LESSON

3 Operations on Functions & Composition of Functions

Learning Outcome(s): At the end of the lesson, the learner is able to perform addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, composition of functions, and solve problems
involving functions.

What I need to know

1. Review: Operations on algebraic expressions

2. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of functions
3. Function composition

What’s In

PRE-REQUISITE SKILLS:
Basic knowledge of algebra is required such as simplifying expressions, factoring
and the like.
Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-pemdas-definition-rule-examples.html

What is It

RECALL: Addition and Subtraction

a. Find the least common denominator (LCD) of both fractions.

b. Rewrite the fractions as equivalent fractions with the same LCD.
c. The LCD is the denominator of the resulting fraction.
d. The sum or difference of the numerators is the numerator of the resulting
fraction.

𝟏 𝟐
Example 1. Find the sum of and
𝟑 𝟓

Solution. The LCD of the two fractions is 15.

1 2 5 6 5+6 11
+ 5 = 15 + 15 = = 15
3 15

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 1 2
Example 2. Find the sum of and
𝑥−3 𝑥−5

Solution. The LCD of the two fractions is (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5) = 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 15

1 2 1(𝑥 − 5) 2(𝑥 − 3) 𝑥 − 5 + 2𝑥 − 6 3𝑥 − 11
+ = 2 + 2 = 2 = 2
𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 5 𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 15 𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 15 𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 15 𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 15

RECALL: Multiplication

a. Rewrite the numerator and denominator in terms of its prime factors.

b. Common factors in the numerator and denominator can be simplified as “1”.
c. Multiply the numerators together to get the new numerator.
d. Multiply the denominators together to get the new denominator.

10 15
Example 3. Find the product of and .
21 8

Solution.

Express the numerators and denominators of the two fractions into their
prime factors. Multiply and simplify out common factors in the
numerator and the denominator to reduce the final answer to lowest
terms.

10 15 2 ● 5 3 ● 5 25
● = ● =
21 8 3 ● 7 2 ● 4 28

𝑥 2 −4𝑥−5 𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6
Example 4. Find the product of and .
𝑥 2 −3𝑥+2 𝑥 2 −3𝑥−10

Solution.

Express the numerators and denominators of the two rational

expressions into their prime factors. Multiply and simplify out common
factors in the numerator and the denominator to reduce the final answer
to lowest terms. Note the similarity in the process between this example
and the previous one on fractions.

𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 5 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 5) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3)
● = ●
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 2)

(𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 3)
= ●
(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 2)

𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3
=
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2

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 RECALL: Division
To divide two fractions or rational expressions, multiply the dividend with the
reciprocal of the divisor.

2𝑥 2 +𝑥−6 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−8
Example 5. Divide 2𝑥2 +7𝑥+5 and 2𝑥2 −3𝑥−20

Solution:

2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 20
÷ = ●
2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 5 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 20 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 5 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8
(2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2) (2𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 4)
= ●
(2𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 4)

(2𝑥 − 3)
=
(𝑥 + 1)

Definition.

Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions.

1. Their sum, denoted by 𝑓 + 𝑔 , is the function denoted by

(𝒇 + 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)

2. Their difference, denoted by 𝑓 − 𝑔 , is the function denoted by

(𝒇 − 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)

3. Their product, denoted by 𝑓●𝑔 , is the function denoted by

(𝑓●𝑔)(𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥 )●𝑔(𝑥)

𝑓
4. Their quotient, denoted by , is the function denoted by
𝑔

𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
(𝑔) (𝑥 ) = 𝑔(𝑥) , excluding the values of x where 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 0.

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Use the following functions below for Example 5

❖ 𝒇(𝒙 ) = 𝒙 + 𝟑
❖ 𝒑(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟕
❖ 𝒗(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒
❖ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟖
𝒙+𝟕
❖ 𝒉(𝒙) = 𝟐−𝒙
𝒙+𝟐
❖ 𝒕(𝒙) = 𝒙+𝟑

Example 6. Determine the following functions.

a) (𝑣 + 𝑔)(𝑥)
b) (𝑓 ● 𝑝)(𝑥 )
c) (𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥 )
d) (𝑝 − 𝑓)(𝑥)
𝑣
e) (𝑔) (𝑥)

Solution:

a. (𝑣 + 𝑔)(𝑥 ) = (x 2 + 5x + 4) + (x 2 + 2x − 8)
= 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 4 + 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8
= 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 4

b. (𝑓 ● 𝑝)(𝑥 ) = (𝑥 + 3)(2𝑥 − 7) = 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 21

