Question 42·Hard·Linear Functions
The linear function passes through the points and . A new function is defined by
What is the value of ?
For function-composition questions with a linear function, first substitute the given x-value directly into the outer function and simplify the inside of any nested function (here, turn into ). Then use the given points to read off the needed function value (a point on means ), instead of wasting time finding the full equation of the line. Finally, apply any outside shifts (like the ) to get the answer, double-checking that you did not confuse inside changes (which affect the input) with outside changes (which affect the output).
Hints
Plug in the given x-value
Start by replacing with 4 in the expression . What expression do you get inside after simplifying ?
Relate g(4) to a value of f
After simplifying, you should have something of the form . Look at the two points given for ; which point tells you the value of at that input?
Finish the arithmetic
Once you know from the appropriate point, substitute it into and simplify to get the final value.
Desmos Guide
Use Desmos to find the slope of f
In one expression line, define the slope of using the two points: type
m = (8 - (-4))/(-1 - 3)
Desmos will display the numerical value of , the slope of the line through and .
Define f(x) using point-slope form
In a new expression line, use the slope and the point to define :
f(x) = m*(x - 3) - 4
This tells Desmos the equation of the linear function that passes through the two given points.
Define g(x) and evaluate g(4)
Now define the new function in Desmos:
g(x) = f(2x - 5) + 7
Then, on a separate line, type g(4). The numerical output that Desmos shows for g(4) is the value of for this problem.
Step-by-step Explanation
Substitute x = 4 into g(x)
Start with the definition of g:
Now plug in and simplify inside the function first:
So finding is the same as finding and then adding 7.
Use the point on f to find f(3)
You are told that the linear function passes through the point .
For any function, a point on its graph means .
So from , we know directly that
There is no need to find the full equation of to get this value.
Evaluate g(4) using f(3)
From Step 1, we have , and from Step 2 we found .
Substitute this into the expression for :
So the value of is .