Question

Difficulty: MediumLinear Functions and Graphs

In the xyxy-plane, the graph of the linear function ff passes through the points (3,11)(3, 11) and (7,23)(7, 23). The function gg is defined by g(x)=f(2x)5g(x) = f(2x) - 5. What is the value of g(4)g(4)?

Answer: 21

Answer

21
The correct answer is 21. First, find the slope of the linear function ff using the given points (3,11)(3, 11) and (7,23)(7, 23): m=231173=3m = \frac{23 - 11}{7 - 3} = 3. The equation of the line is f(x)11=3(x3)f(x) - 11 = 3(x - 3), which simplifies to f(x)=3x+2f(x) = 3x + 2. To find g(4)g(4), substitute x=4x = 4 into the definition of g(x)g(x): g(4)=f(24)5=f(8)5g(4) = f(2 \cdot 4) - 5 = f(8) - 5. Evaluating f(8)f(8) gives 3(8)+2=263(8) + 2 = 26. Finally, subtracting 55 gives g(4)=265=21g(4) = 26 - 5 = 21.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the equation of the linear function f(x)f(x)
f(x)=3x+2f(x) = 3x + 2
First find the slope m=231173=3m = \frac{23 - 11}{7 - 3} = 3. Then, use the point-slope formula with (3,11)(3, 11) to get f(x)11=3(x3)f(x) - 11 = 3(x - 3), which simplifies to f(x)=3x+2f(x) = 3x + 2.
2
Express g(4)g(4) in terms of ff
g(4)=f(8)5g(4) = f(8) - 5
Substitute x=4x = 4 into the definition g(x)=f(2x)5g(x) = f(2x) - 5 to get g(4)=f(2(4))5g(4) = f(2(4)) - 5.
3
Calculate the value of f(8)f(8) and g(4)g(4)
g(4)=21g(4) = 21
Evaluate f(8)=3(8)+2=26f(8) = 3(8) + 2 = 26, then subtract 55 to obtain g(4)=265=21g(4) = 26 - 5 = 21.

Key Concept

Linear Functions and Graphs
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