# If f and g are both even functions, is f + g even? If f and g are both odd functions, is f+g odd? What if f is even and g is odd? Justify your answers.

The main objective of this question is to check whether the addition of the given two functions when both the functions are odd, even or one is odd and the other is even results in even or odd function.

This question shows the concept of even and odd functions. An even function is mathematically represented as:

$f(-x) = f(x)$

While the odd function is mathematically represented as:

$f(-x) = -f(x)$

We have to show that the given two functions  which are  $f$ and $g$  are even or odd.

Let:

$h(x) \space = \space f(x) \space + \space g(x)$

An even function is mathematically represented as $f(-x) \space = \space f(x)$ while the odd function is mathematically represented $f(-x) \space = \space -f(x)$.

Suppose that the given two functions which are $f$  and $g$ are even functions, then:

$h(-x) \space = \space f(-x) \space + \space g(-x)$

$h(x) \space = \space f(x) \space + \space g(x)$

Thus, $h$ is an even function.

Now suppose that the given two functions which are $f$  and $g$ are odd functions, then:

$h(-x) \space = \space f(-x) \space + \space g(-x)$

$= \space – f(x) \space + \space -g(x)$

$= -( f(x) \space + \space g(x) )$

$-h(x) \space = \space – ( f(x) \space + \space g(x) )$

Thus $h$ is an odd function.

Now from the given two functions, one function is odd and the other is even, so:

$h(-x) \space = \space f(-x) \space + \space g(-x)$

$h(-x) \space = \space f(x) \space + \space g(-x)$

$h(-x) \space = \space f(x) \space – \space g(-x)$

This $h$ function is neither even nor odd.

• When the two functions are odd, then the sum of two functions results in an odd function.
• When the two functions are even, then the sum of two functions results in an even function.
• When two functions are given; one is odd and the other is even, then their sum will result in neither an even nor odd function.

## Example

When the two functions $a$ and $b$ are even, then the production of these two function will result in even or odd function.

We know that an even function is mathematically represented as:

$f(-x) = f(x)$

While the odd function is mathematically represented as:

$f(-x) = -f(x)$

So,Let:

$f \space : \space A \space \rightarrow \space f(x)$

This is an even function then:

$f(-x) \space = \space f(x)$

Also, let \$

$g \space : \space B \space \rightarrow \space f(x)$

This is an even function then:

$g(-x) \space = \space g(x)$

Let:

$h \space = \space h . g$

$h(-x) \space = \space (f.g)(-x) \space = \space f(-x)g(-x) \space = \space f(x)g(x) \space = \space h(x)$

Thus, when the two given functions are even then their product will also result in an even function.

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