SOLUTION: f(x) = x^2 + x-2, find f(a-1)

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Question 974471: f(x) = x^2 + x-2, find f(a-1)
Answer by algebrahouse.com(1659) About Me  (Show Source):
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f(x) = x² + x - 2

f(a - 1)
= (a - 1)² + (a - 1) - 2 {substituted (a - 1) for x}
= (a - 1)(a - 1) + a - 1 - 2 {when squaring a binomial, multiply it by itself}
= a² - 2a + 1 + a - 1 - 2 {used the foil method to square the binomial}
= a² - a - 2 {combined like terms}

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