Project MIMs

Grade 11 – General Mathematics

G11 MIMs LC 3
OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS

Learning Competencies:
 perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and composition of
functions.

Objectives:
 add and subtract two or more functions;
 multiply functions;
 divide two functions and state the value of the independent variable at which the
quotient is defined or undefined; and,
 find the composition between two functions.

Remember:

Let f and g be functions.

 f +g ≔ ( f + g ) ( x )=f ( x ) + g ( x )
 f −g ≔ ( f −g ) ( x ) =f ( x )−g ( x )
 fg ≔ ( fg ) ( x )=f ( x ) ⋅g ( x )
f f f (x)

g
≔ ()
g
( x )=
g (x )

Let f and g be functions. The composition function is defined by:

f ∘ g≔ ( f ∘ g ) ( x )=f ( g ( x ) )

Enlighten:

To perform addition, substraction, multiplication and division of functions,

just treat the functions as algebraic expressions and simplify the results.

We also define domain (dom f ) of a function as the set of all the

permissible values of x. Similarly, we define range (ran f ) of a function as
the set of all the possible values of f .

Let f and g be functions with their domains as dom f and dom g.

 dom ( f + g ) =dom f ∩ dom g

 dom ( f −g )=dom f ∩dom g
 dom ( fg )=dom f ∩dom g
f
 dom ()
g
=dom f ∩ dom g ∖ { g ( x )=0 }

The domain of f ∘ g is {ran g ⊂ dom f }.

Examples:
 Let f ( x )=x 2−25 and g ( x )=2 x −10. Perform the following operations
and state their respective domains.

1. f +g

Solution:

f +g=f ( x ) + g ( x ) Definition of f +g
2
Fact Check f +g=x −25+2 x−10 Substitute functional values of f and g
R means the f +g=x 2 +2 x −35 Combine like terms.
set of all real
numbers. The domain of f is R and the domain of g is R, so the domain of
f +g is R. 

2. f −g

Solution:

Fact Check f −g=f ( x )−g ( x ) Definition of f −g

Enclose the f −g=x2 −25−(2 x−10) Substitute functional values of f & g
subtrahend f −g=x2 −25−2 x+ 10 Distribute −1 along the subtrahend
using
parentheses. f −g=x2 −2 x−15 Combine like terms.

The domain of f is R and the domain of g is R, so the domain of

f −g is R.

3. fg

Solution:

fg=f ( x ) ⋅ g ( x ) Definition of fg
Fact Check fg=( x ¿¿ 2−25)(2 x−10)¿ Substitute values of f & g
Enclose the
factors using
fg=2 x 3−10 x 2−50 x +250 Multiply using FOIL method
parentheses. fg=2 x 3−10 x 2−50 x +250 Combine like terms.

The domain of f is R and the domain of g is R, so the domain of fg

is R.

f
4.
g

Solution:

f f (x) f
Fact Check = Definition of
g g(x) g
To find which
value is f x2 −25
= Substitute values of f & g
undefined, g 2 x−10
equate the f ( x +5 ) ( x−5 )
factor of the = Factor f and g
denominator
g 2 ( x−5 )
by 0. Cancel x−5 bearing in mind that at
f ( x+ 5)( x −5)
x−5=0 = f
g 2(x−5) x=5, is not defined.
x=5 g
f x +5
= Simplify
g 2
 The domain of f is R and the domain of g is R, but a restriction is
f
noted at x=5, so the domain of is R ∖ {5 }.
g
5. f ∘ g

Solution:

f ∘ g=f ( g ( x ) ) Definition of f ∘ g
Write the value of f (outside
f ( x )=x 2−25
function)
2
f ∘ g=( 2 x−10 ) −25 Let x=g ( x )
Evaluate the expression in the
f ∘ g=4 x 2−40 x +100−25 parentheses
f ∘ g=4 x 2−40 x +75 Simplify

The range of g is R, so the domain of f ∘ g is R.

Let f ( x )=x 2 and g ( x )=x−3. Discuss the composition of g to f , g ∘ f and

identify its domain.

Solution:

g ∘ f =g ( f ( x ) ) Definition of g ∘ f
Write the value of g (outside
g ( x )=x−3
function)
g ∘ f =( x 2 )−3 Let x=f ( x )
g ∘ f =x 2−3 Simplify

The range of g is the set of all non-negative reals, ¿. The domain of

f is the set of all reals, R. As a rule, the domain of g ∘ f is the set of
all elements in the ran g that is also in the dom f . Hence, the
dom g ∘ f is the set of non-negative reals, ¿.

Let’s Try:

Use the following functions to fill the table below. Simplify your answers.

f ( x )=2 x−3 g ( x )=x 2−1 h ( x )=1−x

Function Domain
f +h
g−h
fh
h
g
g ∘h

Reinforcement:

Instructions: Read the following questions carefully. Choose the

letter that shows that correct answer in each item
below.
1. Suppose f ( x )=3 x 2 +4 x −1 and g ( x )=5 x2 −4 x +8, what is f +g?

A. 8 x 2+ 7 B. 8 x 2+ 8 x+7 C. 8 x 2+ 9
x−1 x +2
2. What is the product of f (x) and g( x ), fg, if f ( x )= and g ( x )= ?
x +2 x +1

x+ 2 x−1 x−1
A. B. C.
x−1 x+ 2 x+ 1

3. What is the domain of the resulting function in the above question?

A. R ∖ {−1} B. R ∖ {1 } C. R ∖ {−2}

x
4. Given that P ( x ) =3 x−6 and Q ( x ) = + 2. Find g ∘ f .
3

A. x2 B. x C. 1

f
5. Which of the following is true about if f ( x )=(x−5)(x−4) and
g
g ( x )=( x−4 ) (x +5)?

f x−5
A. is and whose domain is R ∖ {−5 }.
g x+ 5
f x−5
B. is and whose domain is R ∖ {−5 , 4 }.
g x+ 5
f x−5
C. is and whose domain is R ∖ {4 }
g x+ 5

Challenge!

Identify the sum, difference, product, quotient and composition between f

and g if:

f ( x )= √ x and g ( x )=√−x

Also, state their respective domains.