Question 28051
<pre>given h(x) = -x<sup>2</sup>, find h(-2/5)
<b><font face = "lucida console" size = 4>
Although you were originally taught that h(x) and h(-2/5)
mean "h times x" and "h times -2/5", it NO LONGER MEANS THAT!!!!
It now means to replace x by -2/5.

           h(x) = -x<sup>2</sup>

1. Take out the x on the left, leaving an open parentheses

          h(    ) = -x<sup>2</sup>

2. Take out all x's on the right, replacing them by a pair of
   empty open parentheses (    )

          h(    ) = -(    )<sup>2</sup>

3. Put -2/5 into the empty parentheses on both sides:

          h(-2/5) = -(-2/5)<sup>2</sup>

4. Next find (-2/5)<sup>2</sup> by multiplying -2/5 times -2/5, getting +4/25, so
   replace (-2/5)<sup>2</sup> by (4/25)

          h(-2/5) = -(4/25)

          h(-2/5) = -4/25

That's the answer.

Edwin
AnlytcPhil@aol.com</pre>

h(-2/5) = -4/25