document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=894007>Question 894007</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If f(x) = x2 &#8722; 8x + 16, find f(&#8722;a), f(a &#8722; 4), and f(a + h).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(&#8722;a)	=	<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(a &#8722; 4)	=	<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(a + h)	=	<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #541752 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=541752\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> f(x) = x^2 - 8x + 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(-a) = (-a)^2 - 8(-a) + 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(a-4) = (a-4)^2 - 8(a-4) + 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(a + h) = (a + h)^2 - 8(a + h) + 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x is the argument for f(x).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-a is the argument for f(-a).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a-4 is the argument for f(a-4).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a+h is the argument for f(a + h).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "in functional notation, the formula is working on the argument.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "when you see f(x) = x^2 - 8x + 16, the argument is x and that's what the formula is working on.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "when you see f(-a) = (-a)^2 - 8(-a) + 16, the argument is (-a) and that what the formula is working on.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the formula remains the same.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the only thing different is the argument that it's working on.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "an alternate way of telling you  this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "start with f(x) = x^2 - 8x + 16<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you want to find the value of the function when x = 9.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "your new function becomes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(9) = 9^2 - 8*9 + 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "this is no different.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "for f(-a), you want to find the value of the function when x = -a.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "for f(a-4), you want to find the value of the function when x = (a-4).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "for f(a+h), you want to find the value of the function when x = (a+h).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the function itself is the rules that operate on the argument provided.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the rules of this function are:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "take the argument and then square it.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then take the argument and multiply it by 8 and subtract it.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then take 16 and add it.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the argument is whatever you want it to be.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "it starts off with x.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "when you are supplied with a different argument, you just replace x with that  argument.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the function remains the same.\r<BR>\n" );
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