 3 Combine like
terms & put in
4x 2x 4
3 2 descending
order
The difference f - g
f g x f x gx
To find the difference between two functions, subtract
the first from the second. CAUTION: Make sure you
distribute the – to each term of the second function. You
should simplify by combining like terms.
f x 2x 3 2
g x 4x 1 3
f g 2x 3 4x 1
2
3
Distribute
negative
2x 3 4x 1 4x 2x 2
2 3 3 2
The product f • g
f g x f x gx
To find the product of two functions, put parenthesis
around them and multiply each term from the first
function to each term of the second function.
f x 2x 3 2
g x 4x 1
3
f g 2x 3 4x 1
2
3
Double D’s
f x 2x 3 2
g x 4x 1 3
f 2x 2 3
Nothing more you could do
here. (If you can reduce
g 4x 1
3
these you should).
So the first 4 operations on functions are
pretty straight forward.
The rules for the domain of functions would
apply to these combinations of functions as
well. The domain of the sum, difference or
product would be the numbers x in the
domains of both f and g.
For the quotient, you would also need to
exclude any numbers x that would make the
resulting denominator 0.
COMPOSITION
FUNCTIONS
f x 2x 3 2
g x 4x 1 3
f g 2 4x 1 33
2 First double
distribute then
multiply 2
32x 16x 2 3 32x 16x 5
6 3 6 3
g f x g f x
This is read “g composition f” and means to copy the g
function down but where ever you see an x, substitute in
the f function.
f x 2x 3 2
g x 4x 1 3
g f 4 2x 3 12
3 this out but since it’s
to the 3rd power we
won’t
f f x f f x
This is read “f composition f” and means to copy the f
function down but where ever you see an x, substitute in
the f function. (So sub the function into itself).
f x 2x 3 2
g x 4x 1 3
f f 2 2x 3 3
2
2
A MathXTC Example of
Composite Functions
g(x) ?
Try it !!
Method 1
f x x 5 g f x 2x 2 13x 14
g f (x) 2x 13x 14
2
2x 20x 50 ???
2
g(x 5) 2(x 5) 7x 36
2
2x 20x 50 ???
2
g(x 5) 2(x 5) 7x 36
2
g(x) 2x 7x 1
2
Method 2
f x x 5 g f x 2x 2 13x 14
Let y f (x) x 5 x y 5
g f (x) 2x 13x 14
2
g( y) 2x 13x 14
2
2 y 7 y 1
2
Method 2
f x x 5 g f x 2x 2 13x 14
g( y) 2( y 5) 13( y 5) 14
2
2 y 20 y 50 13y 65 14
2
2 y 7 y 1
2
g(x) 2x 2 7x 1
Acknowledgement
I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.
www.slcc.edu
Stephen Corcoran
Head of Mathematics
St Stephen’s School – Carramar
www.ststephens.wa.edu.au