Question

How to find the value of k
given this piecewise function

x+5, x cant =-1
2kx+2 if x=-1

I got k=1

Answer 1

What would the value of x+5 be, if x could be -1?

Answer 2

idk

Answer 3

Well, what is (-1)+5?

Answer 4

4

Answer 5

Okay. does \[2kx+2=4\] if \(x = -1, k = 1\)?

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

Are you sure?

Answer 8

but the answer to the question is -1 and i got 1

Answer 9

no,

Answer 10

sorry

Answer 11

its -1

Answer 12

Right.

Answer 13

cold you help with something else. are you a math teacher or something in math

Answer 14

could

Answer 15

There's an assumption here that isn't stated as you presented it, which is that the function is continuous. That's the only thing that allows us to find the value of \(k\)..knowing what the value of the function is at x = -1

Answer 16

What's your other question?

Answer 17

I want to get my teacher something as a thank you, I want to get him something math related since I know he has a library of math books. I want to get him this book or another edition of it http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Mathematical-Tables-Formulae-30th/dp/0849324793/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371307285&sr=1-1&keywords=Standard+Mathematical+Tables+and+Formulae+30th+Edition

but i don't know if its any good. He says he loves math and learning about the history behind it and how all the ideas were made and the process behind them. I'm not a math person, I'm a biology person so I don't know if its any good

Answer 18

This is your math teacher, right? That wouldn't be my first choice for a book to enjoy, it's more like giving someone a copy of the phone book :-)

An interesting book I read recently is this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0691146004

Answer 19

Lots of history, interesting math, etc. I think the only way you could go wrong is if they already own it. If you buy it from Amazon, they can easily exchange it, or buy it from a local store and get a gift receipt.

Answer 20

what is the book about, not that i will understand

Answer 21

see, this is why i need help. I wold have given him a phone book lol

Answer 22

would

Answer 23

It's about the history of imaginary numbers, and the many, many different applications they have in math, science, engineering, etc.

Answer 24

would he think that i would be telling him to teacher better if i gave it to him? He wouldn't get offended? I'm also giving him a letter.

Answer 25

No, I don't think there's any real chance of that. But like I said, if you buy through Amazon, or get a gift receipt if buying from a local store, they can exchange it for something else if they want.

Answer 26

ok. Thank you so much.