Lesson

1 Operation on Functions

Operations on functions are similar to operations on numbers. Adding, subtracting

and multiplying two or more functions together will result in another function.
Dividing two functions together will also result in another function if the denominator
or divisor is not the zero function. Lastly, composing two or more functions will also
produce another function.

The following are prerequisite skills before moving through this module:

➢ Rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions and algebraic
expressions, real numbers (especially fractions and integers).
➢ Evaluating a function.

A short activity was provided here for you to help in recalling these competencies. If
you feel that you are able to perform those, you may skip the activity below. Enjoy!

What’s In

SECRET MESSAGE

Direction. Answer each question by matching column A with column B. Write the
letter of the correct answer at the blank before each number. Decode the secret
message below using the letters of the answers.

Column A Column B
1 2
_____1. Find the LCD of and 7. A. (x + 4)(x − 3)
3
3 1 4x+7
_____2. Find the LCD of and x+3 C.
x−2 x2 +x−6
1 2 (𝑥−3)(𝑥+5)
_____3. Find the sum of 3
and 7. D. (x−6)(x+3)
2 5
_____4. Find the sum of x + x E. (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3) or x 2 + x − 6
3 12 𝑥+4
_____5. Find the product of and . G. x+2
8 5
3 1
_____6. Find the sum of and x+3 H. (x + 1)(x − 6)
x−2
For numbers 7-14, find the factors.
13
_____7. x 2 + x − 12 I.
21
_____8. x 2 − 5x − 6 L. (𝑥 − 4(𝑥 − 3)
_____9. x 2 + 6x + 5 M. −5

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_____10. x 2 + 7x + 12 N. 21
_____11. x 2 − 7x + 12 O. (𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 − 3)
_____12. x 2 − 5x − 14 R. (x + 4)(x + 3)
_____13. x 2 − 8x + 15 S. (𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 5)
9
_____14. x 2 − 12x + 35 T. 10
x2 +x−12 x2 +6x+5
_____15. Find the product of x2 −5x−6
and
x2 +7x+12
. U. (𝑥 − 7(𝑥 + 2)
x2 +x−12 x2 −8x+15 7
_____16. Divide x2 −5x−14
by
x2 −12x+35
W.
𝑥
_____17. In the function f(x) = 4 − x 2 , 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑓(−3) Y. (x + 5)(x + 1)

Secret Message:

4 2 11 6 13 17 2 5 13 14 2 1 3 13 10

8 3 16 8 14 6 8 13 13 11 3 17

16 11 7 15 9 13 12 7 10 2 8 2 10 2

What’s New

SAVE FOR A CAUSE

Thru inspiration instilled by their parents and realization brought by Covid-19
pandemic experience, Neah and Neoh, both Senior High School students decided to
save money for a charity cause. Neah has a piggy bank with ₱10.00 initial coins
inside. She then decided to save ₱5.00 daily out of her allowance. Meanwhile, Neoh
who also has a piggy bank with ₱5.00 initial coin inside decided to save ₱3.00 daily.
Given the above situation, answer the following questions:

a. How much money will be saved by Neah and Neah after 30 days? after 365
days or 1 year? their combined savings for one year?
b. Is the combined savings enough for a charity donation? Why?
c. What values were manifested by the two senior high school students?
d. Will you do the same thing these students did? What are the other ways
that you can help less fortunate people?
e. Do you agree with the statement of Pope John Paul II said that “Nobody is
so poor he has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich he has nothing
to receive"? Justify your answer.
f. What functions can represent the amount of their savings in terms of
number of days?

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 What is It

In the previous modules, you learned to represent real life situations to

functions and evaluate a function at a certain value. The scenario presented above
is an example of real world problems involving functions. This involves two functions
representing the savings of the two senior high school students.

Below is the representation of two functions represented by a piggy bank:

Neah Neoh Combined
𝑓 (𝑥) = 5𝑥 + 10 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 5 ℎ(𝑥) = 8𝑥 + 15

+ =

Suppose that we combine the piggy banks of the two students, the resulting is
another piggy bank. It’s just like adding two functions will result to another function.

Definition. Let f and g be functions.

1. Their sum, denoted by 𝑓 + 𝑔, is the function denoted by

(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥).
2. Their difference, denoted by 𝑓 − 𝑔, is the function denoted by
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥).
3. Their product, denoted by 𝑓 • 𝑔, is the function denoted by
(𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔(𝑥).
4. Their quotient, denoted by 𝑓/𝑔, is the function denoted by
(𝑓/𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥)/𝑔(𝑥), excluding the values of x where 𝑔(𝑥) = 0.
5. The composite function denoted by (𝑓 ° 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)). The process of
obtaining a composite function is called function composition.

