Lesson

1 Evaluating Functions

Finding the value of “x” for most of the students is what Mathematics is all about.
Sometimes, it seems to be a joke for the students to evaluate an expression, like
what is shown by the illustration.
Find x.
Here it is!

If you want to learn how to find the value of “y”, well then, you are in the right
page. WELCOME to your second module!

What’s In

Before we begin, let’s go back to the time when you first encounter how to evaluate
expressions.

Do you still remember?

Given the following expressions, find its value if x = 3.

1. x − 9

2. 3x + 7

3. x 2 + 4 x − 10

4. 2 x 2 − 6 x + 26

5. 3x 2 − 6

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 We have learned that, in an algebraic expression, letters can stand for numbers.
And to find the value of the expression, there are two things that you have to do.

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.

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!

If in the activity above, you do the same process in order to arrive with these answers,
then, this module seems to be very easy to you.

Solutions:

Given the following expressions, find its value if x = 3.

1. x − 9

Since x = 3, we just replaced

= x−9
x by 3 in the expression,
= (3) − 9 then subtract by 9.
= −6

2. 3x + 7

= 3x + 7 Following the steps, we just

= 3(3) + 7 replace x by 3, multiply it by the
=9+7 numerical coefficient 3, then add
7
= 16

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3. x 2 + 4 x − 10
After replacing x by 3, we
= x 2 + 4 x − 10 get the squared of 3 which
= (3) 2 + 4(3) − 10 is 9, add it to the product
of 4 and 3, then lastly, we
= 9 + 12 − 10
subtracted 10 from its
= 11 sum.

4. 2 x 2 − 6 x + 26
Simply each term inside
= 2 x 2 − 6 x + 26 the parenthesis in order to
= 2(3) 2 − 6(3) + 26 arrive with 18 subtracted
by 18 plus 26
= 18 − 18 + 26
= 26

5. 3x 3 − 6
Get the cubed of 3 which is
= 3x 3 − 6
27, then multiply it to 3 to
= 3(3) 3 − 6 get 81 then subtract 6
= 3(27) − 6
= 81 − 6
= 75

Types of Functions

What’s New

Before you proceed to this module, try to look and analyze some of the common types
of functions that you might encounter as you go on with this module.

Types of Description Example

Function
Constant A constant function is a function that has y=7
Function the same output value no matter what
your input value is. Because of this, a
constant function has the form f ( x) = b ,
where b is a constant (a single value that
does not change).
Identity Function The identity function is a function which f (2) = 2
returns the same value, which was used
as its argument. In other words, the

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 identity function is the function f ( x) = x ,
for all values of x.
Polynomial A polynomial function is defined by
Function y = a 0 + a1 x + a 2 x 2 + ... + a n x n , where n is a
0 1 2
non-negative integer and a , a , a
,…, n ∈ R.
✓ Linear The polynomial function with degree one. y = 2x + 5
Function It is in the form y = mx + b
✓ Quadratic If the degree of the polynomial function is y = 3x 2 + 2 x + 5
Function two, then it is a quadratic function. It is
expressed as y = ax 2 + bx + c , where a ≠ 0
and a, b, c are constant and x is a
variable.
✓ Cubic A cubic polynomial function is a y = 5 x 3 + 3x 2 + 2 x + 5
Function polynomial of degree three and can be
denoted by f ( x) = ax 3 + bx 2 + cx + d , where
a ≠ 0 and a, b, c, and d are constant & x
is a variable.
Power Function A power function is a function in the form f ( x) = 8 x 5
y = ax b where b is any real constant
number. Many of our parent functions
such as linear functions and quadratic
functions are in fact power functions.

Rational Function A rational function is any function which

can be represented by a rational fraction x 2 − 3x + 2
p( x) f ( x) =
say, in which numerator, p(x) and x2 − 4
q( x)
denominator, q(x) are polynomial
functions of x, where q(x) ≠ 0.
Exponential These are functions of the form: y = 2x
function y = ab x ,
where x is in an exponent and a and b are
constants. (Note that only b is raised to
the power x; not a.) If the base b is greater
than 1 then the result is exponential
growth.
Logarithmic Logarithmic functions are the inverses of y = log 7 49
Function exponential functions, and any
exponential function can be expressed in
logarithmic form. Logarithms are very
useful in permitting us to work with very
large numbers while manipulating
numbers of a much more manageable
size. It is written in the form
y = log b x x  0, where b  0 and b  1
Absolute Value The absolute value of any number, c is
Function represented in the form of |c|. If any

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 function f: R→ R is defined by f ( x) = x , it y = x−4 +2
is known as absolute value function. For
each non-negative value of x, f(x) = x and
for each negative value of x, f(x) = -x, i.e.,
f(x) = {x, if x ≥ 0; – x, if x < 0.
Greatest Integer If a function f: R→ R is defined by f(x) = f ( x) = x + 1
Function [x], x ∈ X. It round-off to the real number
where x is the
to the integer less than the number.
Suppose, the given interval is in the form greatest integer
of (k, k+1), the value of greatest integer function
function is k which is an integer.

