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General Mathematics
First Quarter
Module 2: Evaluates a Function

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General Mathematics
First Quarter
Module 2: Evaluates a Function
 Introduction
This module is written in support of the K to 12 Basic Education
Program to ensure attainment of standards expected of you as a learner.
This aims to equip you with essential knowledge on Evaluating Functions.

This includes the following activities/tasks:

■ Expected Learning Outcome — This lays out the learning outcome
that you are expected to have accomplished at the end of the module.
■ Pre-test — This determines your prior learning on the particular
lesson you are about to take.
■ Discussion of the Lesson —This provides you with the important
knowledge, principles and attitude that will help you meet the expected
learning outcome.
■ Learning Activities — These provide you with the application of the
knowledge and principles you have gained from the lesson and enable you to
further enhance your skills as you carry out prescribed tasks.
■ Post-test — This evaluates your overall understanding about the
module.

With the different activities provided in this module, may you find this
material engaging and challenging as it develops your critical thinking skills.

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 What I Need to Know

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

 evaluate functions

What I Know

Try to answer the following items about Evaluation of Functions and see
what you have already known about the topic.
A. Evaluate the following functions at x = 3.
1. f ( x )=x −3
2. f ( x )=x 2−3 x +5
3. f ( x )=2 x 2 +8 x−15
4. f ( x )=3 x−8
5. f ( x )=x 2−13 x
6. f ( x )= √3 x 3 + x+ 3
2
( ) x +1
7. p x =
x−4
8. f ( x )=¿ x −5∨¿ where ¿ x−5∨¿ means the absolute value of x – 5.

B. Given f ( x )=❑√ x−3, find the following values.

1. f (3)
2. f ( 4 )
3. f ( 6 )
4. f ( 12 )
5. f ( x−3 )
6. f ( )1−x
1

7. f ( x 2 + 4 x+7 )
8. f (2x)

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 What`s In
“Substitution” is a very common term that we usually hear when we
play sports like volleyball, basketball or in any team sports. But this word
isn’t only used when we refer to replacing one player with another during a
match. In algebra, it has almost the same meaning but instead of replacing
a player, we put numbers where the letters (or otherwise known as
variables) are.
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For instance, when x = 2, what is +4 ? So, by how will you find the
x
answer to the question?
All we have to do is to put 2, in the place of x
14 14
+4= +4=7+ 4=11
x 2
Try to evaluate the following algebraic expressions, given that
a = 2, x = 4, y = 6.
1. 32a2 – 5xy
2. 3xy
3. – 5a + 4x – 2y
3 ay
4.
x
5. 10a + 4xy – 12

What`s New

So, how do we evaluate functions? Try to study the following

examples.

1. If f ( x )=4 x 2−5 x+ 3, evaluate the following:

a. f(5)
f ( 5 )=78

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b. f ( ¿
4

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 f ( 14 )=¿ 2
c. f(0) f ( 0 )=¿ 3

d. f ( √22 ) ¿− 5 √2 2 +5
e. f(x+1)
f ( x +1 )=¿ 4 x 2+3 x +2

Can you now figure out how those answers were

derived?

What Is It

Evaluating Functions

Evaluating a function means replacing the variable in the function, in

this case x, with a value from the function’s domain and computing for the
result. To denote that we are evaluating f at a for some a in the domain of f,
we write f(a) or read as, “f of a”.

f(a), f(x), g(x) are function notations. The parenthesis in f(a) and f(x) do
not mean multiplication. The name of the function f or we can use other
letters. The variable x or a placed inside the parenthesis is called the
argument of the function. The function f will operate according to the
argument.

So, how do we evaluate functions?

Let us discuss how we got the answers in What’s New.