Example 1. Given the functions:

𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1 ℎ(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 5

Determine the following functions:

a. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) 𝑒. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3)
b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) 𝑓. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(3)
c. (𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) 𝑔. (𝑓 • 𝑔)(3)
ℎ
d. (𝑔)(𝑥) ℎ
ℎ. ( )(3)
Solution: 𝑔

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𝑎. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) definition of addition of functions
= (𝑥 + 5) + (2𝑥 − 1) replace f(x) and g(x) by the given values
= 3𝑥 + 4 combine like terms

b. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥) definition of subtraction of functions

= (𝑥 + 5) − (2𝑥 − 1) replace f(x) and g(x) by the given values
= 𝑥 + 5 − 2𝑥 + 1 distribute the negative sign
= −𝑥 + 6 combine like terms

c. (𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔(𝑥) definition of multiplication of functions

= (𝑥 + 5) • (2𝑥 − 1) replace f(x) and g(x) by the given values
= 2𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 5 multiply the binomials

ℎ ℎ(𝑥)
d. ( ) (𝑥) = definition of division of functions
𝑔 𝑔(𝑥)
2𝑥 2+9𝑥−5
= replace h(x) and g(x) by the given values
2𝑥−1
(𝑥+5)(2𝑥−1)
= 2𝑥−1
factor the numerator
(𝑥+5)(2𝑥−1)
= cancel out common factors
2𝑥−1
=𝑥+5

e. (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3) = 𝑓(3) + 𝑔(3)

Solve for 𝑓(3) and 𝑔(3) separately:
𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1
𝑓 (3) = 3 + 5 𝑔(3) = 2(3) − 1
=8 =5

∴ 𝑓 (3) + 𝑔(3) = 8 + 5 = 13

Alternative solution:
We know that (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3) means evaluating the function (𝑓 + 𝑔) at 3.

(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 4 resulted function from item a

(𝑓 + 𝑔)(3) = 3(3) + 4 replace x by 3
= 9+4 multiply
= 13 add

For item 𝑓 𝑡𝑜 ℎ we will use the values of 𝑓(3) = 8 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔(3) = 5

f. (𝑓 − 𝑔)(3) = 𝑓 (3) − 𝑔(3) definition of subtraction of functions

=8−5 replace f(3) and g(3) by the given values
=3 subtract

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 Alternative solution:
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(𝑥) = −𝑥 + 6 resulted function from item b
(𝑓 − 𝑔)(3) = −3 + 6 replace x by 3
=3 simplify

g. (𝑓 • 𝑔)(3) = 𝑓 (3) • 𝑔(3) definition of multiplication of functions

= 8•5 replace f(3) and g(3) by the given values
= 40 multiply

Alternative solution:
(𝑓 • 𝑔)(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 5 resulted function from item c
(𝑓 • 𝑔)(3) = 2(3)2 + 9(3) − 5 replace x by 3
= 2(9) + 27 − 5 square and multiply
= 18 + 27 − 5 multiply
= 40 simplify

ℎ ℎ(3)
h. (𝑔) (3) = 𝑔(3)

Solve for ℎ(3) and 𝑔(3) separately:

ℎ(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 5 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1
2
ℎ(3) = 2(3) + 9(3) − 5 𝑔(3) = 2(3) − 1
= 18 + 27 − 5 =5
= 40
ℎ ℎ(3) 40
∴ ( ) (3) = = =8
𝑔 𝑔(3) 5

Alternative solution:
ℎ
( ) (𝑥) = 𝑥 + 5 resulted function from item d
𝑔
h
( ) (x) = 3 + 5 replace x by 3
g
=8 simplify

Can you follow with what has been discussed from the above examples? Notice that
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division can be both performs on real
numbers and functions.
The illustrations below might help you to better understand the concepts on function
operations.

In the illustrations, the numbers above are the inputs which are all 3 while below
the function machine are the outputs. The first two functions are the functions to be
added, subtracted, multiplied and divided while the rightmost function is the
resulting function.

Addition

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 Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

Notes to the Teacher

Give emphasis to the students that performing operations on

two or more functions results to a new function. The function
(𝑓 + 𝑔)(𝑥) is a new function resulted from adding 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥).
The new function can now be used to evaluate (𝑓 + 𝑔)(3) and it
will be the same as adding 𝑓(3) and 𝑔(3).

Composition of functions:

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In composition of functions, we will have a lot of substitutions. You learned in
previous lesson that to evaluate a function, you will just substitute a certain number
in all of the variables in the given function. Similarly, if a function is substituted to
all variables in another function, you are performing a composition of functions to
create another function. Some authors call this operation as “function of functions”.

Example 2. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6, and ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2

Find the following:

a. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥)
b. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4)
c. (ℎ ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥 )

Solution.

a. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥) = 𝑓(ℎ(𝑥 )) definition of function composition

= 𝑓(𝑥 + 2) replace h(x) by x+2

Since 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6 given

𝑓(𝑥 + 2) = (𝑥 + 2)2 + 5(𝑥 + 2) + 6 replace x by x+2

= 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 + 5𝑥 + 10 + 6 perform the operations

= 𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 20 combine similar terms

Composition of function is putting a function inside another function. See below

figure for illustration.

b. (𝑓 ∘ ℎ )(4) = 𝑓(ℎ(4))

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 Step 1. Evaluate ℎ(4) Step 2. Evaluate 𝑓(6)
ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6
ℎ(4) = 4 + 2 𝑓 (6) = 62 + 5(6) + 6
=6 = 36 + 30 + 6
= 72

(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4) = 𝑓(ℎ((4))
= 𝑓(6)
∴ = 72
To evaluate composition of function, always start with the inside function (from right
to left). In this case, we first evaluated ℎ(4) and then substituted the resulted value
to 𝑓(𝑥).

Alternative solution:

(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(𝑥)) = 𝑓(ℎ(𝑥)) definition of function composition

𝑓(ℎ(𝑥)) = 𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 20, from item a
(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4)) = 42 + 9(4) + 20 replace all x’s by 4
= 16 + 36 + 20 perform the indicated operations
= 72 simplify

A mapping diagram can also help you to visualize the concept of evaluating a function
composition.

From the definition of function composition, (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4) = 𝑓(ℎ((4)). Looking at the

mapping diagram for values and working from right to left, ℎ(4) = 6. Substituting 6

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to ℎ(4) we have 𝑓(6). From the diagram, 𝑓(6) is equal to 72. Therefore, (𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4) =
𝑓(ℎ((4)) = 72. In the diagram, the first function ℎ(𝑥) served as the inside function
while the second function 𝑓(𝑥) is the outside function.

A table of values is another way to represent a function. The mapping diagram above
has a corresponding table of values below:

ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6

𝑥 1 3 4 6
ℎ(𝑥) 3 5 6 8
𝑓(𝑥) 12 30 42 72

(𝑓 ∘ ℎ)(4) = 𝑓(ℎ((4)) definition of composition of functions

= 𝑓(6) substitute h(4) by 6
= 72 from the table
c. (ℎ ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = ℎ(𝑓(𝑥)) definition of composition of functions
= ℎ (𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6), substitute f(x) by x 2 + 5x + 6, given
Since ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2 given
ℎ(𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6 + 2
2
substitute x by x 2 + 5x + 6
= 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 8 combine similar terms

Notes to the Teacher

The functions (𝑓 ∘ ℎ )(𝑥) and (h ∘ f)(x) are generally not the same as
we see in the previous examples. It only means that order of
functions counts in composition of function operation. There are
special cases where they will be the same; this is when the two
functions are inverses. Graphing and finding the domain and range
of algebraic operations is not covered by this module but this is an
interesting activity that can be used as enrichment once this module
was mastered.

What’s More

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 Activity 1:
MATCHING FUNCTIONS
Direction: Match column A with column B by writing the letter of the correct
answer on the blank before each number

Given:
𝑎(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 2
𝑏(𝑥) = 5𝑥 − 3
𝑥+5
𝑐 (𝑥) =
𝑥−7
𝑑(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 5
3
𝑒(𝑥) =
𝑥−7

Column A Column B
3
______1. (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑥 ) a. 𝑥+5
______2. (𝑎 • 𝑏)(𝑥 ) b. ±3
______3. (𝑑 ∘ 𝑎)(𝑥) c. −7
𝑒 4
______4. ( ) (𝑥 ) d.− 5
𝑐
______5. (𝑐 − 𝑒)(𝑥) e. √𝑥 + 7
𝑥+2
______6. (𝑎 + 𝑏)(−1) f.
𝑥−7
______7. (𝑎 • 𝑏)(0) g. 6𝑥 − 1
______8. (𝑑 ∘ 𝑎)(2) h. 1
𝑒
______9. (𝑐 ) (−2) i. −6
______10. (𝑐 − 𝑒)(2) j. 5𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6

Activity 2:

LET’S SIMPLIFY

𝑥+1
A. Let 𝑝(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3, 𝑚 (𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 1, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥−2 Find:
1. (𝑚 − 𝑝)(𝑥)
2. 𝑝(5) + 𝑚(3) − ℎ(1)
𝑚(𝑥)
3.
𝑝(𝑥)
4. 𝑝(𝑥 + 1)
5. 𝑝(3) − 3(𝑚(2)

B. Given the following:

• 𝑚(𝑥) = 5𝑥 − 3
• 𝑛(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 4
• 𝑐 (𝑥) = 5𝑥 2 + 17𝑥 − 12

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