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Question 704329:  I am having a problem with fully understanding how to get an answer for these questions. I seriously do not understand how to get the domain, but I think I figured it out. If anyone can tell me where I went wrong it very simple terms that would be great. I apologize about there being more than 1 question. 
 
1. Find the indicated function value.f(x) = x - 2, g(x) = x + 1Find (f + g)(-1)  
Answer: -2 + 1 * -1 = 1 
2. Find the domain of the function.f(x) = -3x + 2 
Answer: (-∞, ∞) 
3.For the pair of functions, determine the domain of f + g.f(x) = 2x + -9, g(x) = 4x + -3  
Answer: (-∞, 0) or (0, ∞) 
4. Find the requested value.f(x) = 2x2 - 1, g(x) = x + 1Find f(4) - g(4). 
Answer: 34  
5. For the pair of functions, determine the domain of f + g.f(x) = 4x + 3, g(x) = 3x + 8 
Answer: (-∞, -4) or (-4, ∞) 
 Answer by KMST(5328)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 1. f(x) = x - 2, g(x) = x + 1 
What they mean by (f + g)(-1) is the function made by adding functions f and g applied to x=-1. 
You can calculate it as 
 = [(-1)-2] + [(-1)+1] =  
or you can calculate   
and then substitute (-1) for x to get 
  
It is not a product, and it is not ( -2 + 1) * (-1 )= 1 
  
2. Find the domain of the function.f(x) = -3x + 2 
Answer: (-∞, ∞) 
You are correct. The domain of a function is the set of x values where it is defined. 
Since there are no given restrictions on x, 
and you can calculate it for any x, 
the domain of f(x) = -3x + 2 is all real numbers. 
(That is true of all polynomials). 
  
3.For the pair of functions, determine the domain of f + g.f(x) = 2x + -9, g(x) = 4x + -3  
Answer: (-∞, 0) or (0, ∞) 
Why not (-∞, ∞)? 
Do you think you could not calculate that function for x=0? 
Denominators should not be zero, but I do not see any denominator in that function. 
  
4.  If  , and  , 
 , and  , 
Then  . 
  
5. f+g just indicates the function that is a sum of 2 functions. 
f(x) = 4x + 3, and g(x) = 3x + 8 are polynomial functions. 
They can be calculated for any real number x. 
The sum can always be calculated, for any x. 
The domain is all the real numbers 
  
UNDERSTANDING DOMAIN: 
The domain of a function is the set of x values where it is defined. 
Examples: 
If f(x) is defined as f(x) = 5 for all x>2, 
then its domain is (2, ∞) because it is not defined for x=2, or for any x<2. 
For a function without any explanation as to what x you are allowed to use, 
you have to figure out if there is any value of x that will not work. 
  does not exist (cannot be calculated) for x<0, 
because there are no real square roots for negative numbers, 
so its domain is [0, ∞) 
  does not exist for x=3, because that would make the denominator zero, and we cannot divide by zero. 
We cannot calculate the function for x=3, so 3 is not part of the domain. 
We can calculate   for all other numbers so its domain is 
(-∞, 3) or (3, ∞) 
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