Question 248447
I assume the problem is to evaluate 
{{{-3x^3+4x^2-x-2}}} for x = -2<br>
There are two ways to do this:<ul><li>Use Synthetic Division:
<pre>
-2 |  -3  4  -1  -2
----      6 -20  42
      --------------
      -3 10 -21  40
</pre>
The expression has a value of 40 (the remainder above) when x = -2. (If you don;t know why, look up the Remainder Theorem.)</li><li>Straightforward. Just substitute -2 into the expression for x:
{{{-3(-2)^3 + 4(-2)^2 - (-2) - 2}}}
and simplify:
{{{-3(-8) + 4(4) + 2 - 2}}}
{{{24 + 16 + 2 - 2}}}
{{{40}}}</li></ul>