What is the value of: y^3 - 20y^2 + 17y - 147 ?

Question

What is the value of: y^3 - 20y^2 + 17y - 147 ?

Answer 1

You have stated a cubic expression.  You could call it f(x). Then you could plugin any desired value of x, e.g. f(3) and calculate its value by replacing x in the expression by 3, for example.  Only when you state a particular x can you get the expression's value, f(x).

 

If you wanted to solve f(x) = 0, then the request should have been "solve this equation."  (That might be done by calculator methods, or perhaps by hand, if it turns out to be factorable.

 

In any event, Michael J's comment that you aquestioln is incomplete is valid.