LEARNING CONCEPTS AND ACTIVITIES

OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS
When a fundamental operation such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division is applied
to two or more given functions, a new function can be formed. Also, there is an operation on function
called composition which can be thought as a function of a function.

Definition: For all the values of 𝑥 for which both 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are defined, we define the following
Sum: (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
Difference: (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
Product: (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
Quotient: 𝑓
( ) (𝑥) =
𝑓(𝑥)
; 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)

Example No. 1:
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2. Find each of the following functions.
a. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥)
b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥)
c. (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥)
𝑓
d. ( ) (𝑥)
𝑔

Solution:
a. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
= (4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3) + (𝑥 + 2)
= 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟏

b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)

= (4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3) − (𝑥 + 2)
= 4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3 − 𝑥 − 2
= 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓

c. (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)

= (4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2)
= (4𝑥 2 )(𝑥) + (4𝑥 2 )(2) + (5𝑥)(𝑥) + (5𝑥)(2) + (−3)(𝑥) + (−3)(2)
= 4𝑥 3 + 8𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 6
= 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝟏𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟔

𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
d. ( ) (𝑥) =
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)

(𝟒𝒙𝟐 +𝟓𝒙−𝟑)
=
(𝒙+𝟐)

Example No. 2:

Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2, find the following:

a. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(2)
b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(1)
c. (𝑓𝑔)(−2)

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 𝑓
d. ( ) (0)
𝑔

Solution:
a. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(2) = 𝑓(2) + 𝑔(2) Using the answer in example no. 1,
= [4(2)2 + 5(2) − 3] + [(2) + 2] (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 4𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 1
= [4(4) + 10 − 3] + 4 (𝑓 + 𝑔)(2) = 4(2)2 + 6(2) − 1
= 16 + 7 + 4 = 4(4) + 12 − 1
= 𝟐𝟕 = 16 + 11
= 𝟐𝟕
b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(1) = 𝑓(1) − 𝑔(1) Using the answer example no. 1,
= [4(1)2 + 5(1) − 3] − [(1) + 2] (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 5
= [4(1) + 5 − 3] − (3) (𝑓 − 𝑔)(1) = 4(1)2 + 4(1) − 5
= 6−3 = 4(1) + 4 − 5
=𝟑 =4+4−5
=8−5
=𝟑
c. (𝑓𝑔)(−2) = 𝑓(−2) ∙ 𝑔(−2) Using the answer example no. 1,
= [4(−2)2 + 5(−2) − 3] ∙ [(−2) + 2] (𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 + 13𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6
= [4(4) − 10 − 3] ∙ [0] (𝑓𝑔)(−2) = 4(−2)3 + 13(−2)2 + 7(−2) − 6
= [16 − 10 − 3] ∙ [0] = 4(−8) + 13(4) − 14 − 6
=2∙0 = −32 + 52 − 20
=𝟎 = 52 − 52
=𝟎
𝑓
d. ( ) (0) =
𝑓(0) Using the answer example no. 1,
𝑔 𝑔(0)
𝑓(𝑥) (4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3)
4(0)2 +5(0)−3 =
= 𝑔(𝑥) (𝑥 + 2)
(0)+2 4(0)2 +5(0)−3
=
−𝟑 0+2
= −𝟑
𝟐 =
𝟐

Based on the given solutions as shown above, we can say that the functions have the same value.
Therefore,
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
(𝑓𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓 𝑓(𝑥)
( ) (𝑥) = ; 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)

COMPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS
Composition of functions is another way in which functions can combined. The process consists of
using the range element of one function as the domain element of another function.

• The composition of the function 𝑓 with 𝑔, denoted by 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 read as “𝑓 circle 𝑔” is defined by

(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)].
• The composite function is the set of all numbers 𝑥 such that 𝑥 is in the domain of 𝑔, and 𝑔(𝑥)
is in the domain of 𝑓.
Arrow Diagram of a Composition of Functions

The process of obtaining a composite function is called function composition.

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Example No. 3:
Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5, find the following:
a. 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔
b. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓
c. 𝑓 ∘ 𝑓
d. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑔

Solution:
a. 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 = 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)] b. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 = 𝑔[𝑓(𝑥)]
= 3(𝑥 + 5) + 2 = (3𝑥 + 2) + 5
= 3𝑥 + 15 + 2 = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟕
= 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏𝟕
c. 𝑓 ∘ 𝑓 = 𝑓[𝑓(𝑥)] d. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑔 = 𝑔[𝑔(𝑥)]
= 3(3𝑥 + 2) + 2 = (𝑥 + 5) + 5
= 9𝑥 + 6 + 2 = 𝒙 + 𝟏𝟎
= 𝟗𝒙 + 𝟖

Notice that (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔) ≠ (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓). In general, the composition of function is not a commutative property.

