Question #4ab13

2 Answers
May 30, 2017

#f(a)# means that you substitute "a" for every x within #f(x)# and then do the calculations.

Explanation:

#f(5)# means you substitute 5 for x everywhere you see x in the given function, f(x):

#f(5) = -8|-10+5| larr# we substituted 5 for x.

Now, we just do the calculations.

#f(5) = -8|-5| larr# this is #-10+5 = -5#

#f(5) = -8(5) larr# this is #|-5| = 5#

#f(5) = -40 larr# answer

May 30, 2017

#-40#

Explanation:

So, the question is, if #f(x)# equals #-8abs(-10+x)#, what does #f(5)# equal.

Well, let's start by replacing #x# with #5#, because now the equation asks for the function of #5#:

#-8abs(-10+5)#

Let's simplify the values within the grouping system (#abs(color(white)(000))#)

#-8abs(-5)#

Because absolute value is a measure of distance, it can never represent a negative number. There's no such thing as #-5# feet. Even if a person moves backward #10# meters, they have moved #10# meters, but it is not negative.

What that means is, an absolute value of a negative number is a positive number. So, #abs(-5)# is #5#:

#-8(5)#

#-40#