Let u(x)=2x-1 and w(x)=x^2, how do you find u(w(-4)) and w(u(-4))?

1 Answer
Dec 20, 2015

u(w(-4))=31 w(u(-4))=81

Explanation:

w(u(-4))

u(x)=2x−1
u(-4)=2(-4)−1 (plug in -4)
u(-4)=-8−1 (multiply)
u(-4)=-9 (add)
w(x)=x^2
w(u(-4))=(-9)^2 (plug u(-4)=-9 into w(x))
w(u(-4))=81 (square)

u(w(-4))

w(x)=x^2
w(-4)=(-4)^2 (plug in -4)
w(-4)=16 (square)
u(x)=2x−1
u(w(-4))=2(16)−1 (plug w(-4)=16 into u(x))
u(w(-4))=32−1 (multiply)
u(w(-4))=31 (add)

hope this helps