Operations on
Functions
Learning Objectives
1. Define operations on functions.
2. Identify the different operations
on functions.
3. Perform addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division and
composition of functions.
Operations on functions are similar to
operations on numbers. Adding, subtracting and
multiplying two or more functions together will
result in another function. Dividing two
functions together will also result in another
function if the denominator or divisor is not the
zero function. Lastly, composing two or more
functions will also produce another function
Review: Operations on Polynomials
• Addition
What is the sum of 3x + 2x 1 and
3 2
4x + 2x?
2
• Subtraction
What is the difference of 17x 12x +
2
11 and 18x 32x + 20?
2
• Multiplication
What is the product of (x + 3) (2x –
4)?
• Division
Divide 3x + 4x – 3 by x – 2
3
1. Their sum, denoted by 𝑓 + 𝑔, is the function denoted
Definition. Let f and g be functions.
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥).
by
2. Their difference, denoted by 𝑓 − 𝑔, is the function
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥).
denoted by
3. Their product, denoted by 𝑓 • 𝑔, is the function
(𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔(𝑥).
denoted by
4. Their quotient, denoted by 𝑓/𝑔, is the function
(𝑥) = , excluding the values of x where 𝑔(𝑥) = 0.
denoted by
5. The composite function denoted by (𝑓 ° 𝑔)(𝑥) =
Example: Given the functions:
Determine the following functions:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Practice: Given the functions:
Determine the following functions:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Composition of Functions
In composition of functions, we will have a
lot of substitutions. You learned in previous
lesson that to evaluate a function, you will just
substitute a certain number in all of the
variables in the given function. Similarly, if a
function is substituted to all variables in
another function, you are performing a
composition of functions to create another
function. Some authors call this operation as
“function of functions”.
Examples:
1. If and , evaluate the following:
a.
b.
2. Let and . Find:
a.
b.
