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General Mathematics

Module 1
Lesson 3

TOPIC: Operation on Functions

INTRODUCTION:

Lesson Outline:
a. Review: Operations on algebraic expressions
b. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of functions
c. Function composition

TOPIC: Operation on Functions

OPERATIONS ON ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

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
+ = + = =
3 5 15 15 15 15

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) or x 2−8 x +15.

1 2 x−5 2 ( x −3 ) x−5+2 x−6 3 x−11

+ = 2 = 2 = 2 = 2
x−3 x−5 x −8 x +15 x −8 x +15 x −8 x +15 x −8 x+ 15

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” (this is often called
“cancelling”).
(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 . Use cancellation of factors when convenient.
21 8

Solution:
Express the numerators and denominators of the two fractions into their prime factors. Multiply and
cancel out common factors in the numerator and the denominator to reduce the final answer to lowest terms.
10 15 2× 5 3 ×5 2 ×5 ×3 ×5 25
× = × = =
21 8 3× 7 2 ×2 ×2 3 ×7 ×2 ×2 ×2 28

x2 −4 x−5 x2 −5 x +6
Example 4: Find the product and .
x 2−3 x +2 x2 −3 x −10

Solution:
Express the numerators and denominators of the two rational expressions into their prime factors.
Multiply and cancel 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.

x2 −4 x−5 x 2−5 x+6 (x +1)(x −5) (x−2)(x−3)

× = ×
x 2−3 x +2 x 2−3 x −10 ( x−2)( x−1) ( x−5)(x +2)

( x +1)(x−5)( x −2)( x−3)

¿
( x−2)( x−1)(x−5)( x+ 2)

( x +1)(x−3)
¿
( x−1)( x+ 2)

x 2−2 x−3
¿
x2 + x−2

DIVISION:

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

2 x 2+ x −6 x 2−2 x−8
Example 5: Divide 2 by 2 .
2 x +7 x+5 2 x −3 x−20

2 x 2+ x −6 x 2−2 x−8 2 x 2+ x −6 2 x 2−3 x−20

÷ = × 2
2 x 2 +7 x+5 2 x 2−3 x−20 2 x 2 +7 x+5 x −2 x−8

(2 x+3)(x +2) (x−4)(2 x+ 5)

¿ ×
(2 x+5)(x +1) ( x +2)( x−4)

(2 x+3)( x +2)( x−4 )(2 x +5)

¿
(2 x+5)(x +1)( x+2)(x−4)

2 x−3
¿
x+1

ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION, AND DIVISION OF FUNCTIONS

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 )
4. The quotient, denoted by f /g, is the function denoted by
f
()g
( x )=f ( x)/ g ( x )
Use the following functions below for Example 5.

Example 5: Determine the following functions.

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

Solution:

(a) ( v+ g )( x ) ¿ ( x 2+ 5 x + 4 ) +( x 2+ 2 x−8)
¿ x 2+5 x +4 + x 2+ 2 x−8
¿ 2 x2 +7 x−4

(b) ( f ⋅ p)( x ) ¿( x +3)(2 x−7)

¿ 2 x2 −x−21

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

( x +3 )( 2−x ) +( x+7)
¿
2−x

6−x−x 2 + x +7 13−x 2 x 2−13

¿ = =
2−x 2−x x−2

(d) ( p−f ) ( x ) ¿ ( 2 x−7 )−( x +3 )

¿ 2 x−7−x −3
¿ x−10

(e) ( v / g)( x ) ¿( x 2 +5 x+ 4)÷( x 2+ 2 x−8)

x 2 +5 x+ 4
¿
x 2 +2 x−8

Use the following functions for Example 6 – 11.

 f ( x )=2 x +1
 q ( x )=x 2−2 x +2
2 x +1
 r ( x )=
x−1

Example 6: Express the function f 1 ( x )=x 2 +3 as the sum and difference of the function above.
Solution: The solution can involve trial and error. Add q (x) and f (x) and check if the sum is x 2+ 3.
q ( x ) + f ( x )=( x 2−2 x +2 ) + ( 2 x+1 ) =x2 +3=f 1 ( x )

Thus, f 1 ( x )=q ( x ) + f (x).

Example 7: Express the function f 2 ( x )=x 2−4 x+ 1 as the sum and difference of the given functions.
Solution: Again, the solution can involve trial and error. Check if q ( x )−f ( x ) gives x 2−4 x+1.

q ( x )−f ( x ) =( x 2−2 x+2 ) −( 2 x +1 )=x 2−4 x +1=f 2 ( x )

Thus, f 2 ( x )=q ( x ) −f ( x ).

