Evaluating Quadratic Functions: Example 3

Topic

Quadratics

Description

Evaluating a function means determining the output value (y) for a given input value (x). In function notation, we write f(x) to represent the function, and f(a) represents the output value when x = a.

For a quadratic function in standard form f(x) = ax² + bx + c, evaluating the function involves substituting a specific value for x and calculating the result using the given coefficients a, b, and c.

In this example, we evaluate f(x) = -2x² + 8x - 5 at x = -1. Substituting -1 for x gives: f(-1) = -15. This case illustrates how a negative coefficient for x² affects the calculation, reinforcing the importance of following the order of operations.

For a complete collection of math examples related to Quadratics click on this link: Math Examples: Quadratics Collection.