What is It

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.

Look at these examples!

Example 1: Given f ( x) = 2 x − 4 , find the value of the function if x = 3.

Solution:

f (3) = 2(3) − 4 ✓ Substitute 3 for x in the function.

f (3) = 6 − 4 ✓ Simplify the expression on the right

f (3) = 2 side of the equation.

Answer: Given f ( x) = 2 x − 4 , f (3) = 2

Example 2: Given g ( x) = 3x 2 + 7 , find g (−3) .

Solution:

g (−3) = 3(−3) 2 + 7 ✓ Substitute -3 for x in the function.

g (−3) = 3(9) + 7 ✓ Simplify the expression on the
g (−3) = 27 + 7 right side of the equation.
g (−3) = 34

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 Answer: Given g ( x) = 3x 2 + 7 , g (−3) = 34

Example 3: Given p( x) = 3x 2 + 5 x − 2 , find p(0) and p(−1) .

Solution:

p(0) = 3(0) 2 + 5(0) − 2

p(0) = 3(0) + 0 − 2
Treat each of these like two
p(0) = 0 + 0 − 2
separate problems. In each
p(0) = −2 case, you substitute the value
in for x and simplify. Start with
p(0) = 3(−1) 2 + 5(−1) − 2 x = 0, then x=-1.
p(0) = 3(1) − 5 − 2
p(0) = 3 − 5 − 2
p(0) = −4

Answer: Given p( x) = 3x 2 + 5 x − 2 , p(0) = −2 , p(−1) = −4

Example 4: Given f ( x) = 5x + 1 , find f (h + 1) .

✓ This time, you substitute (h +
Solution: 1) into the equation for x.
f (h + 1) = 5(h + 1) + 1 ✓ Use the distributive property
on the right side, and then
f (h + 1) = 5h + 5 + 1 combine like terms to simplify.
f (h + 1) = 5h + 6

Answer: Given f ( x) = 5x + 1 , f (h + 1) = 5h + 6

Example 5: Given g ( x) = 3x − 2 , find g (9) .

Solution:

g (9) = 3(9) − 2 ✓ Substitute 9 for x in the function.

g (9) = 27 − 2 ✓ Simplify the expression on the
g (9) = 25 right side of the equation.

g (9) = 5

Answer: Given g ( x) = 3x − 2 , g (9) = 5

4x + 8
Example 6: Given h( x) = , find the value of function if x = −5
2x − 4
Solution:

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 4(−5) + 8
h(−5) = ✓ Substitute -5 for x in the function.
2(−5) − 4
− 20 + 8 ✓ Simplify the expression on the right
h(−5) =
− 10 − 4 side of the equation. (recall the
− 12 concepts of integers and simplifying
h(−5) = fractions)
− 14
6
h(−5) =
7
4x + 8 6
Answer: Given h( x) = , h(−5) =
2x − 4 7
3
Example 7: Evaluate f ( x) = 2 x if x = .
2
Solution:
3

3 2
f =2
2 3
✓ Substitute for x in the function.
3 2
f   = 23
2 ✓ Simplify the expression on the right
3 side of the equation. (get the cubed
f = 8
2 of 2 which is 8, then simplify)

3
f   = 4•2
2
3
f =2 2
2

3
Answer: Given f ( x) = 2 x , f   = 2 2
2
Example 8: Evaluate the function h( x) = x + 2 where x  is the greatest integer
function given x = 2.4 .

Solution: ✓ Substitute 2.4 for x in the function.

h(2.4) = 2.4 + 2 ✓ Simplify the expression on the right

side of the equation. (remember that
h(2.4) = 2 + 2
in greatest integer function, value
h(2.4) = 4
was rounded-off to the real number
to the integer less than the number)

Answer: Given h( x) = x + 2 , h(2.4) = 4

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Example 9:Evaluate the function f ( x) = x − 8 where x − 8 means the absolute
value of x − 8 if x = 3 .

