2.

4 - Operations with Functions

It is possible to create new functions from old

functions. Doing this can drastically cut down on the
amount of work (or calculations) of the new quantity.

As an example:

We could also make a function that was the

addition, multiplication, or division of two or
more functions as well. The only thing we need
to be careful of is that the domain of the new
function would be the intersection (where both
functions exist) of the previous functions (can't
add what isn't there, etc).

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Composition of Functions

Another operation, and more common for higher

level mathematics is creating a function where the
input of a function is the output from another
function.

Notation:

If f and g are functions, then the composition of

functions f and g is written as

The domain of this new function is the set

of all real numbers x such that:

• x is an element of the domain of g

• is an element of the domain of f

The range of is a subset of the range of f.

Ex: and

• The domain of f and g is the set of real numbers

• The range of f is the set of real numbers
• The range of g is the set of non-negative
numbers.
The range of is a subset of the range of
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• The range of is a subset of the range of
f.

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If we wanted to evaluate the function at certain x-
values we could do it one of two ways:

1) We could find the function

2) We can evaluate the inside function first and

work our way outside.

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We can do the previous example graphically as
well.

Exercise 2M Pg 111 #1, 3 - 6

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The Identity Function

The identity function is a function f that when

composed with g leaves g unchanged. Symbolically it
says The identity
function for a function composition is

This is not a huge property but it is in the course…

Ex: If , then . If we do the

composition of then we are left with .
We also obtain the same result if we do .

This is not a huge topic in the course but it leads

into the next one…

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Inverse Functions

Big questions (or ideas):

1) What makes two functions inverses of each

other?
2) What are the properties (graphical and
numerical) of inverses?
3) Do all functions have inverses?

Let's build a machine…

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These two machines appear to be "opposite" or
"backwards" of each other.

x y x y

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If we graph both of these functions on the same set
of axes we can see the graphical relationship
between the two.

Observations?

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What happens when we put these two functions
together?

If and

Write down

Write down

What can you conclude that these two functions are

doing?

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If two functions are inverses of each other we use
special notation to denote this.

If then its inverse is denoted by

It is very important to take note that this

is purely notation to represent an inverse.

The algebraic way to determine if two functions

are inverses of each other is:

If OR then we know
that f and g are inverses of each other. We can
also write it as:
OR

Where is the inverse of

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So what are some inverses we already are familiar
with?

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Algebraically Finding an Inverse:

1) Interchange the x's and y's

2) Re-arrange and isolate for the new 'y'
3) Replace this new 'y' with the notation
Ex: Find the inverse of

Ex: Find the inverse of

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Does have an inverse?

If we swap x's and y's and graph what appears to be

the inverse we get a graph looking like such:

While these appear to be inverses there is a large

issue with the blue graph, , it is not a
function as it fails The Vertical Line Test. This
graph gives back TWO values of y for each x so we
can't predictably undo what was done.

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We can cut the function in half so that the swapped
version (the inverse) is a function!

Choose the right half of the green function, this

yields the top half of the blue function.

Choose the left half of the green function, this yields

the bottom half of the blue function.

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Only functions that are one-to-one and onto have
inverse functions. We say that the functions have a
one-to-one correspondence.

Ex:
(a) Find the inverse relation of , and
graph both the functions and its inverse relation on
the same set of axes.
(b) State two different domain restrictions of the
function, and the corresponding ranges, in order that
its inverse is a function, and for each, state the
domain and range of the inverse function.
(c) State the two functions, with their restricted
domains, and their corresponding inverse functions.

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The function has special properties:

1) It is an odd function
2) The axes are the asymptotes
3) It has no intercepts
4) It is its own inverse!

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Ex: For the function
(a) Restrict the domain so that the function is 1-to-1
(b) Find the inverse

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Properties of Inverse Functions

If has an inverse function, this new

function is:

1) Denoted by
2) Must satisfy the vertical line test
3) Has a graph which is the reflection of
about the line
4) Satisfies and

Since our method for finding inverses involves

swapping the x's and the y's, so do the attributes
associated with them!

The domain of becomes the range of

AND

The range of becomes the domain of

Exercise 2N Pg 116 #1, 2(b, c, e, f), 3, 4, 5c

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