Operations on functions

This lesson will teach you how to perform operations on functions. Basically, you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide functions. 

Examples showing how to do operations on functions.

How to do addition of functions

( f + g )(x) = f(x) + g(x)

Example #1

Find f + g if  f(x) = 2x - 7 and g(x) = 5x + 8

(f + g)(x)   =   f(x) + g(x)

                 = 2x - 7 + 5x + 8

                 = 2x + 5x + - 7 + 8
 
                = 7x + 1

How to do subtraction of functions

( f - g )(x) = f(x) - g(x)

Example #2

Find f - g if  f(x) = 3x + 9 and g(x) = 6x - 3

(f - g)(x)   =   f(x) - g(x)

                 = 3x + 9  -  (6x - 3)

                 = 3x + 9  - 6x - - 3
  
                 = 3x + 9 - 6x + 3

                 = 3x - 6x + 9 + 3

                = -3x + 12

How to do multiplication of functions

( f × g )(x) = f(x) × g(x)

Example #3

Find f × g if f(x) = x + 1 and g(x) = x + 5

(f × g)(x) = f(x) × g(x)

= (x + 1) × (x + 5)

= x × x + x × 5 + 1 × x + 1 × 5

= x² + 5x + 1x + 5

x² + 6x + 5

How to do division of functions

( f / g )(x) = f(x) / g(x)     with g(x) ≠ 0

Example #4

Find f / g if f(x) = x² - 1 and g(x) = x + 1

(f / g)(x) = f(x) / g(x)

= (x² - 1) / (x + 1)    with x + 1 ≠ 0

= [(x - 1) × (x + 1)] / x + 1    with x + 1 ≠ 0

= x - 1     with x + 1 ≠ 0

= x - 1     with x ≠ -1

Summary

Let f and g be functions. Take a look at the following figure to see how we can perform these operations on a function.