FUNCTIONS

OPERATIONS ON
FUNCTIONS
OBJECTIVES:
perform operations on functions;
determine the domain of the given
functions;
determine the domain of the resulting
functions
after performing the operations on
functions; and
define a composite function and give its
domain.

OPERATIONS ON FUNTIONS AND DETERMINATION

OF DOMAIN OF FUNCTIONS AS A RESULT OF
OPERATION

Definition 0.2.1 (p.

16)
EXAMPLE 1: (example 1 on p.16)
Let f ( x) 1 x 2 and g ( x) x 3
f
Find the domains and formulas for the functions f g , f g , fg , , and 7 f
g
Solution:
The formulas are :
f g ( x) f ( x) g ( x) 1 x 2 x 3 x 2 x2
fg ( x) f ( x) g ( x) 1 x 2 x 3
f f ( x) 1 x 2
( x)
g g ( x) x3
7 f ( x) 7 f ( x) 7 7 x2
The domains of f g , f g , and fg
D f : 2, D g : , 2,
f
The domain of 2 , except 3
g
The domain of 7 f is the same as the domain of f
EXAMPLE :

Find the formulas for f g, f - g, fg, and f ,

g
and state the domains of the functions.
1. f(x) 2 x - 1, g(x) x - 1
x 1
2. f(x) , g(x)
1 x 2
x
 OPERATION ON COMPOSITE FUNCTION AND
DETERMINATION OF ITS DOMAIN

Definition 0.2.2 (p.

17)
EXAMPLE 1: (example 3 on p.17)
Let f ( x ) x 2 3 and g ( x ) x
Find f g ( x ) and g f ( x ) and their domain

Solution:
The formula for f g f g ( x) ( x ) 2 3 x 3
Since Dg : 0 , and the D f : , , the domain of f g consists of all x in
0 , such
that g ( x ) x lies in , ; thus , the domain of f g is 0 ,
Therefore ( f g )( x ) x 3 , x 0

The formula for g f g f ( x) x2 3

Since D f : , and the Dg : 0 , , the domain of g f consists of all x in
- , such that f ( x ) x 2 3 lies in 0, ; thus , the domain of
g f is - , .
Therefore ( g f )( x ) x 2 3 , there is no need to indicate that the
domain is - , since this is the natural domain of x2 3
EXAMPLE 2: (example 4 on p.18)
Let f (x) x , g( x ) 1 x and h(x) x 3
Find f g h (x)
EXAMPLE 3:
Express the following functions as a composition of two functions.
a ) (x 1) 2
b) sin(x 3 )
c) 4 - 3x
1
d)
x 1
EXAMPLE :

Find formulas for f g, g f, f f, and g g

and state the domains of the compositions.
1. f(x) x ,
2
g(x) 1 - x
1 x x
2. f(x) , g(x)
1 x 1- x