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Evaluating Functions Solutions

  • Until now, you have used the substitution property to replace a    variable    in an expression or equation with another    value    (a number, variable, or expression).
  • Now, you can substitute an entire    function    into another function.
Substitution with Variables Substitution with Functions
 f(x)=2x+3  f(x)=2x+3 g(x)=x+4
 f(4)=2(4)+3  f(g(x))=2(x+4)+3
 f(x)=2x+3  f(g(x))=2x+8+3
   f(g(x))=2x+11

Example 1

Given h(x)=2x2+ax where a is a constant and h(5)=65, determine h(5).

Implement

h5=252+a565=225+5a65=505a15=5aa=3

hx=2x2+3xh5=252+35 h5=225+15h5=35

Explain

  • Determine the value of a
  • Write the equation with the value of a
  • Evaluate for h(5)

Example 2

Evaluate the functions f and g with the expression 2n1.

 fx=x2+4gx=x2+6x

 f2n1=2n12+4

 f2n1=4n24n+1+4  f2n1=4n24n+5

g2n1=2n12+62n1g2n1=4n24n+1+12n6g2n1=4n2+4n1+12n6g2n1=4n2+16n7

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