MATHEMATICS 11
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
Evaluating Functions
Name of learner ____________________________
Section __________________________________ Date:_________
Background Information
Evaluating a function means replacing a given variable in the function 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).
Or simply, to evaluate a function is to replace (substitute) variables with a
given number or expression. Say for instance, “Evaluate the function
f(x) = 2x+4 for x=5.” Just replace the variable "x" with "5":
f(5) = 2×5 + 4 = 14 f(5) = 14
It is very important to see the bigger picture in functions. The "x" is just a
place-holder, and "f" is just a name.
Consider the given function: 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1
These are all the same function regardless of the name or variable provided.
➣ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1 ➣ 𝑓 (𝑚 ) = 𝑚 2 − 𝑚 + 1
➣ 𝑤(𝐴) = 𝐴2 − 𝐴 + 1 ➣ 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑦(𝜃 ) = 𝜃 2 − 𝜃 + 1
Example 1. Evaluate the following functions at x = 2:
a) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5𝑥 + 7
b) 𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 4
c) 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 + 2
5𝑥+2
d) 𝑟(𝑥 ) = 𝑥−1
e) 𝐹 (𝑥 ) = |2𝑥 | + 8
Solutions:
a) 𝑓 (2) = 5(2) + 7 = 17
b) 𝑞(2) = (2)2 − (2) + 4 = 4 − 2 + 4 = 6
c) 𝑔(2) = √2 + 2 = √4 = 2
5(2)+2 10+2
d) 𝑟(2) = = = 12
2−1 1
e) 𝐹 (2) = |2(2)| + 8 = |4| + 8 = 4 + 8 = 12
Be cautious about certain restrictions about the domain of a given function. If
the value of the variable makes the value of the function an imaginary number or an
undefined value, then the evaluation will not be possible.
Example 2.
a) Find g(4) given the function, 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 − 5
2𝑥+1
b) Find r(1) given the function, 𝑟(𝑥 ) = 𝑥−1
Solution:
1. This is not possible because 4 is not in the domain of g(x) because it
gives an imaginary value for g(x), that is √−1 .
2. This is not possible too because 1 is not in the domain of r(x), and it
gives an undefined value for r(x), (3/0)
Example 3. Evaluating can also mean replacing with an expression
(such as x+2 or a2+a+4)
Evaluate the following functions. Given the functions:
a) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 3 , find 𝑓(2𝑎 + 3).
b) 𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2 , find 𝑞(2𝑥 + 3)
Solution: (Be careful – more algebra work is needed here.)
a) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 3
𝑓 (2𝑎 + 3) = 2(2𝑎 + 3)2 + 4(2𝑎 + 3) − 3
𝑓 (2𝑎 + 3) = 2(4𝑎2 + 12𝑎 + 9) + 8𝑎 + 12 − 3
𝑓 (2𝑎 + 3) = 8𝑎2 + 24𝑎 + 18 + 8𝑎 + 12 − 3
𝑓(2𝑎 + 3) = 8𝑎2 + 32𝑎 + 27
b) 𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2
𝑞(2𝑥 + 3) = (2𝑥 + 3)2 − 2(2𝑥 + 3) + 2
𝑞(2𝑥 + 3) = (4𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 8) − 4𝑥 − 6 + 2
𝑞 (2𝑥 + 3) = 4𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 8 − 4𝑥 − 6 + 2
𝑞(2𝑥 + 3) = 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 5
Example 4. The price function p(x) = 640 – 0.2(x) represents the price for which you
can sell x printed T-shirts. What must be the price of the shirt for the entries
in the table?
Target number of shirt 130
500 900 1700 2100 2500
sales 0
Price per T-shirt
Solution:
For p(500): For p(900):
𝑝(500) = 640 − 0.2(500) 𝑝(900) = 640 − 0.2(900)
𝑝(500) = 640 − 100 𝑝(900) = 640 − 180
𝑝(500) = 540 𝑝(900) = 460
Thus, the price of the shirt is Thus, the price of the shirt is
₱ 540.00 ₱ 460.00
Fill-up the table with values.
