Posted by T.Gracken on October 14, 2002 at 11:19:35:
In Reply to: mom needs help posted by Pat on October 14, 2002 at 00:25:10:
: I'm trying to relearn algebra so I can be of some help to my son! I don't want to just have an answer to a problem for him, I want to help him understand how it works. I was a wiz when I was in class, but the memory of how to do this has faded with time!
: What am I looking for on the math sites to help me figure this type of problem?
: f(x)= 4x + 7 and g(x) = 2x + 8...find f(2)
: Thanks for any help you can give.
: pw
when equations are written using f(x), g(x), "something"(x), it is simply a way that mathematicians label equations. That is, instead of saying
suppose we let equation 1 be y = 4x + 7 and equation 2 be y = 2x + 8 (and so on).
we just call equation one f. and y = f(x) [read: why equals eff ov ex] Also, equation 2 we will call g and y = g(x) here [read: why equals jee ov ex]
This notation is used for a number of reasons. One being laziness. Instead of me asking, "what is the y value for equation 1 when we replace the x with the number 2?", I can simply write find f(2) and I have said the same thing. But I don't even have to go back and label equations and such.
So f(2) means "what is 4x+7 equal to when the x is replaced with 2?"
i.e. f(2)=15.
other examples:
what is g(1)? ...that is what is 2x+8 equal to when x is replaced with 1? [I know to use 2x+8 since g(x)=2x+8 and the problem references "g"]
so, g(1)=10.
hope that helps