GRE Math : Algebraic Functions
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 :How To Find F(X)
If f(x)=3x and g(x)=2x+2, what is the value of f(g(x)) when x=3?
24
22
18
20
24
With composition of functions (as with the order of operations) we perform what is inside of the parentheses first. So, g(3)=2(3)+2=8 and then f(8)=24.
Example Question #411 :Algebra
g(x) = 4x – 3
h(x) = .25πx + 5
If f(x)=g(h(x)). What is f(1)?
42
π + 17
4
19π – 3
13π + 3
π + 17
First, input the function of h into g. So f(x) = 4(.25πx + 5) – 3, then simplify this expression f(x) = πx + 20–3 (leave in terms of πsince our answers are in terms of π). Then plug in 1 for x to get π+ 17.
Example Question #3 :How To Find F(X)
If 7y = 4x - 12, then x =
Adding 12 to both sides and dividing by 4 yields (7y+12)/4.
Example Question #311 :Algebra
What is
Example Question #1 :How To Find F(X)
If F(x) = 2x2+ 3 and G(x) = x – 3, what is F(G(x))?
2x2– 12x +21
6x2+ 5x
6x2– 12x
2x2+ 12x +18
2x2
2x2– 12x +21
A composite function substitutes one function into another function and then simplifies the resulting expression. F(G(x)) means the G(x) gets put into F(x).
F(G(x)) = 2(x – 3)2+ 3 = 2(x2– 6x +9) + 3 = 2x2– 12x + 18 + 3 = 2x2– 12x + 21
G(F(x)) = (2x2+3) – 3 = 2x2
Example Question #1 :How To Find F(X)
If a(x) = 2x3+ x, and b(x) = –2x, what is a(b(2))?
128
132
–503
–132
503
–132
When functions are set up within other functions like in this problem, the function closest to the given variable is performed first. The value obtained from this function is then plugged in as the variable in the outside function. Since b(x) = –2x, and x = 2, the value we obtain from b(x) is –4. We then plug this value in for x in the a(x) function. So a(x) then becomes 2(–43) + (–4), which equals –132.
Example Question #2 :How To Find F(X)
LetF(x) =x3+ 2x2– 3 and G(x) =x+ 5. FindF(G(x))
x3+ 17x2+ 95x+ 172
x3+ 2x2+x+ 2
x3+x2+ 2
x3+ 2x2–x– 8
x3+x2+x+ 8
x3+ 17x2+ 95x+ 172
F(G(x)) is a composite function where the expressionG(x) is substituted in forxinF(x)
F(G(x)) = (x+ 5)3+ 2(x+ 5)2– 3 =x3+ 17x2+ 95x+ 172
G(F(x)) =x3+x2+ 2
F(x) –G(x) =x3+ 2x2–x– 8
F(x) +G(x) =x3+ 2x2+x+ 2
Example Question #2 :How To Find F(X)
What is the value ofxy2(xy –3xy) given thatx= –3 andy= 7?
–2881
3565
2881
–6174
–6174
Evaluating yields –6174.
–147(–21 + 63) =
–147 * 42 = –6174
Example Question #1 :How To Find F(X)
Find
Alternatively, we can find that
Example Question #91 :Algebraic Functions
It takes no more than 40 minutes to run a race, but at least 30 minutes. What equation will model this in m minutes?
If we take the mean number of minutes to be 35, then we need an equation which is less than 5 from either side of 35. If we subtract 35 from
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