>>9th grade son needs to learn how to solve this function and
>>I'm rusty.
>
>There must be something wrong with your terminology.
>Functions are not solved, equations are. Functions may be
>evaluated, simplified, multiplied, but not solved.
>
>>Don't need it solved just a push in the right
>>direction please.
>>
>>f(x)=(-3-10x)/(10x^2 -7-15x), find f(-6)
>
>If that is the question: find f(-6), there is nothing to
>solved, but just compute f(-6), i.e. evaluate f(x), as
>defined above, for x = -6.
>
>>I'm thinking that I plug the -6 in for x
>
>Just plug and calculate.
>
>> then solve.
>
>Nothing to solve here.
>
>> Am I correct?
>
>You are correct to mind your son's maths.

From Encarta dictionary

solve (past solved, past participle solved, present participle solvˇing, 3rd person present singular solves)

transitive verb

1. deal with a problem successfully: to find a way of dealing successfully with a problem or difficulty

2. find answer to a puzzle: to find the answer to a question or puzzle

3. mathematics find answer to math problem: to work out the solution to an equation or other mathematical problem

Based on this I think the use of solve in the org poster's
question is correct.

Eg., solve f(x) = a is a valid statement. f(x) is a function so
solve this function f(x)= a implies to solve the finction f(x)= a.

I think you may have been a little hard on a first time poster. But,
hey, rank has its privleges.:-)

Cino