Operations with Functions

A. Given f (x) = x 2 2x, g (x) = 3x 4, and

h (x) = 2x 2 + 1, find the function and domain for
(f + g)(x).
(f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)
Definition of sum of
two functions
= (x 2 2x) +
(3x 4)
f (x) = x
2
2x;
g (x) = 3x 4
The domain of f and g are both
so the domain
2
=
x
+x4
of (f + g) is
Simplify.
Answer:

Operations with Functions

B. Given f (x) = x 2 2x, g (x) = 3x 4, and

h (x) = 2x 2 + 1, find the function and domain for
(f h)(x).
(f h)(x) = f(x) h(x)
Definition of difference
of two functions

The domain of f and h are both

of (f h) is
Answer:

= (x 2 2x) (
2x 2 + 1)
f(x) = x 2
2x;
h(x) = 2x 2 + 1
so
the2
domain
= 3x
2x 1
Simplify.

Operations with Functions

C. Given f (x) = x 2 2x, g(x) = 3x 4, and

h (x) = 2x 2 + 1, find the function and domain for
(f g)(x).
(f g)(x) = f (x) g(x)
Definition of product of
two functions
= (x 2 2x)(3x
4)
f (x) = x 2 2x;
g (x) = 3x 4
The domain of f and g are both
of (f g) is
Answer:

8x

3
2
=
3x

10x
so the domain+
Simplify.

Operations with Functions

D. Given f (x) = x 2 2x, g (x) = 3x 4, and

h (x) = 2x 2 + 1, find the function and domain for

Definition of quotient of two

functions
f(x) = x 2 2x; h(x) = 2x 2 + 1

Operations with Functions

The domains of h and f are both (, ), but x = 0 or

x = 2 yields a zero in the denominator of
domain of

Answer:

. So, the

(, 0) (0, 2) (2, ).

D = (, 0) (0, 2) (2, )

Find (f + g)(x), (f g)(x), (f g)(x), and

for

f (x) = x 2 + x, g (x) = x 3. State the domain of each

new function.

A.

B.

C.

D.

Compose Two Functions

A. Given f (x) = 2x2 1 and g (x) = x + 3, find [f g](x).

= f (x + 3)

Replace g (x) with x + 3

= 2(x + 3)2 1

Substitute x + 3 for
x in f (x).

= 2(x 2 + 6x + 9) 1 Expand (x +3)2

= 2x 2 + 12x + 17

Simplify.

Answer: [f g](x) = 2x 2 + 12x + 17

Compose Two Functions

B. Given f (x) = 2x2 1 and g (x) = x + 3, find [g f](x).

Answer:

= (2x 2 1) + 3

Substitute 2x 2 1 for
x in g (x).

= 2x 2 + 2

Simplify

[g f](x) = 2x 2 + 2

Compose Two Functions

C. Given f (x) = 2x 2 1 and g (x) = x + 3, find [f g](2).

Evaluate the expression you wrote in part A for x = 2.
[f g](2) = 2(2)2 + 12(2) + 17
= 49

Answer: [f g](2) = 49

Substitute 2 for x.
Simplify.

Find
and g (x) = 4 + x 2.

A. 2x 2 + 11; 4x 2 12x + 13; 23

B. 2x 2 + 11; 4x 2 12x + 5; 23
C. 2x 2 + 5; 4x 2 12x + 5; 23
D. 2x 2 + 5; 4x 2 12x + 13; 23

for f (x) = 2x 3

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

A. Find

To find

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

, you must first be able to find g(x) = (x 1) 2,

which can be done for all real numbers. Then you must
be able to evaluate

for each of these

g (x)-values, which can only be done when g (x) > 1.

Excluding from the domain those values for which
0 < (x 1) 2 <1, namely when 0 < x < 1, the domain of
f g is (, 0] [2, ). Now find [f g](x).

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

Replace g (x) with (x 1)2.

Substitute (x 1)2 for x in
f (x).
Simplify.
Notice that
is not defined for 0 < x < 2.
Because the implied domain is the same as the
domain determined by considering the domains of
f and g, we can write the composition as
for (, 0] [2, ).

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

Answer:

for (, 0] [2, ).

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

B. Find f g.

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

To find f g, you must first be able to find

which can be done for all real numbers x such that x2 1.

Then you must be able to evaluate

for each of

these g (x)-values, which can only be done when g (x) 0.

Excluding from the domain those values for which
0 > x 2 1, namely when 1 < x < 1, the domain of f g is
(, 1) (1, ). Now find [f g](x).

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

Answer:

Check Use

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

aDomain
graphing calculator to check this result.

Enter the function as

. The graph appears

to have asymptotes at x = 1 and x = 1. Use the

TRACE feature to help determine that the domain of
the composite function does not include any values in
the interval [1, 1].

Find a Composite Function with a Restricted

Domain

Find f g.

A. D = (, 1) (1, 1) (1, );
B. D = [1, 1];
C. D = (, 1) (1, 1) (1, );
D. D = (0, 1);

Decompose a Composite Function

A. Find two functions f and g such that

when

. Neither function may be the

identity function f (x) = x.

Decompose a Composite Function

Sample answer:

Decompose a Composite Function

B. Find two functions f and g such that

when h (x) = 3x 2 12x + 12. Neither function may
be the identity function f (x) = x.
h (x) = 3x2 12x + 12

Notice that h is
factorable.

= 3(x2 4x + 4) or 3(x
2) 2
Factor.
One way to write h (x) as a composition is to let
f (x) = 3x2 and g (x) = x 2.

Decompose a Composite Function

Sample answer: g (x) = x 2 and f (x) = 3x 2

A.
B.
C.
D.