Question

Evaluate the piecewise function for x = -1 and x = 3.
Enter your answer as in the following example: 10; -20

f(x) ={12 if x < -3
{15 if -3 <= x < 6
{20 if x >= 6

Answer 1

Which part are you stuck with?

Answer 2

The whole question, i'm not sure what to do or where to start.

Answer 3

Okay, evaluating the piecewise function for the values of x means the following:

Find:
f(-1) = ?
f(3) = ?

Answer 4

I'll do the first one and see if you can do the second

Answer 5

If I rewrote the function in words it would say:

f of x equals 12 if x is less than -3
f of x equals 15 if x is larger than or equal to -3 and less than 6
f of x equals 20 if x is larger than or equal to 6

Answer 6

Since the first value for x, -1, is both larger than -3 and less than 6 this means the value of f(x), or f(-1), is 15.

Answer 7

Does that make sense?

Answer 8

So i just plug the number in?

Answer 9

Yeah, you let x equal the two values you are given. You can post your answer to the second if you like and I'll check it :)

Answer 10

OKay, so the answer for the second one will be 20?

Answer 11

Its larger than -3

Answer 12

Oh so the answer would be 15 again.. I just redid it

Answer 13

Yep, that's right! :)

Answer 14

Thank you so much! i understand it better now..

Answer 15

Because 3 is both larger than -3 and smaller than 6

Answer 16

You're welcome, thanks for the medal