Advanced Functions

Course Notes

Unit 8 – Combinations of
Functions
Mad Mathematicians Creating New Functions!!!
We will learn
 how to use basic arithmetic to construct new functions from given
functions
 how to describe the composition of two functions numerically,
graphically and algebraically
 key characteristics of the newly created functions
Chapter 8 – Combinations of Functions
Contents with suggested problems from the Nelson Textbook (Chapter 9)

You are welcome to ask for help, from myself or your peers, with any of the
following problems. They will be handed in on the day of the Unit Test as a
homework check.

8.1 Sums and Differences of Functions

Pg. 451 #1c, 4, Finish 5 – 7, 9, 11

8.2 Product and Quotient Combinations

Pg. 537 - 539 #1bd,3,8bd,10,15
Pg. 542 # 1aef, 2 (for #1aef)

8.3 Composition of Functions

READ Ex. 4 Pg550 making sure you understand the concept of a function composed with
its inverse.
Pg. 552 – 553 #1abf, 2bdf, 5bcdf (use tech to graph), 6bcd, 7bcdef, 13
8.1 Sums and Differences of Functions
Learning Goal: We are learning to combine functions through addition and subtraction.

Definition 8.1.1
Given two functions f  x  , and g  x  with domains D f and Dg respectively, then we
can construct new functions:
F  x    f  g  x  G  x    f  g  x 
where the meaning of the notation for the “sum” and “difference” functions is as follows:

Example 8.1.1
Consider the sketch (so that we can get at the domain of sum and difference functions):
In general, given functions f  x  and g  x  with domains D f and Dg , then the combined
function
F  x    f  g  x 

Example 8.1.2
Determine the domain of F  x    f  g  x  for f  x   x , and g  x   log    x  2   .

Example 8.1.3
Given f  x   x 3  4 x  1, D f =[-4,5] and g  x   2 x 2  1, Dg  (0, 6] ,
Determine: a) the order of F  x    g  f  x 
b) DF
c) an algebraic representation for F  x 
Example 8.1.4
Consider the sketches of the trigonometric functions:

f  x   sin  x  , D f  [0, 2 ]
 
g  x   cos  x   , D g  [0, 2 ]
 2

Sketch a) F  x    f  g  x 
b) G  x    f  g  x 

Example 8.1.5
Consider the functions f  x   x, g  x   sin  x  , x   .
What does F  x    f  g  x  look like? (see Ex. 3 Pg. 526)
Example 8.1.6
From your text: Pg. 528 #1ae

Determine: a)  f  g  x  e)  f  f  x  

Example 8.1.7
From your text: Pg. 529 #7ab
1 1
Given f  x   and g  x   , determine  f  g  x  and D f  g 
3x  4 x2

Success Criteria:
 I can combine functions by adding or subtracting them
 I can determine the domain and range of these combined functions
8.2 Product and Quotient Combinations
Learning Goal: We are learning to combine functions through multiplication and division.

Definition 8.2.1
Given two functions f  x  , and g  x  with domains D f and Dg respectively, then we
can construct new functions:
f 
F  x    f  g  x  G  x    x
g

Example 8.2.1
Determine  f  g  x  given f  x    2,3 ,  1,5  ,  0,3 , 1, 3  ,  2, 5  and
g  x    1, 4  ,  0, 2  , 1, 7  ,  2, 2  ,  3, 2 

Example 8.2.2
From your text: Pg. 537 #2 for #1e
Sketch the given pair of function on the same set of axes. State their domains. Use your
sketch to draw  f  g  x  . State  f  g  x  and D f  g .
f  x   x  2, g  x   x2  2x 1
Example 8.2.3
Determine the domain of D f  g and D f  g given f  x   2 x  3 , and g  x   sec  x 
Example 8.2.4
From your text: Pg. 542 #2 for 1d.
Sketch the given pair of function on the same set of axes. State their domains. Use your
f  f 
sketch to draw    x  . State    x  and D f .
g g g

f  x   x  2 and g  x   x  2

Success Criteria:
 I can combine functions by multiplying or dividing them
 I can determine the domain and range of these combined functions
o The domain is the intersection of the domains of f and g
8.3 Composition of Functions
Learning Goal: We are learning to combine functions by inserting one into the other.

In sections 8.1 and 8.2 we examined how to combine functions (constructing new functions)
through the standard algebraic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Here we will learn another method for combining functions, but we won’t be using a standard
algebraic operation.

The concept we define as Composition of Functions is very useful for Calculus (among other
things) as some of you will see next semester.

The basic idea is that given two functions f  x  and g  x  , we can define the composition of the
two by

The “algebraic” notation may seem a little weird, but don’t make fun. Math has feelings too.

Definition 8.3.1
Given two functions f  x  and g  x  we write the composition of f  x  and g  x  as
 f  g  x 
We can also write the composition of g  x  and f  x  as
 g  f  x 

The “Algebraic Meaning” of Composition

 f  g  x    g  f  x  

Note: It is very helpful to keep in

mind the distinction between the
inner and outer functions
The Domain of a Composition of Functions

Recall the basic “machinery” of any function: “Plug a (domain) number into the
function, and get a (range) number out.”

Picture

Recall further that many functions cannot claim “all real numbers” as their (natural) domain.

e.g. Determine the domain of f ( x)  x  1

Now we consider the “machinery” for the composition function  f  g  x   f  g  x  

Picture:
Algebraic Definition of the Domain of a Composition of Two Functions

Given two functions f  x  and g  x  with domains D f and Dg respectively, then the domain of
the composition of f  x  and g  x  is given by:

D f  g    x   | x  such that  

Using words we might write that the domain of a composition of functions

 f  g  x   f  g  x   is the set of all x values which belong to the domain of the

_______________ function which have range values which are in the domain of the

_______________ function.

Example 8.3.1
Given f  x   3 x  1 and g  x   x 3  1 determine:
a)  f  g  0  b) g  f  0   c)  f  f 1

Example 8.3.2
From your text: Pg. 552 #2 ac”g”
Given f  x    0,1 , 1, 2  ,  2,5  ,  3,10  and g  x    2, 0  ,  3,1 ,  4, 2  ,  5,3  ,  6, 4 
determine: a)  g  f  2  c) f  g  5   g) g  f  3 
Something Silly but Entirely Serious

Given f  x   2 x 2  1 determine:
a) f  2  b) f  A  c) f    d) f   

Example 8.3.3
From your text: Pg 552 #6ae
Given the functions f  x  and g  x  determine functional equations for
f  g  x   and g  f  x   and determine their domains.
a) f  x   3 x and g  x   x  4 e) f  x   10 x and g  x   log  x 
Example 8.3.4
From your text: Pg. 553 #7a
Given h  x  find two functions f  x  and g  x  such that h  x   f  g  x   .

a) h  x   x 2  6

Success Criteria:
 I can combine functions by inserting one into the other
o ( ∘ )( ) = ( ( ))
 I can determine the domain and range of these combined functions
o For domain, it is the set of values, x, in the domain of g for which g(x) is in the
domain of f.