Thread: Find -f(x)

Find -f(x) for:

(a) f(x) = 3 - x

(b) f(x) = 1/x

Originally Posted by symmetry

Find -f(x) for:

(a) f(x) = 3 - x

(b) f(x) = 1/x

Are you sure that you have the question right.

As it is it is too trivial to be worth troubling with.

RonL

Ron,

The question is exactly as appeared in the math book. I'm sure it is another plug and chug, right?

I just get confused by the negative in front of f(x). See it?

What do I do in this case?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by symmetry

Ron,

The question is exactly as appeared in the math book. I'm sure it is another plug and chug, right?

I just get confused by the negative in front of f(x). See it?

What do I do in this case?

Thanks!

What does it mean when you have "-3" for example? I think some of the problem here is in the way you are looking at "f(x)." In the context you are looking at it f(x) is just a (probably real) number. So the negative sign is the same as it is in any other context when applied to a number.

-Dan

Let's see:

-f(x) applied in f(x) = 3 - x

Becomes 3 - (-x) = 3 + x, right?

Or, is it - 3 + x?

Or maybe - 3 - x?

Originally Posted by symmetry

Let's see:

-f(x) applied in f(x) = 3 - x

Becomes 3 - (-x) = 3 + x, right?

Or, is it - 3 + x?

Or maybe - 3 - x?

No. f(x) = 3 - x means that -f(x) = -(3 - x) = -3 + x.

The "-" in front of the f(x) affects the entire function.

-Dan

Okay...the negative sign in front of the function (-f(x)) affects the whole function.

Now it is very clear.

Thanks!