The sum f + g

f g x f x g x
This just says that to find the sum of two functions, add
them together. You should simplify by finding like terms.

f x 2x 3

g x 4x 1

f g 2x 3 4x 1
2

4x 2x 4
3

Combine like
terms & put in
descending
order

The difference f - g

f g x f x g x
To find the difference between two functions, subtract
the first from the second. CAUTION: Make sure you
distribute the to each term of the second function. You
should simplify by combining like terms.

f x 2x 3
2

g x 4x 1
3

f g 2x 3 4x 1
2

Distribute
negative
2

2 x 3 4 x 1 4 x 2 x 2
2

The product f g

f g x f x g x
To find the product of two functions, put parenthesis
around them and multiply each term from the first
function to each term of the second function.

f x 2x 3

g x 4x 1

f g 2x 3 4x 1
2

8 x 2 x 12 x 3
5

FOIL

Good idea to put in

descending order
but not required.

The quotient f /g

f
f x
x
g x
g
To find the quotient of two functions, put the first one
over the second.

f x 2x 3
2

f 2x 3
3
g 4x 1
2

g x 4x 1
3

Nothing more you could do

here. (If you can reduce
these you should).

So the first 4 operations on functions are

pretty straight forward.
The rules for the domain of functions would
apply to these combinations of functions as
well. The domain of the sum, difference or
product would be the numbers x in the
domains of both f and g.
For the quotient, you would also need to
exclude any numbers x that would make the
resulting denominator 0.

COMPOSITION

OF
FUNCTIONS

SUBSTITUTING ONE FUNCTION INTO ANOTHER

The Composition Function

f g x f g x

This is read f composition g and means to copy the f

function down but where ever you see an x, substitute in
the g function.

f x 2x 3

g x 4x 1

f g 2 4x 1 3
3

FOIL first and

then distribute
the 2
6
3

32 x 16 x 2 3 32 x 16 x 5
6

 g f x g f x
This is read g composition f and means to copy the g
function down but where ever you see an x, substitute in
the f function.

f x 2x 3

g x 4x 1

g f 4 2x 3 1
2

You could multiply

this out but since its
to the 3rd power we
wont

 f f x f f x
This is read f composition f and means to copy the f
function down but where ever you see an x, substitute in
the f function. (So sub the function into itself).

f x 2x 3

g x 4x 1

f f 2 2x 3 3
2

The DOMAIN of the

Composition Function
The domain of f composition g is the set of all numbers x
in the domain of g such that g(x) is in the domain of f.

f g

1
f x
x
1

x 1

g x x 1
The domain of g is x 1

domain of f g is x x 1

We also have to worry about any illegals in this composition

function, specifically dividing by 0. This would mean that x 1 so the
domain of the composition would be combining the two restrictions.