How to find f(x) - GRE Quantitative Reasoning

Card 0 of 20

Question

If f(x)=3x and g(x)=2x+2, what is the value of f(g(x)) when x=3?

Answer

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.

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Question

The function is defined as . What is ?

Answer

Substitute -1 for in the given function.

If you didn’t remember the negative sign, you will have calculated 36. If you remembered the negative sign at the very last step, you will have calculated -36; however, if you did not remember that is 1, then you will have calculated 18.

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Question

What is the value of the function f(x) = 6x2 + 16x – 6 when x = –3?

Answer

There are two ways to do this problem. The first way just involves plugging in –3 for x and solving 6〖(–3)〗2 + 16(–3) – 6, which equals 54 – 48 – 6 = 0. The second way involves factoring the polynomial to (6x – 2)(x + 3) and then plugging in –3 for x. The second way quickly shows that the answer is 0 due to multiplying by (–3 + 3).

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Question

If and , what is ?

Answer

Plug g(x) into f(x) as if it is just a variable. This gives f(g(x)) = 3(x2 – 12) + 7.

Distribute the 3: 3x2 – 36 + 7 = 3x2 – 29

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Question

g(x) = 4x – 3

h(x) = .25πx + 5

If f(x)=g(h(x)). What is f(1)?

Answer

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.

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Question

If the function is created by shifting up four units and then reflecting it across the x-axis, which of the following represents in terms of ?

Answer

We can take each of the listed transformations of one at a time. If is to be shifted up by four units, increase every value of by 4.

Next, take this equation and reflect it across the x-axis. If we reflect a function across the x-axis, then all of its values will be multiplied by negative one. So, can be written in the following way:

Lastly, distribute the negative sign to arrive at the final answer.

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Question

If 7y = 4x - 12, then x =

Answer

Adding 12 to both sides and dividing by 4 yields (7y+12)/4.

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Question

Which of the statements describes the solution set for **–**7(x + 3) = **–**7x + 20 ?

Answer

By distribution we obtain **–**7x 21 = 7x + 20. This equation is never possibly true.

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Question

A function F is defined as follows:

for x2 > 1, F(x) = 4x2 + 2x – 2

for x2 < 1, F(x) = 4x2 – 2x + 2

What is the value of F(1/2)?

Answer

For F(1/2), x2=1/4, which is less than 1, so we use the bottom equation to solve. This gives F(1/2)= 4(1/2)2 – 2(1/2) + 2 = 1 – 1 + 2 = 2

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Question

For which value of are the following two functions equal?

Answer

It is important to follow the order of operations for this equation and find a solution that satisfies both F(x) and G(x).

Recall the order of operations is PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction.

The correct answer is 4 because

F(x) = 2_x_ + 3_x_ + (9_x_/3) = 2(4) + 34 + ((9 * 4)/3) = 101, and

G(x) = (((24 + 44)/2) - 4 * 4) – 5(4) + 1 = 101.

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Question

What is ?

Answer

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Question

If F(x) = 2x2 + 3 and G(x) = x – 3, what is F(G(x))?

Answer

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

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Question

If a(x) = 2x3 + x, and b(x) = –2x, what is a(b(2))?

Answer

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.

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Question

Let F(x) = _x_3 + 2_x_2 – 3 and G(x) = x + 5. Find F(G(x))

Answer

F(G(x)) is a composite function where the expression G(x) is substituted in for x in F(x)

F(G(x)) = (x + 5)3 + 2(x + 5)2 – 3 = x_3 + 17_x_2 + 95_x + 172

G(F(x)) = _x_3 + _x_2 + 2

F(x) – G(x) = _x_3 + 2_x_2 – x – 8

F(x) + G(x) = _x_3 + 2_x_2 + x + 2

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Question

What is the value of xy_2(xy – 3_xy) given that x = –3 and y = 7?

Answer

Evaluating yields –6174.

–147(–21 + 63) =

–147 * 42 = –6174

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Question

Given the functions f(x) = 2_x_ + 4 and g(x) = 3_x_ – 6, what is f(g(x)) when x = 6?

Answer

We need to work from the inside to the outside, so g(6) = 3(6) – 6 = 12.

Then f(g(6)) = 2(12) + 4 = 28.

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Question

A function f(x) = –1 for all values of x. Another function g(x) = 3_x_ for all values of x. What is g(f(x)) when x = 4?

Answer

We work from the inside out, so we start with the function f(x). f(4) = –1. Then we plug that value into g(x), so g(f(x)) = 3 * (–1) = –3.

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Question

What is f(–3) if f(x) = _x_2 + 5?

Answer

f(–3) = (–3)2 + 5 = 9 + 5 = 14

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Question

For all values of x, f(x) = 7_x_2 – 3, and for all values of y, g(y) = 2_y_ + 9. What is g(f(x))?

Answer

The inner function f(x) is like our y-value that we plug into g(y).

g(f(x)) = 2(7_x_2 – 3) + 9 = 14_x_2 – 6 + 9 = 14_x_2 + 3.

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Question

Find

Answer

Simply plug 6 into the equation and don't forget the absolute value at the end.

absolute value = 67

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