Example No. 4:
Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5, 𝑒valuate the following:
a. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(3)
b. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(−1)
c. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑓)(0)
d. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑔)(0.6)

a. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(3) = 𝑓[𝑔(3)] Alternative Solution:

= 𝑓[(3) + 5] (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(3) = 𝑓[𝑔(3)]
= 𝑓(8) = 3[(3) + 5] + 2
= 3(8) + 2 = 3(8) + 2
= 24 + 2 = 24 + 2
= 𝟐𝟔 = 𝟐𝟔
b. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(−1) = 𝑔[𝑓(−1)] Alternative Solution:
= 𝑔[3(−1) + 2] (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(−1) = 𝑔[𝑓(−1)]
= 𝑔[−3 + 2] = [3(−1) + 2] + 5
= 𝑔(−1) = [−3 + 2] + 5
= (−1) + 5 = (−1) + 5
=𝟒 =𝟒
c. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑓)(0) = 𝑓[𝑓(0)] Alternative Solution:
= 𝑓[3(0) + 2] (𝑓 ∘ 𝑓)(0) = 𝑓[𝑓(0)]
= 𝑓[0 + 2] = 3[3(0) + 2] + 2
= 𝑓(2) = 3[0 + 2] + 2
= 3(2) + 2 = 3[2] + 2
=𝟖 =𝟖
d. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑔)(0.6) = 𝑔[𝑔(0.6)] Alternative Solution:
= 𝑔[(0.6) + 5] (𝑔 ∘ 𝑔)(0.6) = 𝑔[𝑔(0.6)]
= 𝑔[5.6] = [(0.6) + 5] + 5
= (5.6) + 5 = [5.6] + 5
= 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔

Note that both solutions produced the same results. Therefore, (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓[𝑔(𝑥)].

PROBLEMS INVOLVING FUNCTIONS

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 In applications it is often necessary to express a practical situation in terms of functional
relationship. The function obtained gives a mathematical model of the situation.

Example No. 5:
A proposed jeepney fare would charge ₱10 for the first 4 kilometers of travel and ₱0.50 for each
additional kilometer over the proposed fare.
a. Find the fare function 𝑓(𝑥) where 𝑥 represents the number of kilometers traveled.
b. Find the proposed fare for a distance of 36 kilometers.

Solution:
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 10 for 0 < 𝑥 ≤ 4 b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 + 0.50𝑥
𝑓(36) = 8 + 0.50(36)
Let 𝑥 = numbers of kilometers traveled 𝑓(36) = 8 + 18
𝑥 − 4 = number of kilometers traveled 𝑓(36) = 26
over and above 4 km The proposed fare for 36-km travel is
𝑓(𝑥) = 10 + 0.50(𝑥 − 4) ₱26.
𝑓(𝑥) = 10 + 0.50𝑥 − 2
𝑓(𝑥) = 8 + 0.50𝑥 for 𝑥 > 4

The fare function 𝑓(𝑥) is

𝑓(𝑥) = 8 + 0.50𝑥.

Example No. 6:
Manila Fiber charges Php1,000 for an internet connection with 25 megabits per second (mbps)
speed. There is an additional of Php50 for every 1 mbps.
a. Construct a function 𝑓(𝑥) where 𝑥 represents the number of mbps speed.
b. What is the monthly bill of a customer who purchased 35 mbps internet connection?
c. What is the monthly bill of a customer who purchased 72 mbps internet connection?

Solution:
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 1000 for 0 < 𝑥 ≤ 25 b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 50𝑥 − 250 c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 50𝑥 − 250
𝑓(35) = 50(35) − 250 𝑓(72) = 50(72) − 250
Let 𝑥 = no. of mbps 𝑓(35) = 1750 − 250 𝑓(72) = 3600 − 250
𝑥 − 25 = no. of mbps purchased 𝑓(35) = 1500 𝑓(72) = 3350
over and above 25mbps
The monthly bill of a The monthly bill of a
customer who purchased customer who purchased
𝑓(𝑥) = 1000 + 50(𝑥 − 25) 35 mbps internet 72 mbps internet
𝑓(𝑥) = 1000 + 50𝑥 − 1250 connection is Php1,500. connection is Php3,350.
𝑓(𝑥) = 50𝑥 − 250

The function is 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓𝟎𝒙 − 𝟐𝟓𝟎.

References:
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 1. Chua, R. E. et al. (2016). General Mathematics. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House. pp. 43-
56.
2. Camilon, M. G. et al. (2016). General Mathematics for SHS. Quezon City: Educational Resources
Corp.
3. Oronce, O. A. et al. (2016). General Mathematics. Quezon City: Rex Publishing, Inc. pp. 38-53.
4. Versoza, D. B. et al. (2016). General Mathematics Learner’s Material First Edition. Quezon City:
Lexicon Press Inc. pp. 13-20.
5. Orines, F. B. et al. (2016). Next Century Mathematics General Mathematics. Quezon City:
Phoenix Publishing House. pp. 38-53.

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