𝒙+𝟕
c. (𝑓 + ℎ)(𝑥 ) = (𝑥 + 3) + 𝟐−𝒙
(𝑥 + 3)(2 − 𝑥) 𝑥 + 7 (𝑥 + 3)(2 − 𝑥 ) + 𝑥 + 7
= + =
2−𝑥 2−𝑥 2−𝑥

6 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 7 13 − 𝑥 2 𝑥 2 − 13
= = =
2−𝑥 2−𝑥 𝑥−2

d. (𝑝 − 𝑓 )(𝑥 ) = (2𝑥 − 7) − (𝑥 + 3) = 2𝑥 − 7 − 𝑥 − 3 = 𝑥 − 10

v x2 +5x+4 (x+1)(x+4) (x+1)

e. (g) (x) = x2 +2x−8 = (𝑥−2)(𝑥+4) = (𝑥−2)

Applying operations on functions may be quite confusing but as soon as you fully
learn the concept, you can derive strategies to simplify functions easily.

For further understanding on this lesson, watch the video using the link below,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIbAiPUrtvQ

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 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 obtaining a composite function is called function composition.

For examples 7 to 10, use the following functions:

2𝑥+1
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 + 1 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 + 1 𝑝 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥−1

𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2 𝐹 (𝑥 ) = ⌊𝑥 ⌋ + 1

Example 7: Find and simplify 𝑔 ○ 𝑓 (𝑥)

Solution:

𝑔 ○ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑔(2𝑥 + 1) = √2𝑥 + 1 + 1 = √2𝑥 + 2

Example 8: Find and simplify 𝑞 ○ 𝑓 (𝑥)

Solution:

𝑞 ○ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = (2𝑥 + 1)2 − 2(2𝑥 + 1) + 2

= 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 − 4𝑥 − 2 + 2

= 4𝑥 2 + 1

Example 9: Find and simplify 𝑓 ○ 𝑝 (𝑥)

Solution:

2𝑥 + 1
𝑓 ○ 𝑝 (𝑥 ) = 2 ( )+1
𝑥−1
(4𝑥 + 2) + (𝑥 − 1) 5𝑥 + 1
= =
𝑥−1 𝑥−1
Example 10: Find and simplify 𝐹 ○ 𝑝 (5)

Solution:

2(5) + 1 11
𝐹 ○ 𝑝 (5) = ⌊ ⌋+1= +1=2+1=3
5−1 4

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PROBLEMS INVOLVING FUNCTIONS
Example 11

Suppose that 𝑁(𝑥) = 𝑥 denotes the number of shirts sold by a shop, and the
selling price per shirt is given by 𝒑(𝒙) = 𝟐𝟓𝟎 – 𝟓𝒙, for 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 20. Find
(𝑁 ● 𝑝)(𝑥) and describe what it represents.

Solution:

(𝑁 ● 𝑝)(𝑥 ) = 𝑁(𝑥 )●𝑝(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 (𝟐𝟓𝟎 – 𝟓𝒙) = 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙𝟐 , 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 20. Since

this function is the product of the quantity sold and the selling price, then
(𝑁 ● 𝑝)(𝑥 ) represents the revenue earned by the company.

Example 12

A spherical balloon is being inflated. Let 𝑟(𝑡) = 3𝑡 cm represent its radius at

4
time 𝑡 seconds, and let 𝑔(𝑟) = 𝜋𝑟 3 be the volume of the same balloon if its
3
radius is 𝑟. Write (𝑔 ○ 𝑟) in terms of 𝑡, and describe what it represents.

Solution:
4 4
(𝑔 ○ 𝑟) = 𝑔(𝑟(𝑡) = 𝜋𝑟(3𝑡)3 = 𝜋(27𝑡 3 ) = 36𝜋𝑡 3 . This
3 3
function represents the volume of the balloon at time t
seconds.

What’s More

Activity 3: We Co-Operate

a) Let f and g be defined as 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 − 5 and 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 1 . Find,

𝑓
1. 𝑓 + 𝑔 4. 𝑔
𝑔
2. 𝑓 − 𝑔 5. 𝑓
3. 𝑓●𝑔

1
b) Let 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 1 and 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥, find
1. 𝑓 ○ 𝑔 (𝑥 )
2. 𝑔 ○ 𝑓(−1)
3. 𝑓 ○ 𝑓 (𝑥 )
4. 𝑔 ○ 𝑔(5)

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c) Evaluate the following composition of functions.
Given :
𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1
𝑔(𝑥) = 5𝑥2
ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3
1. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥)
2. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥)
3. (ℎ ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥)
4. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥)

27