Evaluate Functions

Evaluate real valued functions: A step by step tutorial, with examples and detailed solutions. To find the value f(a) of a function, a has to be in the domain of f. In what follows, we are considering only real valued functions.

Evaluate Functions; Examples with Solutions

Example 1

Evaluate function f for x = -2 and x = 2, if possible, given that f is defined by
f (x) = - 4 / ( x + 2)
Solution to Example 1
Function f given above has domain
(- infinity , - 2) U (- 2 , + infinity)
Since at x = - 2 the denominator of f(x) is equal to 0,
f(-2) = undefined.
To find f(2), substitute x by 2 in f(x) = -4 / ( x + 2)
f(2) = - 4 / (2 + 2) = -1.

Example 2

Evaluate function g for x = 3 and x = 0, if possible, given that function g is defined by
g (x) = √(x - 3)
Solution to Example 2
To find g(3), substitute x by 3 in the formula of the function
g (3) = √(3 - 3) = √(0) = 0
The domain of g is given by the interval
[3 , +infinity)
x = 0 is not included in the domain, hence
g(0) = √(0 - 3) = √(-3) = not a real number.

Example 3

Evaluate, if possible, h(4), g(4) and h(4) / g(4) where functions h and g are defined by
h (x) = 3x - 8 , g (x) = x 2 - 16
Solution to Example 3
Evaluate h(4)
h(4) = 3(4) - 8 = 4
Evaluate g(4)
g (4) = 4
2 - 16
= 16 -16 = 0
In evaluating h(4) / g(4), g(4) which is the denominator is equal to 0. In mathematics division by zero is not allowed. Hence
h(4) / g(4) = undefined

Example 4

Evaluate, if possible, h(t - 1) where function h is defined by
h (x) = 2 x 2 - 2 x + 2
Solution to Example 4
The domain of this function is the set of all real numbers. Hence h(t -1) is given by
h (t - 1) = 2 (t - 1)
2 - 2 (t - 1) + 2
Expand the square and group like terms
h (t - 1) = 2 (t
2 - 2t + 1) - 2t + 2 + 2
= 2t
2 - 4t + 2 - 2t + 4
= 2t
2 - 6t + 6

Exercises

1 - Evaluate function f for x = 9 given that f(x) = 2 x 2 + 2
2 - Evaluate g(1), h(1) and g(1) / h(1) given that g(x) = x
3 + 1 and h(x) = x - 1
3 - Evaluate f(t + 2) given that f(x) = - 2 x
2 + 2x

Solutions to the Above Exercises


1 - f(9) = 164
2 - g(1) = 2 , h(1) = 0 , g(1) / h(1) = undefined
3 - f(t + 2) = - 2 t
2 - 6t - 4
More
mathematics tutorials and problems are presented in this site.

privacy policy

{ezoic-ad-1}

{ez_footer_ads}