GRE Math : Algebraic Functions
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : How To Find F(X)
If f(x)=3x and g(x)=2x+2, what is the value of f(g(x)) when x=3?
18
20
24
22
24
With composition of functions (as with the order of operations) we perform what is inside of the parentheses first. So, g(3)=2(3)+2=8 and then f(8)=24.
Example Question #1 : How To Find F(X)
g(x) = 4x – 3
h(x) = .25πx + 5
If f(x)=g(h(x)). What is f(1)?
42
19π – 3
4
π + 17
13π + 3
π + 17
First, input the function of h into g. So f(x) = 4(.25πx + 5) – 3, then simplify this expression f(x) = πx + 20 – 3 (leave in terms of π since our answers are in terms of π). Then plug in 1 for x to get π + 17.
Example Question #2791 : Sat Mathematics
If 7y = 4x - 12, then x =
Adding 12 to both sides and dividing by 4 yields (7y+12)/4.
Example Question #2 : How To Find F(X)
What is 
Example Question #2791 : Sat Mathematics
If F(x) = 2x2 + 3 and G(x) = x – 3, what is F(G(x))?
2x2
2x2 + 12x +18
6x2 + 5x
2x2 – 12x +21
6x2 – 12x
2x2 – 12x +21
A composite function substitutes one function into another function and then simplifies the resulting expression. F(G(x)) means the G(x) gets put into F(x).
F(G(x)) = 2(x – 3)2 + 3 = 2(x2 – 6x +9) + 3 = 2x2 – 12x + 18 + 3 = 2x2 – 12x + 21
G(F(x)) = (2x2 +3) – 3 = 2x2
Example Question #4 : Algebraic Functions
If a(x) = 2x3 + x, and b(x) = –2x, what is a(b(2))?
–132
–503
503
132
128
–132
When functions are set up within other functions like in this problem, the function closest to the given variable is performed first. The value obtained from this function is then plugged in as the variable in the outside function. Since b(x) = –2x, and x = 2, the value we obtain from b(x) is –4. We then plug this value in for x in the a(x) function. So a(x) then becomes 2(–43) + (–4), which equals –132.
Example Question #2792 : Sat Mathematics
Let F(x) = x3 + 2x2 – 3 and G(x) = x + 5. Find F(G(x))
x3 + 17x2 + 95x + 172
x3 + 2x2 – x – 8
x3 + x2 + 2
x3 + 2x2 + x + 2
x3 + x2 + x + 8
x3 + 17x2 + 95x + 172
F(G(x)) is a composite function where the expression G(x) is substituted in for x in F(x)
F(G(x)) = (x + 5)3 + 2(x + 5)2 – 3 = x3 + 17x2 + 95x + 172
G(F(x)) = x3 + x2 + 2
F(x) – G(x) = x3 + 2x2 – x – 8
F(x) + G(x) = x3 + 2x2 + x + 2
Example Question #3 : How To Find F(X)
What is the value of xy2(xy – 3xy) given that x = –3 and y = 7?
2881
–6174
3565
–2881
–6174
Evaluating yields –6174.
–147(–21 + 63) =
–147 * 42 = –6174
Example Question #2794 : Sat Mathematics
Find 
Alternatively, we can find that 
Example Question #4 : How To Find F(X)
It takes no more than 40 minutes to run a race, but at least 30 minutes. What equation will model this in m minutes?
If we take the mean number of minutes to be 35, then we need an equation which is less than 5 from either side of 35. If we subtract 35 from 
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