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Honors: 7.08 Combining linear and quadratic functions

Lesson

Concept summary

We can combine functions using the four arithmetic operations (add, subtract, mulitply, and divide).

  • Add functions: \left(f+g\right)(x) = f\left(x\right)+g\left(x\right)

  • Subtract functions: \left(f-g\right)(x) = f\left(x\right)-g\left(x\right)

The domain of the resulting function when finding the sum or difference of two functions is the intersection of the initial two functions, in this case f and g.

  • Multiply functions: \left(f \cdot g\right) \left(x\right) = f\left(x \right) \cdot g\left(x \right)

  • Divide functions: \left(\dfrac{f}{g}\right)(x) = \dfrac{f\left(x\right)}{g\left(x\right)}

The domain of the product or quotient of two functions is the set of all real numbers for which the initial two functions and the resulting new function are defined, in this case f and g and \left(f \cdot g\right) \left(x\right) \text{ or} \left(\dfrac{f}{g}\right)(x) respectively.

When finding the domain of the quotient of two functions remember that the denominator cannot equal 0.

Worked examples

Example 1

Given that f\left(x\right)=x^2+3 and g\left(x\right)=7x-2, perform each function operation and find the domain.

a

\left( f + g\right) \left(x\right)

Approach

We want to add the two functions and combine like terms. So we use the formula:\left( f+g\right)\left(x\right) = f\left(x\right) + g\left(x\right)

We also want to find the domain of f(x) and g(x) to help us determine the domain of \left(f+g\right)\left(x\right).

The domain of the resulting function will be the intersection of the initial two functions, in this case f and g since we are finding the sum or difference of f and g.

Solution

First we find the function \left(f+g\right)\left(x\right):

\displaystyle \left( f+g\right)\left(x\right) \displaystyle =\displaystyle f\left(x\right) + g\left(x\right)Formula
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle x^2 + 3 + 7x-2Substitution
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle x^2 + 7x+1Simplify

Next, we identify the domain of f\left(x\right) and g\left(x\right):

Domain of f\left(x\right): -\infty \lt x \lt \infty

Domain of g\left(x\right): -\infty \lt x \lt \infty

Finally, we find the domain of \left(f+g\right)\left(x\right) by taking the intersection of the domains of f\left(x\right) and g\left(x\right).

\text{Domain of }\left(f+g\right)\left(x\right) \text{: }-\infty \lt x \lt \infty

Reflection

Notice that the degree of the resulting function is the maximum of the degrees of the two functions.

b

\left( f - g\right) \left(x\right)

Approach

We want to subtract the one function from the other function and combine like terms. So we use the formula:\left( f-g\right)\left(x\right) = f\left(x\right) - g\left(x\right)

From part (a) we know the domain of f\left(x\right), g\left(x\right), and the intersection of their domains (which is the domain of \left(f-g\right)\left(x\right)).

Solution

\displaystyle \left( f-g\right)\left(x\right) \displaystyle =\displaystyle f\left(x\right) - g\left(x\right)Formula
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle x^2 + 3 - \left( 7x-2\right)Substitution
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle x^2+3-7x+2Distribute the -1
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle x^2 - 7x+5Simplify

\text{Domain of } \left(f-g\right)\left(x\right)\text{: }-\infty \lt x \lt \infty

c

\left( f \cdot g\right) \left(x\right)

Approach

We want to multiply the two functions and combine like terms if possible. So initially we start with:

\left( f \cdot g\right) \left(x\right)= f\left(x\right)\cdot g\left(x\right)

We also want to find the domain of the resulting function and check that domain of the expression formed by \left(f \cdot g\right)\left(x\right).

Solution

\displaystyle \left(f \cdot g\right)\left(x\right)\displaystyle =\displaystyle f\left(x\right)\cdot g\left(x\right)Formula
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle \left(x^2+3\right)\left(7x-2\right)Substitution
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle 7x^3-2x^2+21x-6Distribute the parentheses

Find the domain by taking the intersection of f(x), g(x), and the expression 7x^3-2x^2+21x-6.

