Thread: Cubic Root
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Old 07-09-2003, 02:13 PM   #9 (permalink)
JadziaDax
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Location: who the fuck cares?
Sure KrazyKracka, I can explain f(x) - aka f of x - a little more in layman's terms...

f(x) stands for function of x. You are probably more aware of equations in the form of y = ax^2 + bx + c (to use a general quadratic equation for an example). The variable "y" in this case is a "function of x". It directly depends on the value of x for its value. So, instead of introducing a new variable (y), we sometimes use the notation f(x). See the following example using a simple linear equation.

y = 2x + 7 <-- how you're used to seeing it
if x = 2, 2(2) + 7 = 11, then y = 11
if x = 5, 2(5) + 7 = 17, then y = 17

f(x) = 2x + 7 <-- stating the equation as a function of x
f(2) = 2(2) + 7 = 11
f(5) = 2(5) + 7 = 17

So, "f of 2" means evaluate the expression when x = 2, just like "f of 5" means evaluate the expression when x = 5. Just replace x with whatever value comes after the "f".

I hope that's better.
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