OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS

 Addition
 Subtraction
 Multiplication
 Addition

Definition.
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions.
Their sum, denoted by 𝑓 + 𝑔, is the function defined by
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥 ).

Definition.
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions.
Their difference, denoted by 𝑓 − 𝑔, is the function defined by
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥).

Exercises. Addition and Subtraction of Functions.

Try it yourself.
Given the functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 below, find and simplify 𝑓 + 𝑔 and 𝑓 − 𝑔.
a. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 + 2; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 4
b. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 − 1; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 4
𝑥−2 1
c. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥+2 𝑥
1 𝑥−2
d. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥+2 𝑥
1
e. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥
𝑥2

2𝑥+1
𝑓(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 + 1, 𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2 and 𝑟 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥−1
Express the following as a sum or difference of the functions above.
f. ℎ(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 3
g. 𝑖(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1
𝑥 2 +𝑥
h. 𝑗(𝑥 ) = 𝑥−1

Definition.
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions.
Their product, denoted by 𝑓 ∙ 𝑔, is the function defined by
(𝑓 ∙ 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 ).
 Definition.
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions.
Their quotient, denoted by 𝑓/𝑔, is the function defined by
(𝑓/𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)/𝑔(𝑥).

Exercises. Multiplication and Division of Functions.

Try it yourself.
Given the functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 below, find and simplify 𝑓 ∙ 𝑔 and 𝑓/𝑔.
a. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 + 2; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 4
b. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 − 1; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 4
𝑥−2 1
c. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥+2 𝑥
1 𝑥−2
d. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥+2 𝑥
1
e. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥
𝑥2

2𝑥+1
𝑓(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 + 1, 𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2 and 𝑟 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥−1

Express the following as a sum or difference of the functions above.

f. ℎ(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2
g. 𝑖(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 − 1
1
h. 𝑗(𝑥 ) =
𝑥−1

COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS

Definition.
Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions. The composite function, denoted by (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔), is defined by
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔) (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)).
The process of composite function is called function composition.

Exercises. Composition of Functions.

Try it yourself.
Given the functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 below, find and simplify 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 and 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓.
a. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 + 2; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 4
b. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 − 1; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 + 4
𝑥−2 1
c. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥+2 𝑥
1 𝑥−2
d. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥+2 𝑥
1
e. 𝑓(𝑥 ) = ; 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥
𝑥2