Operations on Functions

Composite Function: Combining a function within another

function. Written as follows:

f ( g ( x)) or ( f  g )( x)

Operations Notation:
Sum: f ( x)  g ( x) or ( f  g )( x)
Difference: f ( x)  g ( x) or ( f  g )( x)
Product: f ( x)  g ( x) or ( f  g )( x)
Quotient: f ( x) / g ( x) or ( f / g )( x)
Example 1 Add / Subtract Functions
f ( x)  3x 2  7 x
g ( x)  2 x 2  x  1

a) ( f  g )( x ) b) ( f  g )( x)
 f ( x)  g ( x)  f ( x)  g ( x)

 3x 2  7 x  2 x 2  x  1  3x 2  7 x  (2x 2  x 1)
 5x  6 x  1
2  3x 2  7 x  2 x 2  x  1
 x 2  8x  1
Example 2 Multiply / Divide Functions
f ( x)  3x 2  2 x  1
g ( x)  x  4

a) ( f  g )( x) b) ( f / g )( x)

 (3x 2  2x  1)( x  4) 3x 2  2 x  1

 3x3  2 x 2  x  12 x 2  8x  4 x4
 3x3  14 x 2  9 x  4 4 3 2 1
12 40
3 10 41

41
3 x  10 
x4
Example 3 Evaluate Composites of Functions
f ( x)  3x 2  x  4 Recall: (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
g ( x)  2 x  1

a) ( f  g )( x) b) ( g  f )( x)
 f ( g ( x))  g ( f ( x))
 f (2 x  1)  g (3x 2  x  4)
 3(2x 1)2  (2x 1)  4
 2(3x 2  x  4) 1
 3(4x 2  4x  1)  2x  1  4
 6x2  2x  8 1
 12 x 2  12 x  3  2 x  5
 6x2  2x  7
 12 x 2  14 x  8
Example 4 Composites of a Function Set
f ( x)  {( 7, 3), (5, 3), (9, 8), (11, 4)}
g ( x)  {( 5, 7), (3, 5), (7, 9), (9, 11)}

a) ( f  g )( x)

f ( g (5))  f (7 )  3
f ( g (3))  f (5)  3
f ( g (7))  f (9)  8
f ( g (9))  f (11)  4
( f  g )( x)  {( 5, 3), (3, 3), (7, 8), (9, 4)}
Example 4 Composites of a Function Set
f ( x)  {( 7, 3), (5, 3), (9, 8), (11, 4)}
g ( x)  {( 5, 7), (3, 5), (7, 9), (9, 11)}

b) ( g  f )( x)

g ( f (7))  g (3)  5
g ( f (5))  g (3)  5
g ( f (9))  g (8)  Undefined
g ( f (11))  g (4)  Undefined
( g  f )( x)  {( 7, 5), (5, 5)}
 Inverse Functions and Relations

Inverse Relation: Relation (function) where you switch the

Domain and range values

Inverse Notation: f 1( x)

Inverse Properties: If f and g are inverses.

1] f (a)  b iff g (b)  a
2] f ( g ( x))  x and g ( f ( x))  x
Steps to Find Inverses
[1] Replace f(x) with y
[2] Interchange x and y
[3] Solve for y and replace it with f 1( x)

One-to-One: A function whose inverse is also a function

(horizontal line test)

Inverse is not a function

Example 1 Inverses of Ordered Pair Relations
f ( x)  {( 7, 3), (5, 3), (9, 8), (11, 4)}
g ( x)  {( 5, 7), (3, 5), (7, 9), (9, 11)}

a) f 1( x)  {( 3, 7), (3, 5), (8, 9), (4, 11)}

b) g 1 ( x)  {( 7, 5), (5, 3), (9, 7), (11, 9)}

 Inverses of Graphed Relations

The graphs of inverses are reflections

about the line y=x
Example 2 Find an Inverse Function

1 x4
a) f ( x)   x  1 b) g ( x) 
2 2
1 x4
y   x 1 y
2 2
1 y4
x   y 1 x
2 2
2x  y  4
1
x 1   y
2 2x  4  y
 2x  2  y g 1( x)  2x  4
f 1( x)  2 x  2
Example 2 Continued

c) f ( x)  x  2 d) f ( x)  x 2  4
y  x2 y  x2  4
x  y2 x  y2  4
x  y2
2 x  4  y2
f 1
( x)  x  2
2 f 1 ( x)   x  4

Inverse is not a 1-1 function. (BUT the

inverse is 2 different functions:
f 1 ( x)  x  4 f 1 ( x)   x  4

If you restrict the domain in the original

function, then the inverse will become a
function.
Example 3 Verify two Functions are Inverses
1
f ( x)  5 x  10 g ( x)  x  2
5
a) Method 1 b) Method 2
y  5 x  10 Show that f ( g ( x))  x
x  5 y  10 1 
x  10  5 y f ( g ( x))  5 x  2   10
5 
1 1
f ( x)  x  2  x 10  10
5
x
Yes, Inverses
Yes, Inverses
Example 4 One-to-One (Horizontal Line Test)
Determine whether the functions are one-to-one.
a) f ( x)  x  2 b) f ( x)  x 2  4

One-to-One Not One-to-One