Question

I've searched the internet with no success. Please help.
If f(x) = x^2 + 1 and g(x) = 3x + 1, find [f(2)-g(1)]^2

Answer 1

first find f(2) - plug in 2 for x into the x^2+1

Answer 2

then find g(1) - plug in 1 for x into the 3x+1

Answer 3

tell me what you get for f(2) and g(1) (respectively) please...

Answer 4

So f(2) would plug in and make it 2^2 +1 = 5 and g(1) would plug in to make it 3(1) + 1 = 4, but how would the power at the end work?

Answer 5

f(2)=5
g(1)=4

so then

[ f(2)-g(1) ] ^2 becomes [5 - 4]^2

Answer 6

and that is equal t☼ ?

Answer 7

25 - 16 = 9

Answer 8

Thanks a thousand!

Answer 9

no no

Answer 10

you are first subtracting f(2)-g(1) (that is subtract 5-4)

AND only then take the second power

Answer 11

(A-B)^2 is not same as A^2-B^2

Answer 12

So then you would have 1^2?

Answer 13

yes

Answer 14

and that is same as ?

Answer 15

One.

Answer 16

yup

Answer 17

Okay. Thanks for catching me there.

Answer 18

sure, not a problem!

Answer 19

to do the arithmetic correctly, remember *order of operations*
people learn various mnemonics PEDMAS for example, which means you do the first on the list before moving on to the next:
parens, exponents, divide/multiply, add/subtract

thus with (5-4)^2 you do the stuff inside the parens before doing the exponents
1^2
now you can do the exponent: 1*1 = 1