Evaluating Functions
Evaluating Functions
Evaluating a function is all about substitution. The goal is for you to substitute a number,
variable, or both for the variable that appears in parentheses in the given function.
For example: Given f x 3x 5, evaluate the function for each of the indicated values.
a) f 2 b) f 1 c) f t d) f h 2 e) f h f 2
Solutions:
a) f 2 3 2 5 6 5 1
b) f 1 3 1 5 3 5 8
c) f t 3 t 5 3t 5
d) f h 2 3 h 2 5 3 h 3 2 5 3h 6 5 3h 1
e) f h f 2 3 h 5 3 2 5 3h 5 6 5 3h 5 1 3h 4
For each of the following problems, evaluate the function at the indicated values.
1. f x 7 4 x
3
a) f 1 b) f c) f x 1 d) f x f 1 e) f x 1
2
2. g a 6a 3
1 x x x
a) g 3 b) g c) g 1 d) g 1 e) g g 1
3 3 3 3
3. h w w 9
a) h x b) h 7 h 5 c) h 3w 9 d) h a 2 16
3m 4
4. j m
m 1
a) j 0 b) j 2 c) j 2t d) 2 j t
5. k r 2 r 6 15
a) k 3 b) k 2 y 1 c) k 2 y 1 d) k 2 y 1
1. a) 3 b) 1 c) 11 4x d) 4 4x e) 6 4x
2. a) 15 b) 5 c) 2 x 9 d) 2 x 4 e) 2 x 12
3. a) x 9 b) 6 c) 3w d) w2 25
6t 4 6t 8
4. a) 4 b) 10 c) d)
2t 1 t 1
5. a) 3 b) 2 2 y 7 15 c) 2 2 y 8 15 d) 2 2 y 6 16