GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Evaluating a Function

Evaluating a function means replacing the variable in the function, in this case
𝑥, with a value from the function’s domain and computing for the result. To denote that
we are evaluating 𝑓 at 𝑎 for some 𝑎 in the domain of 𝑓, we write 𝑓(𝑎).

Example 1: Evaluate the following functions at 𝑥 = 1.5.

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1
2. 𝑞(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2
3. 𝑔(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 1
2𝑥+1
4. 𝑟(𝑥) = 𝑥−1

Solution:
1. 𝑓(1.5) = 2(1.5) + 1 = 4
2. 𝑞(1.5) = (1.5)2 − 2(1.5) + 2 = 1.25
3. 𝑔(1.5) = √(1.5) + 1 = √2.25
2(1.5)+1
4. 𝑟(1.5) = =8
(1.5)−1

Example 2: Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2, find the following values.

1. 𝑓(0)
2.𝑓(3)
3.𝑓(−1)
4.𝑓(𝑥 + 1)
5.𝑓(3𝑥)

Solution:
1. 𝑓(0) = 0 − 2 = −2
2. 𝑓(3) = 3 − 2 = 1
3. 𝑓(−1) = −1 − 2 = −3
4.𝑓(𝑥 + 1) = (𝑥 + 1) − 2 = 𝑥 + 1 − 2 = 𝑥 − 1
5. 𝑓(3𝑥) = 3𝑥 − 2

Note: The ordered pair (𝑥, 𝑦) can be written as (𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥)) because 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦.

PROBLEM SOLVING:
Mark started selling snacks in the nearby school. In one day, he spends 200 Php for
rent and 25 Php for each snack item he prepares. His expenses everyday can be
expressed as the function 𝐶(𝑥) = 25𝑥 + 200, where 𝑥 is the number of items and 𝐶(𝑥)
is his daily expenses in pesos. How much are his expenses if he prepares 100 snack
items? 150 snack items?