Target number of
500 900 1300 1700 2100 2500
shirt sales
Price per T-shirt ₱ 540 ₱ 460 ₱ 380 ₱ 300 ₱ 220 ₱ 140
Learning Competency with code:
Evaluates a Function (M11GM-Ia-2).
Practice A
A. Evaluate the following functions at x=3
1. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 − 3 Answer: __________________
2. 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 5 Answer: __________________
3
3. ℎ(𝑥 ) = √𝑥 3 + 𝑥 + 3 Answer: __________________
𝑥 2 +1
4. 𝑝(𝑥 ) = Answer: __________________
𝑥−4
5. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = |𝑥 − 5| where |𝑥 − 5| means
the absolute value of x-5 Answer: __________________
B. If f(x) = x + 8,evaluate each
1. 𝑓 (4) Answer: __________________
2. 𝑓 (−2) Answer: __________________
3. 𝑓 (−𝑥 ) Answer: __________________
4. 𝑓 (𝑥 + 3) Answer: __________________
5. 𝑓 (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1) Answer: __________________
Practice B
𝑥+3
1. For what values of x can we not evaluate the function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥2 −4
Answer: __________________
2
2. Evaluate 𝑓 (𝑎 + 𝑏) where 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 4𝑥 − 3𝑥.
Answer: __________________
Practice C
1. Suppose that s(T) is the top speed (in km per hour) of a runner when the
temperature is T degrees Celsius. Explain what the statements s(15)=12 and
s(30)=10 mean.
Answer:
2. The velocity (in m/s) of a ball thrown upward t seconds after the ball was
thrown is given by V(t)=20-9.8t. Calculate V(0) and V(1), and explain what
these results mean.
Answer:
5
3. The function C described by 𝐶 (𝐹 ) = 9 (𝐹 − 32) gives the Celsius temperature
corresponding to the Fahrenheit temperature F.
a) Find the Celsius temperature equivalent to 14°F.
Answer: __________________
b) Find the Celsius temperature equivalent to 68°F.
Answer: __________________
Practice D
Evaluate the following functions at x=4.
a) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 3 − 64 Answer: __________________
b) 𝑔(𝑥 ) = |𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1| Answer: __________________
c) 𝑟(𝑥 ) = √5 − 𝑥 Answer: __________________
𝑥+3
d) 𝑞(𝑥 ) = 𝑥2 +7𝑥+12 Answer: __________________
Practice E
Find the value of each expression if n=15.
a
a) 2𝑛 − 11 = ___
𝑛 h b
2n – 11
b) 5 + 20 = ___
𝑛
c) = ___ 𝑛
3
(n - 5)2 3
d) 30 − 4𝑛 = ____ g n c
𝑛+7
e) = ___
11
𝑛+7
f) 3𝑛 + 3 = ___
g) (𝑛 − 5)2 = ____ f 11 d
h) 𝑛2 = ___ e
Practice F
Given 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4. Solve for
a) 𝑓(3) Answer: __________________
b) 𝑓(𝑥 + 3) Answer: __________________
c) Is 𝑓(𝑥 + 3) the same as 𝑓(𝑥 ) + 𝑓(3)? Answer: __________________
d) Differentiate 𝑓 (−𝑥 )𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 𝑓 (𝑥 ). Answer: __________________
Practice G
1. A computer shop charges ₱ 20 per hour (or fraction of an hour) for the first
two hours and an additional ₱ 10 per hour for each succeeding hour. Find how
much you would pay if you used one of their computers for:
(a) 40 minutes (b) 3 hours (c) 150 minutes
Answer: __________________
2. Under certain circumstances, a rumor spreads according to the equation
1
𝑝 (𝑡 ) = −0.3𝑡 , where 𝑝(𝑡) is the proportion of the population that knows
1+15(2.1)
the rumor (t) days after the rumor started. Find (4) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝(10) , and interpret
the results.
