For the function f(x) = x^2 - 5x, what is the value of f(-3)? — GRE General Test

For the function $f(x) = x^2 - 5x$ , what is the value of $f(-3)$ ?

Substituting

x = -3

into the function yields

(-3)^2 - 5(-3) = 9 + 15 = 24

, which correctly evaluates both the exponent and linear terms following standard sign rules.

Substitute

x = -3

into the function expression

f(x) = x^2 - 5x

f(-3) = (-3)^2 - 5(-3)

Function notation

f(-3)

requires replacing every instance of variable

x

with

-3

Evaluate the exponent term

(-3)^2

Squaring any negative number produces a positive result:

(-3) \times (-3) = 9

Evaluate the product term

-5(-3)

Multiplying two negative numbers yields a positive product:

-5 \times (-3) = 15

Sum the evaluated components.

9 + 15 = 24

Combine the results to obtain the final value of

f(-3)

Evaluating functions with negative input values

Estimated Time:45s

Question