If f ( x )=4 x 2−5 x+ 3, evaluate the following:
a. f(5)
2
f ( 5 )=4 (5) −5(5)+3 Substitute the input variable with 5.
¿ 100−25+3 Simplify.
¿ 78
1
b. f ( ¿
4

()
2
1 1 1
f =4( ) −5 ( )+3 Substitute all the variable x with ¼.
4 4 4

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 1 5
¿ − +3 Simplify.
4 4
¿2
The same process can also be applied in the following examples.
First, replace the input variable in the formula with the value provided and
after, calculate the results or simplify.
c. f(0) f ( 0 )=4(0)2−5 (0)+ 3
¿ 0−0+3
¿3

d. f ( √22 )
f ( )=4 ( ) −5 ( )+3
2
√2 √2 √2
2 2 2
1 5 √2
¿ 4 ( )− +3
2 2
¿− √ +5
5 2
2
e. f(x+1)
2
f ( x +1 )=4 ( x+1) −5( x +1)+3
¿ 4 (x ¿¿ 2+2 x+1)−5 x−5+3 ¿
¿ 4 x 2+8 x +4−5 x−2
2
¿ 4 x +3 x +2

Let us have a few more examples on how to evaluate functions.

Examples:

1. f(x) = x2 + 1. This means that f will square its argument and add 1.

Solution:
Hence, if f(2), you have to replace x with 2.
f(2) = (2)2 +1
=4+1
f(2) = 5
This means that the value of the function is 5 when x is 2. In
ordered pair, it is (2,5).

2. For the function, f(x) = x2 + 3x – 4, evaluate each of the following:

Solutions:
a. f(a)
f(a) = a2 + 3a – 4, in this case the input value is a letter so we
cannot simplify the answer any further.

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 b. f(a + h)
f(a + h) = (a + h)2 + 3(a + h) – 4
= a2 + 2ah + h2 + 3a + 3h – 4
With the input value of a + h, we must use the distributive
property.

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3. If f(x) = 3x – 5, find f ( ).
5

Solution:
f
2
5() 2 ❑
=3 ( ) −5
5
6
¿ −5
5
6−25 −19
¿ =
5 5

4. Evaluate the following functions at x = 1.5.

a. g ( x )=√ x+1
2 x +1
b. r ( x )=
x−1
c. f ( x )=2 x +1
d. q ( x )=x 2−2 x +2

Solutions:

a. g ( x )=√ x+1
g ( 1.5 )= √ 1.5+1
¿ √ 2.5

2 x +1
b. r ( x )=
x−1
2(1.5)+1
r ( 1.5 )=
(1.5)−1
3+1
¿
0.5
4
¿ =8
0.5

c. f ( x )=2 x +1
f(x) = 2(1.5) +1

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 =3+1=4
d. q(x) = x 2−2 x+ 2
q(x) = (1.5) 2 – 2(1.5) + 2
= 2.25 – 3 + 2 = 1.25

What`s More
 Independent Activity
Directions: Evaluate the following functions. Make sure to show your
solutions on your answer/activity notebook.
A. Given f(x) = x – 2, find the following values:
1. f(0)
2. f(3)
3. f(-1)
4. f(π)
5. f(x+1)
6. f(3x)
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B. Given f ( x )= , find the following values:
x
1. f(1)
2. f(2)
3. f(-1)
4. f(√ 2)
1
5. f( )
X
6. f(2x)

What I Have Learned

I learned that:
 evaluating a function means replacing the
variable in the function, in this case x, with 7
a value from the function’s domain and
computing for the result.
 f(a) is read as, “f of a”
 What I Can Do

Try to answer the following word problems applying what you have
learned in evaluating functions:
1. Mark started selling snacks in the nearby school. In one day, he
spends ₱200.00 for rent and ₱25.00 for each snack item he prepares.
His expenses in a single day can be expressed as the function C(x) =
25x + 200, where x is the number of items and C(x) is his daily
expenses in pesos. How much are his expenses if he prepares 100
snack items? 150 snack items? respectively.

2. The function for the height of an object dropped from a 100-meter tall
platform at time t seconds is approximated by s(t) = -5t2 + 100 (this
formula is based on an approximated value for the acceleration
g = 10m/s2 due to gravity). What is the height of the object after 2
seconds? 4 seconds? