Section 2.

1


Finding Output Values: Evaluating a Function
Evaluating a function means calculating the value of a
functions output from a particular value of the input.
If we have a formula for a function, we evaluate it by
substituting the input into the formula.

Example: If f(x) = x
2
4, evaluate f(0).
f(0) = (0)
2
4 = 4. (output)


Finding Input Values: Solving Equations
If we have a formula for a function, the input values are
solutions to an equation.

Example: If f(x) = x
2
4, solve f(x) = 0.
x
2
4 = 0
x
2
= 4
x = 2 (inputs)
Example: Let f(x) =
1 x
x
, solve f(x) =
3
1
.
3
1
1
=
x
x

Cross multiplying gives
3x = x 1
2x = 1
x = 1/2


Finding Output Values: Evaluating a Function
Evaluating a function means finding the value of a functions
output from a particular value of the input.
If we have a graph for a function, we can read the value of the
output, f(x), from the graph as being the height of the graph
above the point x, the input.

Example: Find f(1) from the
graph of f.


The point (1 ,3) lies on the graph,
so the value of f at 1 is f(1) = 3. In
other words, the point on the
graph that lies above x = 1 is 3
units above the x-axis.

Finding Input Values: Solving Equations
Solving an equation means finding the value(s) of a functions
input(s) from a particular value of the output.
Given a height, f(x), an output, we can read the value(s) of x,
the input(s), from the graph of f.

Example: Solve f(x) = 4.
Here, we are given a height, 4, an
output, and we want to find the
corresponding input(s). Draw the
horizontal line y = 4 which cuts the
graph at (2,4) and (2,4). This means
that f(2) = f(2) = 4.
Thus, the solutions to f(x) = 4 are
2 and 2.
Note: If the point (2 , 4) lies on the graph of a function f, then f(2) = 4.
Conversely, if f(2) = 4, then the point (2 , 4) lies on the graph of the function f.
3 2 1 1 2 3
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
(1,3)
f(1) = 3
3 2 1 1 2 3
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
x
y
(2,4) (-2,4)
Evaluating a Function Using a Formula


Example: page 72, exercise 8.
Let p(r) = r
2
+ 5.
p(x) + p(8) = (x
2
+ 5) + (8
2
+ 5) = x
2
+ 74.

Example: page 72, exercise 16.
Let g(x) = x
2
+ x.
(a) g(3x) = (3x)
2
+ (3x) = 9x
2
3x.
(b) g(1 x) = (1 x)
2
+ (1 x) = 1 2x + x
2
+ 1 x
= 2 3x + x
2
.
(d) . ) ( ) ( ) (
2
x x x x x g + = + =
(e)
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
|
.
|

\
|
+ x x x
g
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
x x +
+
+
=
1
1
) 1 (
1
2


2 2 2
) 1 (
2
) 1 (
) 1 (
) 1 (
1
x
x
x
x
x +
+
=
+
+
+
+
= .

Example: Let f(x) =
1 x
x
. Find f(t) and f(
t
1
).
f(t) = .
1 t
t

f(
t
1
) = .
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
t
t
t
t
t
t
t

=
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|
=

Solutions to Selected Problems
Example 1: page 72, exercise 18.

From the graph, we see that the graph of h passes through
the points (2,0), (1,9),(0,8), (1,3),(2,0), and (3,6). Each
of these points will help you complete the table. For
example, the point (2,0) tells you that when the input is
2, the corresponding output is 0; that is h(2) = 0.
(a) Evaluating a Function Using a Graph
x 2 1 0 1 2 3
h(x) 0 9 8 3 0 6
(b) From the table, h(3) = 6 and h(1) = 3, and so
h(3) h(1) = 6 3 = 3.
(c) From the table, h(2) = 0 and h(0) = 8, and so
h(2) h(0) =0 8 = 8..
(d) From the table, h(0) = 8, and so 2h(0) = 2(8) = 16.
4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5
18
15
12
9
6
3
3
6
9
12
15
x
y
Evaluating a Function Using a Formula and Finding
Input Values

Example 2: page 72, exercise 21.
(a) The cars position after 2 hours is denoted by the function
notation s(2).
After 2 hours, the cars position=s(2) =11(2)
2
+(2)+100=146.

(b) This is the same as asking the question:For what t is v(t)
= 65?

(c) First, we want to find when the car is going 67 mph, so we
solve the equation: v(t) = 67. (Find input t.)
22t + 1 = 67
t = 3
The car is going at 67 mph at t = 3.
At t = 3, the cars position=s(3) =11(3)
2
+(3)+100=202.
Thus, the cars position is 202 mile when it is going at 67 mph.













Evaluating a Function Using a Graph
Example 3: page 73, exercise 22.

(a) P = (b , a), and
Q = (d , e).
(b) f(b) = a since
(b, a) lies on the graph.

(c) Solve f(x) = e.
Solving for x means
finding inputs.
x = d since (d,e) lies
on the graph
indicates that f(d) =
e.
page 73, exercise 22.
(d) c = f(z) implies that z = 0 since (0, c) lies on the graph
indicates that c = f(0).
By substituting z = 0 into z = f(x), we get 0 = f(x).
Solving f(x) = 0, we get x = h since (h,0) lies on the graph
indicates that f(h) = 0.


Example 4: page 73, exercise 25.
v = the eyewall wind speed (in mph) as a function of s,
the height (in meters) above the ground.
s
0
= the height at which the wind speed is the greatest.
v = r(0.5s
0
) = the wind speed when the height is one half
the height at which the wind speed is the greatest.

x
y
c
b
a
e
d
P
Q
h

Example 5: page 72, exercise 26.
In the equation r(s) = 0.75v
0
, the variable s is the height
(or heights) at which the wind speed is 75% of the
maximum wind speed.



Example 6: page 73, exercise 32.
(d) f(x) is linear since f(x) increases by 3 for each unit
increase in x, and this in turn implies that the slope is
equal to 3. The y-intercept = 1 since f(0) = 1.
Thus, f(x) = 1 + 3x.
Since the values of g(x) are all perfect squares, we
would expect the formula for g(x) to have a square in it.
x 1 0 1 2 3 4
x
2
1 0 1 4 9 16
This table is very similar to the table that defines g(x).
In order to make this table identical to the table given in
the problem, we need to subtract 1 from each x-value
and so g(x) = (x 1)
2
.










Example 7: page 74, exercise 33.
(a) (i) From the table, N(150) = 6. When 150 students
enroll, there are 6 sections.

(ii) From the table N(75) = 4 and N(100) = 5.
Since 80 is between 75 and 100, we choose the higher
value for N(s). Thus, N(80) = 5. When 80 students
enroll, there are 5 sections.

(iii) N(55.5) is undefined since 55.5 is not a possible
number for students.

(b) (i) The table gives N(s) = 4 when s = 50 and s = 75.
Thus, the solution to N(s) = 4 is 50 s 75. There are 4
sections when enrollment is between 50 and 75,
inclusive.

(ii) First evaluate N(125) = 5. So, we solve the equation
N(s) = 5.
s 75 100 125
N(s) 4 5 5
Observe that there are 5 sections when the enrollment is
between 76 and 99, inclusive.
Thus, the solution to N(s) = 5 is 76 s 125. There are 5
sections when enrollment is between 76 and 125,
inclusive.





Homework:
2.1
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28,
29, 31, 32, 33, 35.