1.

5: Combinations of Functions
Operations on Functions there are five that you should be able to work with
comfortably
sum ( f + g )( x ) = f ( x ) + g ( x )
difference ( f g )( x ) = f ( x ) g ( x )
product ( f g )( x ) = f ( x ) g ( x )
f ( x)
f
quotient ( x ) =
, where g ( x ) 0
g ( x)
g
composition ( f o g )( x ) = f ( g ( x )) the entire function g(x) is substituted for x
in f.
*Do not confuse the composite operation with multiplication

1) Let f x = x 2 and g x = x 2 6x + 8 . Find each of the following and state the

()

domain of each.


a) ( f + g )( x )

()

b) ( f g )( x )

f
( x)
g

c) ( f g )( x )

d)

e) ( f o g ) ( x )

f) ( g o f ) ( x )

g) f ( g ( 2))

h) g( f (5))

()

()

f
( x) and state the domain.
g

2) Let f x = 3 x + 4 and g x = x 2 . Find

1.5: Combinations of Functions

3) Let f ( x ) =

3
and g ( x ) = x + 1 ,
x2

a) find ( f o g ) ( x ) and ( g o f ) ( x ) and state the domain of each.

b) ( f + g ) ( 3)

c) ( f g ) ( 5 )

d) ( g g ) (15 )

f
e) ( 3)
g

f) ( f g ) ( 1)


g) ( g f ) ( 0 )




4) Let f ( x ) = 2 x 2 and g ( x ) = 2 x, for x 2 , find ( f o g ) ( x ) and ( g o f ) ( x ) .
State the domain of each.






5) Write the functions as a composite of two functions f and g.


6
1

a) f ( g ( x )) =


b) f ( g ( x )) = ( 3x 5 )
3x + 1




x +2

c) f ( g ( x )) =



d) f ( g ( x )) = x 2 4
5 x

1.5: Combinations of Functions

In Exercises 5156, use the graphs of f and g to evaluate the functions.
















51. (a) ( f + g )(3)



(b) ( f / g )(2)

52. (a) ( f g )(1)



(b) ( fg )(4)

53. (a) ( f ! g )(2)



(b) ( g ! f )(2)

54. (a) ( f ! g )(1)



(b) ( g ! f )(3)

55. (a) ( f ! f )(3)



(b) ( f ! f )(4)

56. (a) ( g ! g )(1)



(b) ( g ! g )(0)