Evaluating Functions

Evaluating a function is all about substitution. The goal is for you to substitute a number,
variable, or both for the variable that appears in parentheses in the given function.

For example: Given f  x   3x  5, evaluate the function for each of the indicated values.
a) f  2  b) f  1 c) f  t  d) f  h  2  e) f  h   f  2 

Solutions:
a) f  2   3  2   5  6  5  1
b) f  1  3  1  5  3  5  8
c) f  t   3  t   5  3t  5
d) f  h  2  3  h  2   5  3  h   3  2   5  3h  6  5  3h  1
e) f  h   f  2   3  h   5   3  2   5   3h  5   6  5  3h  5  1  3h  4

PLEASE NOTE: f  h  2  is not equal to f  h   f  2 

For each of the following problems, evaluate the function at the indicated values.

1. f  x   7  4 x
3
a) f 1 b) f   c) f  x  1 d) f  x   f 1 e) f  x   1
2

2. g  a   6a  3
1 x   x x
a) g  3 b) g   c) g   1 d) g    1 e) g    g 1
3 3  3 3

3. h  w  w  9
a) h  x  b) h  7   h  5 c) h  3w  9  d) h  a 2  16 

3m  4
4. j  m  
m 1
a) j  0  b) j  2  c) j  2t  d) 2 j  t 

5. k  r   2 r  6  15
a) k  3 b) k  2 y  1 c) k  2  y  1  d) k  2 y   1

Answers are on the next page

ANSWERS:

1. a) 3 b) 1 c) 11  4x d) 4  4x e) 6  4x

2. a) 15 b) 5 c) 2 x  9 d) 2 x  4 e) 2 x  12

3. a) x  9 b) 6 c) 3w d) w2  25

6t  4 6t  8
4. a) 4 b) 10 c) d)
2t  1 t 1

5. a) 3 b) 2 2 y  7  15 c) 2 2 y  8  15 d) 2 2 y  6  16