#0, functions
Posted by cyclone on Feb-27-05 at 07:50 PM
It's been too long, sorry but this a first post.9th grade son needs to learn how to solve this function and I'm rusty. Don't need it solved just a push in the right direction please. f(x)=(-3-10x)/(10x^2 -7-15x), find f(-6) I'm thinking that I plug the -6 in for x then solve. Am I correct? Thanks an old man....
#1, RE: functions
Posted by alexb on Feb-27-05 at 07:54 PM
In response to message #0
>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.
#2, RE: functions
Posted by Cino Hilliard on Mar-01-05 at 11:42 AM
In response to message #1
>>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
#3, RE: functions
Posted by alexb on Mar-01-05 at 11:44 AM
In response to message #2
>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. Right. Except there was not a question of solving f(x) = a. It was a question of evaluating f(x). >I think you may have been a little hard on a first time
>poster. But, hey, rank has its privleges.:-) Quite stupid.
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