The Algebra of

Functions
Algebraic Operations, Composition, Inverse
 Classification of Functions
• The modern notion of functions Elementary functions are
is derived from the efforts of categorized into:
many 17th and 18th century 1. Algebraic Functions
mathematicians, e.g. Leonhard (Polynomial, Rational, Radical)
Euler that introduced the
function notation 2. Transcendental Functions
(Trigonometric, Exponential,
• By the end of the 18th century, Logarithmic)
mathematicians and scientists
had concluded that many real-
world phenomena could be
represent ed by mathematical
models taken from a collection
of functions called elementary
functions
 Algebra of Functions
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1
1
3. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥
;𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥
4. 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 4; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 6
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥; 𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 5
6. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 1
7. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥; 𝑔 𝑥 = −6𝑥 2
Given the following functions 𝑓 2 1
and 𝑔, find the functions 𝑓 + 𝑔, 𝑓 − 8. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥+3 ; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥+1
𝑓
𝑔, 𝑓𝑔, and their respective
𝑔
domains
1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 3; 𝑔 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 +
1
 Composition of Functions
Definition: Composition of Find the composite functions 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔
Functions and 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 and their respective
• If 𝑓 and 𝑔 are functions, then domains given the functions 𝑓
the composite function, or and 𝑔
composition, of 𝑓 and 𝑔 is 1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 3; 𝑔 𝑥 = 4𝑥 3 + 1
defined by 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 2
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−1
;𝑔 𝑥 = 5𝑥 − 10
• The domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the set of 1
all numbers 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑔 3. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥
such that 𝑔 𝑥 is in the domain 4. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 2
of 𝑓 2 3
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = ;𝑔 𝑥 =
𝑥−1 𝑥
4 1
6. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥+2
;𝑔 𝑥 =
𝑥
7. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1; 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 1
 Inverse Function
Definition: One-to-One Function Definition: Inverse Function
• A function is one-to-one if any • Suppose that 𝑓 is a one-to-one
two different inputs in the function. Then, to each 𝑥 in the
domain correspond to two domain of there is exactly one 𝑦
different outputs in the range, in the range (because is a
i.e. if whenever 𝑥1 ≠ 𝑥2 , 𝑓 𝑥1 ≠ function); and to each 𝑦 in the
𝑓 𝑥2 range of there is exactly one 𝑥 in
the domain (because is one-to-
one). The correspondence from
Theorem: Horizontal Line Test the range of back to the domain
• If every horizontal line intersects of is called the inverse function
the graph of a function 𝑓 in at of f.
most one point, then 𝑓 is one-to- • The symbol 𝑓 −1 is used to denote
one. the inverse of 𝑓
 Inverse Function
4. 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 + 2
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 1
2𝑥
6. 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥−1
3𝑥+4
7. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥−3
𝑥 2 −4
8. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2
,𝑥 >0
Find the inverse of the following
functions
1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 3
2𝑥+1
2. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−1
2
3. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 , 𝑥 ≥ 0