Evaluating Polynomial Function

Question

  a. p(-3)  b. p(1/2)

 

1. p(x)= -3x -5

        2. p(x)= x⁶ - x⁴ - x² + x + 7

 

Answer 1

1) p(-3) = -3(-3)-5 = 9-5=4

p(1/2) = -3(1/2)-5 = -6 1/2

 

2) p(-3) = (-3)⁶-(-3)⁴-(-3)²-3+7 = 729 -81-9+4=643

p(1/2) = 1/64 - 1/16 - 1/4 + 1/2 +7

p(1/2) = (1-4-16+32)/64 + 7     I put all of the fraction over a common denominator.

p(1/2) = 7 13/64