Solution:
✓ Substitute 3 for x in the function.
f (3) = 3 − 8 ✓ Simplify the expression on the right
f (3) = − 5 side of the equation. (remember that
any number in the absolute value
f (3) = 5
sign is always positive)

Answer: Given f ( x) = x − 8 , f (3) = 5

Example 10: Evaluate the function f ( x) = x 2 − 2 x + 2 at f (2 x − 3) .

Solution:

f (2 x − 3) = (2 x − 3) 2 − 2(2 x − 3) + 2
✓ Substitute 2 x − 3 for x in the
f (2 x − 3) = (4 x 2 − 12 x + 9) − 4 x + 6 + 2
function.
f (2 x − 3) = 4 x 2 − 12 x + 9 − 4 x + 6 + 2
✓ Simplify the expression on the
f (2 x − 3) = 4 x 2 − 12 x − 4 x + 9 + 6 + 2 right side of the equation.
f (2 x − 3) = 4 x 2 − 16 x + 17

What’s More

Your Turn!
Independent Practice 1: Fill Me
Evaluate the following functions by filling up the missing parts of the solution.

1. f ( x) = 3x − 5 , find f (2)
Solution:
f (2) = ___________________
f (2) = 6 − 5
f (2) = ___________________

2. g ( x) = 3 2 x , find g(6)
Solution:

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 g (6) = _________________
g (6) = 312
g (6) = _________________

3. k (a) = a − 2 , find k (−9)

Solution:
k (−9) = ______________
k (−9) = 9 − 2
k (−9) = ______________

4. p(a) = −4a − 2 , find p(2a)

Solution:

p(2a) = ______________
p(2a) = ______________

5. g (t ) = t 2 − 2 , find g (−2)

Solution:

g (−2) = ________________
g (−2) = ________________
g (−2) = ________________

Independent Assessment 1: Evaluate!

Evaluate the following functions. Write your answer and complete solution on
separate paper.

1. Given w(n) = n − 1, find the value of the function if w = -1.

2. Given f ( x) = x − 3 , find f (9.3) .

3. Evaluate the function w( x) = − 2 x + 3 if x = -1.

4. Evaluate: f ( x) = − x − 1 , find f (a 2 )

5. Given f ( x) = 4 x − 5 , find f (2 x + 3)

Independent Practice 2: TRUE or SOLVE!

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Analyze the following functions by evaluating its value. Write TRUE of the indicated
answer and solution is correct, if not, rewrite the solution to arrive with the correct
answer on the space provided.

1. Evaluate f (t ) = 2t − 3 ; f (t 2 )
Solution:
Answer:
f (t 2 ) = 2(t 2 ) − 3
f (t 2 ) = 2t 2 − 3

2. Given the function g ( x) = 5x − 13 , find g (9) .

Solution:
g (9) = 5(9) − 13 Answer:
g (9) = 45 − 13
g (9) = 32
g (9) = 16 2

5x − 7
3. Given the function f ( x) = , find the value of the function if x = −3 .
3x − 2
Solution:
5(−3) − 7
f (−3) = Answer:
3(−3) − 2
− 15 − 7
f (−3) =
−9−2
22
f (−3) =
11
f (−3) = −2

4. Evaluate the function f ( x) = x 2 − 3x + 5 at f (3x − 1) .

Solution:
Answer:
f (3x − 1) = (3x − 1) 2 − 3x + 5
f (3x − 1) = 9 x 2 − 6 x + 1 − 3x + 5
f (3x − 1) = 9 x 2 − 9 x + 6

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5. Evaluate: g ( x) = 3 x if x =
3
Solution:

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 4
4
g  = 3 3 Answer:
3
4
g   = 3 34
3
4
g   = 3 81
3
4
g   = 3 27 • 3
3
4
g   = 33 3
3

Independent Assessment 2: Find my Value!

Evaluate the following functions. Write your solution on a separate paper.
1. g ( x) = 5x − 7 ; g ( x 2 + 1)
Answer: _______________________

2. h(t ) = x 2 + 2 x + 4 ; h(2)
Answer: _______________________

3x 2 − 1
3. k ( x) = ; k (−3)
2x + 4
Answer: _______________________

4. f ( x) = 2 x 2 + 5 x − 9 ; f (5x − 2)
Answer: _______________________
3
5. g ( p) = 4 x ; x =
2
Answer: _______________________

What I Have Learned

A. Complete the following statements to show how you understood the different types
of functions. Answer using your own words,
1. A polynomial function is _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.
2. An exponential function _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.

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