OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS

For two functions, f(x) and g(x),

1. (f+g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)

Example: 1) f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(f+g)(x) = (2x+3) + (x2) = x2+2x+3

2) v(x) = 5x+1, w(x) = 3x-2

(v+w)(x) = (5x+1) + (3x-2) = 8x-1

2. (f – g)(x) = f(x) – g(x)

Example: 3) f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(f-g)(x) = (2x+3) − (x2)

3. (f · g)(x) = f(x) · g(x)

Example: 4) (f·g)(x) = (2x+3)(x2) = 2x3 + 3x2

4. (f/g)(x) = f(x) / g(x)

Example: 5) f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(f/g)(x) = (2x+3)/x2

5. Function Composition: (g o f)(x) = g[f(x)]

Also: (f o g)(x) =f[g(x)]

Example: 6) f(x) = 2x+3 and g(x) = x2

(g º f)(x) = (2x+3)2

7) (f º g)(x) = 2x2+3
 LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

Consider the function: f(x) = x + 3

x –2 –1 0 1 ? 3
f(x) 1 2 3 4 ? 6

Notice the question marks, at this point, looking at the values from left to right, then right to
left, ending at the question marks, we can say that:

“f(x) nears 5 as x nears 2.”

“f(x) APPROACHES 5 as x APPROACHES 2.”

Or we can say, “The limit of x+3 as x approaches 2 is 5.”

In symbols, lim(𝑥 + 3) = 5
𝑥→2

The Limit of a Function is the value a function approaches as its independent variable
approaches a particular value.

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 (LIMIT NOTATION)

𝑥→𝑎

General Rule:

The first solution for obtaining limits of functions is by substitution. Limits involving
algebraic operations are often performed by replacing subexpressions by their limits. The
resulting definite value is the limit of the function desired. The function is said to be increasing
or decreasing without limit if the resulting value is positive infinity or negative infinity,
respectively.

I. THEORIES ON LIMITS

1. Limit of a Constant
The limit of a constant is itself.
lim 𝑘 = 𝑘
𝑥→𝑎

Examples: lim 5 = 5
𝑥→2

lim 𝜋=𝜋
𝑥→1,000,000

2. Limit of a Constant and a function

lim 𝑘[𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑘[lim 𝑓(𝑥)]
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Examples: lim 4𝑥 = 4 lim 𝑥 = 4(2) = 8

𝑥→2 𝑥→2

lim 11(2 − 𝑥 4 ) = 11 lim (2 − 𝑥 4 )

𝑥→−3 𝑥→−3
 3. Sum or Difference of Two or More Functions
lim [𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Example: lim(3𝑥 − 10) = lim 3𝑥 − lim 10 = 3(4) − 10 = 2

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

4. Limit of the product of Two Functions

lim [𝑓(𝑥) ∗ 𝑔(𝑥)] = (lim 𝑓(𝑥))(lim 𝑔(𝑥))
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Examples: lim 3𝑥 = lim 3 • lim 𝑥 = 3 • 4 = 12

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

lim(𝑥 + 1)√2𝑥 + 5 = lim(𝑥 + 1) lim √(2𝑥 + 5)

𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

5. Limit of the Quotient of Two Functions

𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥)
lim [ ] = 𝑥→𝑎
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎

6𝑥 lim 6𝑥 6lim 𝑥 6(−2) 6

𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
Example: lim = = = =−
𝑥→−2 8−3𝑥 lim (8−3𝑥)
𝑥→−2
lim 8 −3 lim 𝑥
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
8−3(−2) 7

6. Limit of a Root of a Function

lim 𝑛√𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑛√ lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Example: lim √2𝑥 + 5 = √ lim(2𝑥 + 5)=√ lim 2𝑥 +lim 5 = √2(2) + 5 = 3

𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
7. Limit of a Power
𝑝
lim [𝑓(𝑥)]𝑝 = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)]
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

1⁄
1 2 1⁄
Examples: lim √2𝑥 + 5 = lim (2𝑥 + 5) ⁄2 = [lim (2𝑥 + 5)] =9 2 =3
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

2 2
lim(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 7)2 = [lim(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 7)] = [lim 𝑥 2 − lim 4𝑥 + lim 7]
𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1

= [12 − 4(1) + 7]2 = 16

Where: k = constant
a, p = any real number
f(x), g(x) = functions of x
n = whole number 2 or higher