GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Evaluating Functions
Before we proceed to this module, try to look
and analyze some of the common types of
functions that you might encounter.
Evaluating function is the process of
determining the value of the function at the
number assigned to a given variable. Just like in
evaluating algebraic expressions, to evaluate
function you just need to
a.) replace each letter in the expression with the
assigned value and
b.) perform the operations in the expression
using the correct order of operations.
 EXAMPLE 1:
Given f(x) = 2x – 4 , find the value of the function if x = 3.
Solution:
f(x) = 2x – 4
f(3) = 2(3) – 4
f(3) = 6 – 4
f(3) = 2
 EXAMPLE 2:
Given g(x) = + 7 , find g(-3).
Solution:
g(x) = + 7
g(-3) = + 7
g(-3) = + 7
g(-3) = 27 + 7
g(-3) = 34
 EXAMPLE 3:
Given p(x) = + 5x – 2, find p(0) and p(-1).
Solution: Solution:
@ p(0) @ p(-1)
p(x) = + 5x – 2 p(x) = + 5x – 2
p(0) = + 5(0) – 2 p(-1) = + 5(-1) – 2
p(-1) = 3 (1) + (-5) – 2
p(0) = 0 + 0 – 2
p(-1) = 3 – 5 – 2
p(0) = -2
p(-1) = -4
 EXAMPLE 4:
Given f(x) = 5x + 1, find f(h+1).
Solution:
f(x) = 5x + 1
f(h+1) = 5(h+1) + 1
f(h+1) = 5h + 5 + 1
f(h+1) = 5h + 6
EXAMPLE 5:
Given g(x) = , find g(9).
Solution:
g(x) =
g(9) =
g(9) =
g(9) =
g(9) = 5
 EXAMPLE 6:
Given h(x) = find the value of function if x = -5.
Solution:
h(x) =

h(-5) =

h(-5) =
h(-5) =
h(-5) =
EXAMPLE 7:
Evaluate f(x) = if x = .
Solution:
f(x) =
f() =
f() =
f() =
f() =
f() = 2
 EXAMPLE 8:
Evaluate the function f(x) = |x-8| if x = 3.
Solution:
f(x) = |x - 8|
f(3) = |3 - 8|
f(3) = |-5|
f(3) = 5
 EXAMPLE 9:
Evaluate the function f(x) = - 2x + 2 at f(2x-3).
Solution:
f(x) = - 2x + 2
f(2x - 3) = - 2(2x – 3) + 2
f(2x - 3) = -12x + 9 – 4x + 6 + 2
f(2x - 3) = -16x + 17
Difference Quotient
this quantity is called difference quotient.
Specifically, the difference quotient is used in the
discussion of the rate of change, a fundamental
concept in calculus.
EXAMPLE:
Find the difference quotient for each of the
following function.
a. f(x) = 4x - 2
b. f(x) =
SOLUTION:
a. f(x) = 4x – 2
f(x+h) = 4(x+h)-2
= 4x + 4h – 2
=

=
= =4
b. f(x) =
f(x+h) =
= + 2hx +
=
=
= 2x + h
EXAMPLE:
Find the value of ; h ≠ 0 for each of the
following function.
a. f(x) = 3x + 4
b. g(x) = + 3
SOLUTION:
a. f(x) = 3x + 2
f(x+h) = 3(x+h) + 2
= 3x + 3h + 2
=
=
=
=3
SOLUTION:
b. g(x) = + 3
f(x+h) = + 3
=
=
=
=