Question

How do you evaluate `f(x ) = - x ^ { 2} - 10x + 16` when x = - 5?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

To evaluate `f(x)` for `x = -5` substitute `color(red)(-5)` for every occurrence of `color(red)(x)` in `f(x)` and calculate the result:

`f(color(red)(x)) = -color(red)(x)^2 - 10color(red)(x) + 16` becomes:

`f(color(red)(-5)) = -color(red)((-5))^2 - (10 * color(red)(-5)) + 16`

`f(color(red)(-5)) = -25 - (-50) + 16`

`f(color(red)(-5)) = -25 + 50 + 16`

`f(color(red)(-5)) = 41`