Answer: __________________
Reflection
What have you learned from this activity?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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References
Department of Education. General Mathematics: Learner’s Material, 1st ed. (Pasig City: Department of Education,2016)
Aoanan, Grace, Ma. Lourdes Plarizan, Beverly Regidor, and Lolly Jean Simbulas. General Mathematics: For Senior High
School. (Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc.,2016)
Oronce, Orlando A. General Mathematics, 1st ed. (Manila: Rex Bookstore Inc,2016)
Roberts, Frederick, and Donna Roberts. “Function Notation and Evaluation.” MathBitsNotebook. Accessed July 17, 2020.
https://bit.ly/3fcHPBZ
Pierce, Rod. 2020. “Evaluating Functions.” Math Is Fun. Accessed July 17, 2020.
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/functions-evaluating.html
Stapel, Elizabeth. 2020. “Function Notation & Evaluating at Numbers.” Purplemath. Accessed July 17, 2020.
https://bit.ly/2ErfnPS
Answer/key
Practice A
A. Evaluate the following functions at x=3 Practice D
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 0
2. 𝑔(𝑥) = 5 Evaluate the following functions at x=4.
3
3. ℎ(𝑥) = √33
4. 𝑝(𝑥) = −10 a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 0
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = +2 b) 𝑔(𝑥) = 27
c) 𝑟(𝑥) = 1
1
B. If f(x) = x + 8,evaluate each d) 𝑞(𝑥) =
8
1. 𝑓(4) = 12
2. 𝑓(−2) = 6
3. 𝑓(−𝑥) = −𝑥 + 8 Practice E
4. 𝑓(𝑥 + 3) = 𝑥 + 11
a) 2𝑛 − 11 = 19
5. 𝑓(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 9 𝑛
b) + 20 = 23
5
𝑛
c) =5
3
Practice B d) 30 − 4𝑛 = -30
1. The domain of the function is given by 𝑛+7
{𝑥: 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑥 ≠ ±2} . Since +2 and -2 are not in e) =2
11
the domain, we cannot evaluate the function at f) 3𝑛 + 3 = 48
x=+2 and x=-2. g) (𝑛 − 5)2 = 100
2. 𝑓(𝑎 + 𝑏) = 4𝑎2 − 3𝑎 + 8𝑎𝑏 − 3𝑏 + 4𝑏2 h) 𝑛2 = 225
Practice C
1. The first equation means that when the Practice F
temperature is 15°C, then the top speed of a Given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4. Solve for
runner is 12 km per hour. However, when
a. 𝑓(3) = 1
temperature rises to 30°C, the top speed is
b. 𝑓(𝑥 + 3) = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1
reduced to 10 km per hour.
c. 𝑓(𝑥 + 3) ≠ 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑓(3)
2. V(0) = 20 – 9.8(0) = 20 and V(1) = 20 – 9.8(1)
d. The expression "f (x)" means a function, named f,
= 10.2. These results indicate that the initial
has x as its input variable", while “-f(x)” means a
velocity of the ball is 20 m/s. After 1 second,
negation of the whole value of the function f(x). Thus,
the ball is traveling more slowly, at 10.2 m/s.
f(x) and –f(x) have the same numerical value but with
3. The Values of the temperature in the Celsius
opposite or different signs.
scales are:
5
a) 𝐶(𝐹) = (𝐹 − 32) where F=14°, then the Practice G
9
value of C(F) = -10
5 1. (a) ₱ 20 (b) ₱ 30 (c) ₱ 25
b) 𝐶(𝐹) = (𝐹 − 32) where F=68°, then the 2. 𝑝(4) = 0.14 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝(10) = 0.38
9
value of C(F) = +20
Prepared :
ERVIN A. PEREZ
SHS – Teacher II
Mathematics
