All GRE Math Resources
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
24
20
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 #963 : Psat Mathematics
g(x) = 4x – 3
h(x) = .25πx + 5
If f(x)=g(h(x)). What is f(1)?
19π – 3
4
13π + 3
π + 17
42
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 #1 : Algebraic Functions
If 7y = 4x - 12, then x =
Adding 12 to both sides and dividing by 4 yields (7y+12)/4.
Example Question #2 : Algebraic Functions
What is ?
Example Question #2 : How To Find F(X)
If F(x) = 2x2 + 3 and G(x) = x – 3, what is F(G(x))?
2x2
6x2 – 12x
2x2 + 12x +18
2x2 – 12x +21
6x2 + 5x
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 #2791 : Sat Mathematics
If a(x) = 2x3 + x, and b(x) = –2x, what is a(b(2))?
–132
503
–503
128
132
–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 #3 : Algebraic Functions
Let F(x) = x3 + 2x2 – 3 and G(x) = x + 5. Find F(G(x))
x3 + 2x2 + x + 2
x3 + 2x2 – x – 8
x3 + 17x2 + 95x + 172
x3 + x2 + 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 #2792 : Sat Mathematics
What is the value of xy2(xy – 3xy) given that x = –3 and y = 7?
–2881
3565
–6174
2881
–6174
Evaluating yields –6174.
–147(–21 + 63) =
–147 * 42 = –6174
Example Question #4 : How To Find F(X)
Find .
is . To start, we find that . Using this, we find that .
Alternatively, we can find that . Then, we 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 minutes and take the absolute value, this will give us our equation since we know that the time it takes to run the marathon is between 30 and 40 minutes.