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Section 2.1 #36: For the function $$f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 3, & x \leq -2 \\ \frac{x}{2}+6, & x > -2, \end{array} \right.$$ find the values $f(-5), f(-2), f(0),$ and $f(2)$.
Solution: Since $-5 \leq -2$, we compute $$f(-5)=3.$$ Since $-2 \leq -2$, we compute $$f(-2)=3.$$ Since $0 > -2$, we compute $$f(0) = \dfrac{0}{2}+6 = 0+6 = 6.$$ Since $2 > -2$, we compute $$f(2)=\dfrac{2}{2} + 6=1+6=7.$$

Section 2.1 #39: Graph the following function: $$f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \frac{x}{2}, & x < 0 \\ x+3, & x \geq 0. \end{array} \right.$$ Solution: First consider the graph of $y=\dfrac{x}{2}$:

Now consider the graph of $y=x+3$:

Therefore the graph of the piecewise function is

Section 2.2 #24: For the functions $f(x) = \sqrt{x}$ and $g(x)=\sqrt{2-x}$,
a.) Find the domain of $f$, $g$, $f+g$, $f-g$, $fg$, $ff$, $\dfrac{f}{g}$, and $\dfrac{g}{f}$.
b.) Find $(f+g)(x)$, $(f-g)(x)$, $(fg)(x)$, $(ff)(x)$, $\left( \dfrac{f}{g} \right)(x)$, and $\left( \dfrac{g}{f} \right)(x)$.
Solution:
a.) First note that the domain of $f$ is defined by the inequality $x \geq 0$, or as an interval, $$\mathrm{dom}(f)=[0,\infty).$$
The domain of $g$ is defined by the inequality $2-x \geq 0$, which is equivalent to $2 \geq x$. We can write $2 \geq x$ as $x \leq 2$, or as an interval, $$\mathrm{dom}(g)=(-\infty,2].$$
The domain of $f+g$, $f-g$, and $fg$ are all just the intersection of the domain of $f$ with the domain of $g$: $$\mathrm{dom}(f+g) = \mathrm{dom}(f-g)=\mathrm{dom}(fg)=[0,\infty) \cap (-\infty,2] = [0,2].$$ The domain of $(ff)(x)$ will simply be the domain of $f$: $$\mathrm{dom}(ff)=\mathrm{dom}(f)=[0,\infty).$$ The domain of $\left(\dfrac{f}{g} \right)(x)$ is the intersection of the domains of $f$ and $g$ and also taking away the $x$-values that cause $g(x)$ to be zero: $$\mathrm{dom} \left( \dfrac{f}{g} \right) = [0,\infty) \cap (-\infty,2] \hspace{2pt} \mathrm{and \hspace{2pt} take \hspace{2pt} away \hspace{2pt}} 2=[0,2).$$ The domain of $\left( \dfrac{g}{f} \right)(x)$ is the intersection of the domains of $f$ and $g$ and also taking away the $x$-values that cause $f(x)$ to be zero: $$\mathrm{dom} \left( \dfrac{g}{f} \right) = [0,\infty) \cap (-\infty,2] \hspace{2pt} \mathrm{and \hspace{2pt} take \hspace{2pt} away \hspace{2pt}} 0=(0,2].$$ b.) Compute $$(f+g)(x) = f(x) + g(x) = \sqrt{x} + \sqrt{2-x},$$ $$(f-g)(x) = f(x)-g(x)=\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{2-x},$$ $$(fg)(x)=f(x)g(x)=\sqrt{x} \sqrt{2-x},$$ $$(ff)(x)=f(x)f(x)=\sqrt{x} \sqrt{x} = x,$$ $$\left( \dfrac{f}{g} \right)(x) = \dfrac{f(x)}{g(x)}=\dfrac{\sqrt{x}}{\sqrt{2-x}},$$ and $$\left( \dfrac{g}{f} \right)(x) = \dfrac{g(x)}{f(x)} = \dfrac{\sqrt{2-x}}{\sqrt{x}}.$$

Section 2.2 #50: Compute the difference quotient $\dfrac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}$, where $f(x)=4x-1$.
Solution: Compute directly: $$\begin{array}{ll} \dfrac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h} &= \dfrac{[4(x+h)-1] - [4x-1]}{h} \\ &= \dfrac{4x+4h-1-4x+1}{h} \\ &= \dfrac{4h}{h} \\ &= 4. \end{array}$$