Domain of the expression 7x^3-2x^2+21x-6: -\infty \lt x \lt \infty

\text{Domain of } \left(f \cdot g\right)\left(x\right)\text{: }-\infty \lt x \lt \infty

Reflection

Notice that the degree of the resulting function is the sum of the degrees of f and g.

d

\left( \dfrac{f}{g}\right) \left(x\right)

Approach

We want to divide one function by another function and combine like terms if possible. So initially we start with:

\left( \dfrac{f}{g}\right) \left(x\right)= \dfrac{f\left(x\right)}{ g\left(x\right)}

We also want to find the domain of the resulting function. We do this by checking the domain of the expression formed by \left(\dfrac{f }{ g}\right)\left(x\right), and excluding points where g(x)=0 (as we cannot divide by 0).

Solution

\displaystyle \left( \dfrac{f}{g}\right) \left(x\right)\displaystyle =\displaystyle \dfrac{f\left(x\right)}{ g\left(x\right)}Formula
\displaystyle {}\displaystyle =\displaystyle \dfrac{x^2+3}{7x-2}Substitution

We need to work out where g(x)=0 so we can exclude those values from the domain.

g(x) = 7x -2 = 0 \implies x = \dfrac{2}{7}

\text{Domain of }\left( \dfrac{f}{g}\right) \left(x\right)\text{: } -\infty \lt x < \dfrac{2}{7} \cup \dfrac{2}{7} < x \lt \infty

Example 2

For the given graph, calculate \left(g-f\right)(0).

-8
-6
-4
-2
2
4
6
8
x
-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
y

Approach

First we need to find g(0) and f(0) using the graph. In other words, we need to find the output for g and f when the input is 0 and find the difference between the outputs.

It can help to label the two points on the graph with their coordinates.

-8
-6
-4
-2
2
4
6
8
x
-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
y

Solution

g(0)=8 \text{ and } f(0)=1

So \left(g-f\right)(0) = g(0)-f(0) and g(0)-f(0)=8-1

So \left(g-f\right)(0)=7

Reflection

We could also evaluate the other arithmetic operations from a graph, such as add, multiply, and divide g and f.

Example 3

Dayana is organizing a trip to a theme park. The theme park has an admission cost of \$60 and a hotel room costs \$ 280. She is trying to decide how many friends to invite.

a

If x people go, find the quotient which determines the cost per person.

Approach

The total cost of everyone would be \text{Total cost of everyone}=\text{Cost for hotel room}+\left(\text{theme park cost per person}\right)\cdot\left( \text{number of people}\right)The cost per person will be \text{Cost per person}=\dfrac{\text{Total cost of everyone}}{\text{Number of people}}

Solution

A function which represents the total cost of everyone would be: T(x)=280+60x

A quotient to determine the cost per person would be: C(x)=\dfrac{280+60x}{x}

Reflection

We could rewrite this as:

\displaystyle C(x)\displaystyle =\displaystyle \dfrac{280+60x}{x}
\displaystyle =\displaystyle \dfrac{280}{x}+\dfrac{60x}{x}
\displaystyle =\displaystyle \dfrac{280}{x}+60
b

Describe the domain in terms of the context.

Approach

We need to consider what x is representing and any constraints based on the context or restrictions algebraically.

Solution

Algebraically, since we have x in the denominator, we know that x\neq 0.

Based on the context, x is representing the number of people, so must be positive integer values. Also, there will be restrictions on the number of people that can stay in one hotel room. This will likely vary based on the hotel, but is generally around 4.

A possible domain could be x \in \left\{1, 2, 3, 4 \right\} if we assume a limit of 4 people per room.

Outcomes

MA.912.AR.1.3

Add, subtract and multiply polynomial expressions with rational number coefficients.

MA.912.AR.1.4

Divide a polynomial expression by a monomial expression with rational number coefficients.

MA.912.AR.2.4

Given a table, equation or written description of a linear function, graph that function, and determine and interpret its key features.

MA.912.AR.2.5

Solve and graph mathematical and real-world problems that are modeled with linear functions. Interpret key features and determine constraints in terms of the context.

MA.912.AR.3.7

Given a table, equation or written description of a quadratic function, graph that function, and determine and interpret its key features.

MA.912.AR.3.8

Solve and graph mathematical and real-world problems that are modeled with quadratic functions. Interpret key features and determine constraints in terms of the context.

MA.912.F.3.1

Given a mathematical or real-world context, combine two functions, limited to linear and quadratic, using arithmetic operations. When appropriate, include domain restrictions for the new function.

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