2
2 x +x
Example 8: Express the function f 3 ( x )= as a sum or difference of the given functions.
x−1
2 x2+ x 2 x +1
Solution: Because has ( x−1) as a denominator, then r ( x )= must be one of the functions in
x−1 x−1
our solution. Let us try to add f (x) and r ( x ):

2 x +1
f ( x ) +r ( x ) ¿ 2 x+1+
x −1

(2 x+1)(x−1) 2 x +1
¿ +
x−1 x −1

( 2 x +1 )( x−1 )+(2 x+1)

¿
x−1

( 2 x 2−x−1 ) +(2 x+1) 2 x 2 + x

¿ = =f 3 ( x )
x−1 x−1

Example 9: Write down the answers from the previous items in the notation denoted in the definitions.

Solution:
(a) f 1 ( x )=q ( x ) + f ( x )= ( q+ f ) ( x)
(b) f 2 ( x )=q ( x ) −f ( x )=( q−f )( x )
(c) f 3 ( x )=f ( x ) +r ( x )=(f +r )(x )

Example 10: Express the function g1 ( x ) =2 x 3−3 x 2 +2 x +2 as a product or quotient of the given functions.

Solution:
Since 2 x3 −3 x2 +2 x+ 2 is cubic, then it is possibly the product of f (x) and q ( x ).

f ( x) ⋅q( x) ¿( 2 x +1)(x 2−2 x +2)

¿ ( 2 x ) ( x 2−2 x+2 ) +(x 2−2 x+2)
¿ ( 2 x3 −4 x 2 +4 x ) +( x 2−2 x+2)
¿ 2 x3 −3 x 2 +2 x+2=g1 ( x)

Thus, g1 ( x ) =f (x )⋅ g ( x)

Example 11: Express the function g2 ( x ) =x−1 as a product or quotient of the given functions.
2 x +1
Solution: The function r ( x )= involves x−1. The goal is to “get rid” of 2 x+1. This can be done by
x−1
dividing f (x) by r (x ).
f (x ) 2 x+1
¿ ( 2 x+1 ) ÷
r (x ) x−1

x−1
¿ ( 2 x+1 ) ×
2 x +1

¿ x−1=g 2 ( x )

f (x)
Thus, g2 ( x ) =
r (x)

COMPOSITE FUNCTION

Definition: Let f and g be functions. The composite of function denoted by ( f ∘ g) is defined by

( f ∘ g )( x )=f (g ( x )). This process of obtaining a composite function is called function composition.

Use the following functions for Example 12 – 14.

(a) f ( x )=2 x +1
(b) q ( x )=x 2−2 x +2
(c) g ( x )=√ x+1
2 x +1
(d) p ( x ) =
x−1

Example 12: Find and simplify ( g ∘ f )(x).

Solution:

( g ∘ f )( x )=g ( f ( x ) ) ¿ √ f ( x )+ 1
¿ √ ( 2 x +1 ) +1
¿ √ 2 x +2

Example 13: Find and simplify ( q ∘ f ) ( x )

Solution:
2
( q ∘ f ) ( x )=q ( f ( x ) ) ¿ [ f ( x ) ] −2 [ f ( x ) ]+ 2
2
¿ ( 2 x+1 ) −2 ( 2 x+1 ) +2
¿ ( 4 x 2+ 4 x +1 )−( 4 x+ 2 )+ 2
¿ 4 x2 +1

Example 14: Find and simplify ( f ∘ p)(5).

Solution:

( f ∘ p )( x )=f ( p ( x ) ) ¿ 2 p ( x ) +1
2 x +1
¿2 [ x−1 ] +1

4 x +2
¿ +1
x−1
 ( 4 x +2 ) + ( x−1 )
¿
x−1

5 x +1
¿
x−1

ENRICHMENT:

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

Find:
a. f +g
b. f −g
c. f ⋅ g
d. f /g
e. g/ f

EVALUATION:

(A) Let f and g be defined as f ( x )=x−5 and g ( x )=x 2−1. Express the following functions as the sum,
difference, quotient or product of f and g.

 P ( x ) =x 2−x−4
 Q ( x ) =−x 2+ 2 x−9
x−5
 R ( x )=
2 x 2−2
x 2−x + 4
 S ( x )=
x−5
x 3−4 x2 −11 x+30
 T x=
( )
x 2−1

1
(B) Let f ( x )=x 2−1 and g ( x )= . Find
x

a. ( f ∘ g )( x )
b. ( g ∘ f )(−1 )
c. ( f ∘ f ) ( x )
d. ( g ∘ g)(5)