GEAR UP

LET’S REVIEW!
For you to evaluate functions easily, let us first recall on how to
evaluate algebraic expressions. We have learned that in an algebraic
expression, letters can stand for numbers. When we substitute a
specific value for each variable, and then perform the operations, it’s
called evaluating the expression.
STEP 1. Replace each letter in the expression with the assigned
value.

First, replace each letter in the expression with the value that has
been assigned to it. To make your calculations clear and avoid
mistakes, always enclose the numbers you’re substituting inside
parentheses. The value that’s given to a variable stays the same
throughout the entire problem, even if the letter occurs more
than once in the expression. However, since variables “vary”, the
value assigned to a particular variable can change from problem
to problem, just not within a single problem.

STEP 2. Perform the operations in the expression using the

correct order of operations.

Once you’ve substituted the value for the letter, do the

operations to find the value of the expression. Don’t forget to use
the correct order of operations: first do any operations involving
exponents, then do multiplication and division, and finally do
addition and subtraction.
EXAMPLE:
1. Let’s evaluate the expression 3y + 2y when y = 5.

Solution:

3y + 2y = 3(5) + 2(5)
= 15 + 10
= 25
3 2
2. Evaluate 2x – x + y for x = 3 and y = -2.

Solution:
2x3 – x2 + y = 2(3)3 – (3)2 + (-2)
= 2(27) – (9) + - 2
= 54 – 9 + ( -2)
= 43
IT’S YOUR TURN!
Evaluate the following algebraic expressions, given that x = -3, y = 2,
and z = - 8.
3 yz
1. xy + z 4. x
2. 3xy
3. 4x – 2y – 5z 5. 10z + 4xy - 12

ANSWER:
 ANALYZE AND EXPLORE

LET’S DISCUSS!
To evaluate a function means to find the value of the output f(x),
given the input x. Study the following examples.

Example 1. If f(x) = 4x2 – 5x + 3, evaluate f(5), f(0), f(1/4) and

f(x + 1).

a. f(5) = 4(5)2 – 5(5) + 3

= 4(25) – 25 + 3
= 100 – 25 + 3
= 78

b. f(0) = 4(0)2 – 5(0) + 3

=0–0+3
=3

c. f(1/4) = 4(1/4)2 – 5(1/4) + 3

= 4(1/16) – 5/4 + 3
= 4/16 – 5/4 + 3
= ¼ - 5/4 + 3
= ¼ - 5/4 + 12/4 LCD : 4
= 8/4
=2

d. f(x + 1) = 4(x + 1)2 – 5(x + 1) + 3

= 4 (x + 1)(x + 1) - 5(x + 1) + 3 Apply the
2
= 4( x + x + x + 1) – 5x – 5 + 3 distributive property
= 4(x2 + 2x + 1) – 5x – 5 + 3
= 4x2 + 8x + 4 – 5x – 5 + 3
= 4x2 + 8x – 5x + 4 – 5 + 3 Combine like terms
2
= 4x + 3x + 2
EVALUATING PIECE WISE FUNCTIONS
The process of evaluating piecewise functions is similar to evaluating
ordinary functions, instead for the fact that we need to choose the
piece or chunk of function to be used for a given value of x. We can do
this by examining the appropriate interval where the input or the value
of x belongs.

Example 2. Given the piecewise function below, find h(-10) and

h(1/2).
x3 + 2x x≥6
3
h(x) = 2x
-5 ≤ x < 6 x≠ 0

2 (x +4)2 + 10 x < -5

1. h( - 10)

STEP 1. Determine the piece that should be use.

Since – 10 belongs to the interval x < -5, therefore, we
shall use the third piece of function.
STEP 2. Find h(-10) using the third piece of function.
h(-10) = 2(-10 + 4)2 + 10
= 2 (-6)2 + 10
= 2( 36) + 10
= 82

2. h(1/2)

STEP 1. Since ½ belongs to the interval -5 ≤ x < 6, therefore we

shall
use the second piece of the function.
STEP 2. Find h(1/2).
3
h(1/2) = 2( 1 )
2

=3
CHECK WHAT YOU KNOW
1
1. If f(x) =
6 x−3
, find f(1/12) and f(-10).
2. Evaluate the piecewise function given below.
2x + 3 if x < - 1
F(x) =
3–x if x ≥ - 1
Find f(5), f(5/4) and f(-7).

SOLUTION:
 DEEPEN

For their presentation, a group of medical students hires a dance

choreographer who charges Php 250. 00 per hour, on top of her service call
of Php 400.
a. Help the group of students model the problem so that they can take
care of the payments, given that their dance lesson may last
between three to seven hours.
b. If the choreographer serves for three hours, how much will the
medical students pay?
c. If she serves for 6 hours, how much will the medical students pay?

ANSWER:
 WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

LET’S EVALUATE!
A. Choose the best answer among the given options. Underline
the letter of your choice.

1. A speed walker walks with a speed of 6 km/hour. If the distance walked

is d and the elapsed time is t, write a function that relates the
variables.
A.d(t) = 1.6t B. d(t) = 6t C. d(t) = t/6 D. d(t) = (1/6)t
2.

Find f(3).
A.3 B. 5 C. 6 D. 9
3. Given f(x) = -2x+5, find f(2).
A.5 B. 9 C. 1 D. 3
3 x −2
4. What is f(x) = , when x = 2?
x+ 2
A.1 B. 5 C. 3 D. undefined
5. Evaluate f(3)=3x3-2x2+6x-5.
A. -5 B. 23 C. 2 D. 76
6. What is f(x)=√ x −16, when x = 5?
2

A. 3 B. 5 C. 4 D. 6
2
( )
7. If f x =(x−2) −4 and g ( x ) =3 x−1.Which of the following statement is true?
A. f(0) = g(3) B. f(-1) = g(2) C. f(2) = g(1) D. f(6) = g(0)

B. Give what is asked.

A shoe merchant from Marikina sells a pair of shoes for Php 250. The
monthly overhead cost of manufacturing shoes is Php 3, 000. This
includes raw materials, labor, rent, and utilities. Let x be the number
of shoes manufactured and sold.
a. Write the profit function P, from the sales of shoes.
b. How much will the merchant’s profit be if he sells 30 pairs of shoes
in a month?
EVALUATING FUNCTIONS

Grade 11 – General Mathematics

Learning Competency:
(M11GM-Ia-2)

Evaluates a function.
REFFERENCES:
Conceptual Math and Beyond, General Mathematics by Alvin B. Barcelo,
M.A., Rene R. Belecina, Ph.D., and John Llenord C. Villanueva
Teacher’s Guide, General Mathematics
https://www.mathplanet.com/education/pre-algebra/introducing-algebra/
evaluate-expressions
https://www.shmoop.com/basic-algebra/solving-algebraic-expressions.html