MODULE TWO: CALC 211
Definition: Given the two functions f and g:
(i) their sum denoted by 𝒇 + 𝒈, is the function defined by (𝒇 + 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)
(ii) their difference denoted by 𝒇 − 𝒈 is the function defined by (𝒇 − 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)
(iii) Their product denoted by 𝒇 ∙ 𝒈 is the function denote by (𝒇 ∙ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒇
(iv) their quotient denoted by 𝒇/𝒈 is the function defined by ( ) (𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙)/𝒈(𝒙)
𝒈
It each case, the domain of the resulting function consists of those values of x common to the
domains of 𝒇 and 𝒈, with additional requirement in case (iv) that the values of 𝒙 for which
𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟎 are excluded.
Example 1 . Given the 𝑓 and 𝑔 are the functions defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1 and the (𝑥) = √𝑥 − 4 ,
𝒇
find (a) (𝒇 + 𝒈)(𝒙) (b) (𝒇 − 𝒈)(𝒙) (c) (𝒇 ∙ 𝒈)(𝒙) (d)(𝒈) (𝒙)
Solution:
(a) (𝒇 + 𝒈)(𝒙) = √𝑥 + 1 + √𝑥 − 4 (b) (𝒇 − 𝒈)(𝒙) = √𝑥 + 1 − √𝑥 − 4
𝒇 √𝑥+1
(c) (𝒇 ∙ 𝒈)(𝒙) = √𝑥 + 1 ∙ √𝑥 − 4 (d) (𝒈) (𝒙) =
√𝑥−4
The domain of 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 [−1, +∞) and the domain of 𝑔 𝑖𝑠 [4, +∞). So in parts (a), (b), and (c) the
domain of the resulting function is [4, +∞). In part (d), the denominator is zero when x=4, thus 4 is
excluded in the domain, and the domain is therefore(4, +∞).
Checkpoint 1 (Problem Set : 5-point each part (3-point for the resulting function, 2-point for the
domain)
Define the following functions and determine the domain of the resulting function: (𝒂) (𝒇 +
𝒇
𝒈)(𝒙) (b) (𝒇 − 𝒈)(𝒙) (c) (𝒇 ∙ 𝒈)(𝒙) (d)( ) (𝒙)
𝒈
𝑥+1 1
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1; 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥; 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1
Combination of Functions (Composite Function)
Definition: Given two functions f and g, the composite function, denoted by 𝒇 ∘ 𝒈, is defined by
(𝒇 ∘ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒈(𝒙)) and the domain of 𝒇 ∘ 𝒈 is the set of all numbers 𝒙 in the domain of 𝒈 such
that 𝒈(𝒙) is in the domain of 𝒇.
Example2. Given f and 𝒈 are defined by 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝒙 and 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏 find (a) 𝒇 ∘ 𝒇; (b) 𝒈 ∘ 𝒈;
(c) 𝒇 ∘ 𝒈 and (d) 𝒈 ∘ 𝒇. Also determine the domain of the composite function in each part.
Solution.
(a) (𝒇 ∘ 𝒇)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒇(𝒙)) = 𝒇(√𝒙) = √√𝒙 = 𝟒√𝒙. The domain is [𝟎, +∞).
𝟐
(b) (𝒈 ∘ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒈(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏) = (𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏) − 𝟏 = 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 . The domain is (−∞, +∞).
(c) (𝒇 ∘ 𝒈)(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏) = √𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏 . The domain is (−∞, −1] ∪ [1, +∞).
𝟐
(d) (𝒈 ∘ 𝒇)(𝒙) = 𝒈(√𝒙) = (√𝒙) − 𝟏 = 𝒙 − 𝟏. The domain is [0, +∞)
In part (d) note that even though 𝒙 − 𝟏 is define for all values of 𝒙 , the domain of 𝒈 ∘ 𝒇 by a
definition of composite function is the set of all number 𝒙 in the domain of 𝒇 such that 𝒇(𝒙) in
the domain of 𝒈. Thus the domain of 𝒈 ∘ 𝒇 must be a subset of the domain of 𝒇.
Checkpoint 2 (Problem Set : 5-point each part (3-point for the composite function, 2-point for the
domain)
Define the following functions and determine the domain of the composite function.: (a) 𝒇 ∘ 𝒇;
(b) 𝒈 ∘ 𝒈; (c) 𝒇 ∘ 𝒈 and (d) 𝒈 ∘ 𝒇.
1. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙 − 𝟐; 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒙 + 𝟕 2. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥;𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 1
Definition:
(i) A function 𝒇 is said to be an even function if for every 𝒙 in the domain of , 𝒇(−𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙).
(ii) A function 𝒇 is said to be an odd function if for every 𝒙 in the domain of , 𝒇(−𝒙) = −𝒇(𝒙).
If both parts (i) and (ii) it is understood that – 𝒙 is in the domain of 𝒇 whenever 𝒙 is.
Illustration
(a) If 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟒 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕, then 𝒇(−𝒙) = 𝟑(−𝒙)𝟒 − 𝟐(−𝒙)𝟐 + 𝟕 = 𝟑𝒙𝟒 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕 = 𝒇(𝒙).
Therefore 𝒇 is an even function. Even function is symmetric with respect to y axis.
(b) If 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟓 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙, then 𝒈(−𝒙) = 𝟑(−𝒙)𝟓 − 𝟒(−𝒙)𝟑 − 𝟗(−𝒙)
𝒈(−𝒙) = −𝟑𝒙𝟓 + 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝟗𝒙 = −(𝟑𝒙𝟓 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙) = −𝒇(𝒙). Therefore 𝒈 is an odd function.
Odd function is symmetric with respect to the origin.
(c) If 𝒉(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟕𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗, then 𝒉(−𝒙) = 𝟐(−𝒙)𝟒 + 𝟕(−𝒙)𝟑 − (−𝒙)𝟐 + 𝟗
𝒉(−𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟒 − 𝟕𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗. Because 𝒉(−𝒙) ≠ 𝒉(𝒙) and 𝒉(−𝒙) ≠ −𝒉(𝒙), 𝒉 is neither even
nor odd.
Checkpoint 3 (Problem Set: 5-point each letter (2-point for the process, 1-point for the conclusion and
2- point the sketch of each graph)
Determine if the function is even, odd or neither and draw a sketch of each graph.
(a) 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟒 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏` (b) 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓𝒙𝟑 − 𝟕𝒙 (c) 𝒇(𝒔) = 𝒔𝟐 + 𝟐𝒔 + 𝟐
(d) 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟔 − 𝟏
The particular linear function defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 is called the identity function.
If the function 𝑓 is defined by𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + 𝑎𝑛−2 𝑥 𝑛−2 + ⋯ + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0 where
𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , … , 𝑎𝑛 are real numbers (𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0) and 𝑛 is a nonnegative integer, the 𝑓 is called a polynomial
function of degree 𝑛. Thus the function defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 5 − 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 1 is a function of degree 5.
A linear function is a polynomial function of degree 1. If the degree of polynomial function is2, it
is called quadratic function and if the degree is 3, it is called cubic function.
If a function can be expressed as a quotient of two polynomial functions it is called rational
function.
Algebraic function is one formed by finite algebraic operations on the identity function and a
constant function
Transcendental functions are trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions
