OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS
ADDITION AND SUBSTRACTION OF POLYNOMIALS
RULE:
To add two polynomials, write the sum and simplify by combining like terms.
To subtract an expression from another expression, add its negative. That is,
a−b=a+(−b)
Examples
To add 3 x+ 4 and 7 x−8 ,
( 3 x+ 4 )+ ( 7 x−8 )=3 x +7 x +4−8
¿(3 x +7 x )+(4−8)
¿ 10 x−4
To subtract 7 x +2 from 5 x+ 4 ,
( 5 x+ 4 )−( 7 x +2 )=5 x +4−7 x−2
¿ 5 x−7 x+ 4−2
¿−2 x +2
MULTIPLICATION OF POLYNOMIALS
When multiplying monomials, you will often use the following laws of exponents.
RULE: Laws Of Exponents
m n m +n
Product Rule for Exponents: x · x =x
To multiply powers having the same base, keep the base and add the exponents.
m n mn
Power Rule for Exponents: ( x ) =x
To find the power of a power of a base, keep the base and multiply the exponents.
Power of a Product Rule: (xy )n=x n y n
To find the power of a product, find the power of each factor and then multiply the resulting powers.
Examples
To simplify (x 2 y 3 )(x 4 y 5) , use the product rule for the exponents for each base to get
2+ 4 3 +5 6 8
( x y ) or ( x y ).
To simplify ¿, apply the power and product rules for exponents to get m 3 ·2 m 7=m 6+7 =m 13
To FOIL Method (First, Out, In, Last)
Square of a Binomial
1st Step: square the first term
2nd Step: twice the product of the two terms
3rd Step: square the last term
2 2 2
(x + y ) =x +2 xy + y
2 2 2
( x− y ) =x −2 xy + y
2 2 2
Example (a+ 7) =a +2 ( a )( 7 )+7
2
¿ a +14 a+ 49
Cube of a Binomial
3 3 2 2 3
(x + y ) =x +3 x y+ 3 xy + y
3 3 2 2 3
( x− y ) =x −3 x y +3 xy − y
Example
To cube 2 x+5 , or (2 x+ 5)3 , we do as follows:
First term: The cube of 2 x=8 x 3
Second term: Three times the product of (2 x)2∧5=3 ( 2 x )2 ( 5 )=60 x 2
Third term: Three times the product of 2 x∧52=3 ( 2 x )( 25 )=150 x
Fourth term: The cube of 5=125
So, (2 x+ 5)3 =8 x3 +60 x 2 +150 x+125
Product of Sum and Difference
( x + y ) ( x − y )=x 2− y 2
Example
To perform ( 4 t+ 9 )( 4 t−9 ) , we have:
( 4 t + 9 )( 4 t−9 )=( 4 t )2−(9)2
2
¿ 16 t −81
Square of a Trinomial
Step 1: Square the first term
Step 2: Square the second term
Step 3: Square the third term
Step 4: Twice the product of the first term and the second term
Step 5: Twice the product of the first term and the third term
Step 6: Twice the product of the second term and the third term
2 2 2 2
(x + y + z) =x + y + z + 2 xy +2 xz +2 yz
DIVISION OF MONOMIALS
Rules of Division for Exponents
For every positive integer m and n, and x ≠ 0 ;
m
x m −n
n
=x ,when m>n ;
x
m
x 1
n
= n−m , when m<n
x x
Example
5 4 4
x 5−2 3 a 1 1 m 0
2
=x =x 6
= 6−4 = 2 4
=m =1
x a a a m
DEFINITION
SUM, DIFFERENCE, PRODUCT, AND QUOTIENT OF FUNCTIONS
Let f and g be functions.
Their sum, denoted by f +g ,is the function denoted by
( f +g ) ( x ) =f ( x )+ g (x)
Their difference, denoted by f −g, is the function denoted by
( f −g ) ( x )=f ( x )−g (x)
Their product, denoted by f ∙ g, is the function denoted by
¿ g ¿=f ( x ) ∙ g( x)
f
Their quotient, denoted by , is the function denoted by
g
EXAMPLES
If f ( x )=3 x−2 and g ( x )=x 2+ 2 x−3 , find:
f
a. (f + g)(x) b. (f −g)(x) c. (fg)(x ) d. (x )
g
Solutions:
a. ( f +g ) ( x ) =( 3 x −2 )+ ( x 2+2 x−3 ) c. ( fg )( x )=( 3 x−2 ) ( x 2+ 2 x−3 )
2
¿ 3 x−2+ x + 2 x−3 ¿ 3 x ( x 2 +2 x−3 ) −2 ( x 2 +2 x−3 )
2 3 2 2
¿ x + 5 x−5 ¿ 3 x + 6 x −9 x−2 x −4 x +6
3 2
¿ 3 x + 4 x −13 x +6
f 3 x−2 3 x−2
b. ( f −g ) ( x )=( 3 x−2 )−( x2 +2 x−3 ) d. ( x )= 2 =
g x +2 x−3 (x +3)(x−1)
2
¿ 3 x−2−x −2 x +3 You can expand the numerators if needed, but usually in
2
¿−x + x +1 Algebra, keeping factored form is acceptable.
ACTIVITY
f
(x) .
Find ( f +g ) ( x ) , ( f −g ) ( x ), ( fg )( x ),
g
1. f ( x )=3 x + 4 , g ( x )=2 x−1
x−5 4x
2. f ( x )= , g ( x )=
3 x+ 7 3 x +7
