Operations on Functions Use with Lessons 5-1 and 5-2

Mathematical Practices
Objectives 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
• Model relationships by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
functions.
• Compare properties of functions that are presented in different
formats, such as in tables, verbal descriptions, algebraic equations,
or graphs.

EXAMPLE 1  Model Areas with Functions 

EXPLORE An architect is given specific directions for planning the dimensions of a new
art exhibit showroom.

a. USE A MODEL The length of one room is to be 4 feet longer than the

width. The adjacent room is to have the same length, but its width is to be Room 1 Room 2
x+4
twice the width of the first room. The diagram at right shows the
dimensions in terms of the width of the first room, x. x 2x

Write functions A1(x) and A2(x) to represent the areas of the rooms 1 and
2, respectively. Explain how you combined the given expressions to find the
area of each room. 

b. USE A MODEL Write a new function A(x) that models the simplified area of the full
floor plan. 

c. EVALUATE REASONABLENESS If the artists decide the width of the first room should
be 10 feet, evaluate your three functions from parts a and b for x = 10. Describe the
relationship you find among the functions. 
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d. USE A MODEL When the walls are constructed, their height will be half of the
length of the rooms. Write a function H(x) representing the height; V1(x) and V2(x),
the volumes of each room; and V(x), the volume of the entire space, in terms of x.
Show your work. 

166  CHAPTER 5 Inverses and Radical Functions

 e. REASON ABSTRACTLY The artists tell you that the function 6x + 16 can be used to
model a different attribute of this space. What is this attribute? What did the artist do
to come up with this function? How do you know? 

f. USE A MODEL The artists decide to change the dimensions of the floor plan such that
the total area is modeled by A(x) = 2x2 + 14x + 24 . If the area for the first room is
unchanged, then what function models the new area of the second room? How do you
know? 

g. REASON ABSTRACTLY If the two rooms share the length of the adjacent wall, use the
function from part d to show that the width of the second room can be modeled by the
function w2(x) = x + 6. Explain. 

h. EVALUATE REASONABLENESS Evaluate A(x) = 2x2 + 14x + 24, B(x) = x + 4,

and C(x) = 2x + 6 for x = 15. Describe the relationship you find among the functions
in terms of the context. 

KEY CONCEPT

Functions can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided just like operations on real numbers. Complete
each statement with the appropriate rule showing how to combine functions using arithmetic operations.
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Operation Definition
Addition (f + g)(x) =

Subtraction (f - g)(x) =

Multiplication (f ∙ g)(x) =

​​(​  g ​)
f
__ f(x)
_____
Division   ​​(x) = ​​    ​​ 
g(x)

 Operations on Functions  167

 EXAMPLE 2   Compare Equations and Graphs of Functions 
The graphs represent the four arithmetic operations on the functions f(x) = x2 + 1
and g(x) = 2x.
a. REASON QUANTITATIVELY Which graph represents (f + g)(x)? Explain your y
4
reasoning. 
curve A curve B

−4 −2 O 2 4x
b. REASON QUANTITATIVELY Which graph represents (f - g)(x)? Explain your
−2
reasoning. 
−4

c. USE STRUCTURE Of the two graphs that remain, which represents (f ∙ g)(x)
and which represents ( ​  g ​ )​​(x)? Explain your reasoning. 
y
f
​​ __
4 curve D

curve C

−4 −2 O 2 4x

d. REASON ABSTRACTLY The table below represents one of four functions derived

from doing the four arithmetic operations on the functions above. Determine its maximum
or minimum and use that information to determine which operation it represents. 

x 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4
y 16 9 4 1 0 1 4 9

PRACTICE

1. REASON ABSTRACTLY The National Center for Education Statistics reports data

showing that college enrollment for men since 2006 (in thousands) can be modeled by
the function f(x) = 389x + 7500, where x represents the number of years since 2006.
Similarly, enrollment for women can be modeled by the function g(x) = 480x + 10075.
Write a function for (f + g)(x) and interpret what it represents.  Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

2. REASON ABSTRACTLY Jasper is raising money for a local charity by making and

selling cupcakes. The cost of making x cupcakes can be represented by the function
C(x) = 0.625x, and his revenue from selling x cupcakes can be represented by the
function R(x) = 3.45x. Explain what these functions must mean about Jasper’s
cupcakes. Then write a function that represents his profit. Explain your reasoning. 

168  CHAPTER 5 Inverses and Radical Functions

 3. CRITIQUE REASONING The area of the base of a rectangular prism is given by
A(x) = x2 - 7x - 30 and its height is given by h(x) = 2x + 5. Deepti says that the
volume of the prism would be given by V(x) = 2x3 - 9x2 - 95x - 150. Do you agree
or disagree and why? 

4. USE A MODEL The total cost of producing x photo greeting cards is given by the
function f(x) = 0.8x + 25. Write a function showing ( ​  g  ​ )​​(x), where g(x) = x. What does
f
​​ __
this new function model? 

5. a. CALCULATE ACCURATELY Given f(x) = –2x + 5 and g(x) = x + 1, y

8
determine whether (f ∙ g)(x) or h(x) has a higher y-intercept. Explain your h(x)
reasoning.  6

−4 −2 O 2 4x

b. CALCULATE ACCURATELY Consider the two functions from part a. Which

function has a larger spread between its x-intercepts? Explain 

6. CALCULATE ACCURATELY The following table shows various values of functions f(x),

g(x), and h(x). 

x -1 0 1 2 3 4
f(x) 7 -2 0 2 4 1
g(x) -3 -4 -5 0 1 1
h(x) 0 4 1 1 5 5

Use the table to find the following values:

(f + g)(-1) = (h - g)(0) = (f · h)(4) =

​​(__
​  g ​) ​​(__
​   ​ )​​(2) = ​​(__
​   ​ )​​(1) =
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f g g
  ​​(3) =
h f

7. REASON ABSTRACTLY If (f + g)(3) = 5 and (f · g)(3) = 6, find f(3) and g(3). Explain
your reasoning. 

 Operations on Functions  169