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Function Notation
 
 
 
 
If fx)
 
3x ~ 10, what is f(-5x) equal to?
A) 15x-10
B) -15x—10
©) 15x+10
D) 15x° + 50x
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Iffx) =~
If fx) = ~3x ~ 10, what is f{-Sx) equal to?
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Psd = GD
And, there's
your answer:
4587 FUNCTION, FUNCTION, WHAT'S YOUR... FUNCTION?
‘Afunction is just a series of steps for you to perform. That's all. it may help you to think of a function as a
button on your calculator. Ifyou type a number into your calculator and then hit the "squared" button, it
performs a function. Your calculator multiplies whatever number you gave it by that same number. You could
think of the "squared” button as performing the function fix) =.
‘What if your calculator had a “g(x)" button? That button would also be a function, but what would it do? Well,
that all depends on what g(x) is defined as. If gx) is defined as g(x) =.x°~ 4, then that's what the g(x) button
would do. It would take whatever number you punch into the calculator, square it, and then subtract 4 from
the product. Obviously, the end result will depend on what number you punch into the calculator before
hitting the g(x) button. That's what makes it a function!
‘That's really all you're doing on an SAT function problem. The problem will usually give you the definition of.
the function, meaning a list of steps to perform. Then the problem will ask something like "What is the value
of f(x) when x= 5?" All you need to do is plug in 5 for x and solve for flx) as fit were any other variable. ftx) Is
basically just a stand-in fory, afterall
lifts) =1°+ 3, then 4) =
This statement basically tells you to take the number in the parentheses after the fand plug it in wherever
you see an.x. Put it into the equation wherever you see an x and solve for /\d) as it were the variable y.
 
fia) = (AY + 344)
fay= 64412
fia) =76
 
Hoy
 
WHATEVER YOU FIND IN THE PARENTHESES IS WHAT YOU PLUG IN FOR X
Plug in whatever isin the parentheses for x,no matter what its!
& Ifyou'te asked to find (5)? Use (5) in place of x. Simple, right?
If you're asked to find fle + 1)? Plug in (x + 1) Stil pretty simple.
Ifyou're asked to find hamburger)? Plugin the word (hamburger) in place of x.
Remember to keep parentheses around whatever you plug in for x because it represents one number.
 
 
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ABASIC FUNCTION IS LIKE A MICROWAVE
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
f(x)
machine
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
x
 
burr
 
it
THEN, YOU RUN IT THROUGH AGAIN!
 
F(x)
 
 
 
 
 
 
f(x)
machine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
f(x)
machine
 
 
 
 
 
 
A FUNCTION WITHIN A FUNCTION IS LIKE MICROWAVING SOMETHING TWICE
re
 
Sx)
 
 
 
 
 
So)AFUNCTION WITHIN A DIFFERENT FUNCTION IS A LOT LIKE DOING LAUNDRY
/flx) washing machine
O00
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
x Sx)
comes a burch
 
 
 
 
 
4 dct clot
wasting wach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FUN WITH FUNCTIONS
1. Mffix) = 3x+ 6 and g(x) = -2x~2 for all values 3. ffx) =2e+ 10 and g(x) =2° ~ 4 for all values of
‘ofr, what isthe value of g((2)? +x, what is the value of e((x)) ~ flg(2))?
 
2. Ife) =3 = 4eand g(x) = 2+ forall valuesof 4, ffx) =2e = and g(x) =2 = 2 forall values
4, what is the fig(3))? of.x, what is the value of (@(/(3)))?
 
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GRAPHING A FUNCTION
It's helpful to think of the graph ofa function as the value of the “output” (the y-value) for every
input" (the x-value). To graph a function, just replace fix) with y and graph the function like you
‘would any other equation.
fo) =2x+1 x
|
 
 
 
READING THE GRAPH OF A FUNCTION
Sometimes they'll give you the graph of a function, but not the actual function. Here, you just
have to work backwards. For any "x" (the x-coordinate),fix)= the y-coordinate.
a
_
(23) or fe) f-2=3
a what the
We have no idea
x equation For FOx) 1s, bat We
ed Prom the aR
that iF x = -2 then £00 = 3.
 
 
YOUR TURN
= ® Here's the graph of a function gis. Use the graph to answer the following questions.
1, What is (4)?
What's a value of x for
which g(x) = -3?
For how many values of x, where
-4.