SOLUTION: I'm trying to understand this problem from my SAT book. It says to Find h(4)-h(1) It tells me the answers are h(4)=13 and h(1)=8 and then 13-5=5 but I don't understand how it g

Algebra ->  Functions -> SOLUTION: I'm trying to understand this problem from my SAT book. It says to Find h(4)-h(1) It tells me the answers are h(4)=13 and h(1)=8 and then 13-5=5 but I don't understand how it g      Log On


   

Question 423419: I'm trying to understand this problem from my SAT book. It says to
Find h(4)-h(1) It tells me the answers are h(4)=13 and h(1)=8 and then 13-5=5 but I don't understand how it get 13 and 8.
Thanks

Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The problem must have given you some information about h(x). Usually this information is in the form of a formula (like f%28x%29+=+x%5E2-3x%2B7) or in the form of a graph. Without this information it is impossible to provide a specific answer to your question.

If you were given a formula like
f%28x%29+=+x%5E2-3x%2B7 then
f%284%29+=+%284%29%5E2-3%284%29%2B7
f%284%29+=+16-3%284%29%2B7
f%284%29+=+16-12%2B7
f%284%29+=+4%2B7
f%284%29+=+11
and
f%281%29+=+%281%29%5E2-3%281%29%2B7
etc.

If you were given a graph then for h(4) you look for the point on the graph where x = 4. You figure out what the y coordinate of that point is and that is h(4). For h(1) you look for where the x = 1, etc.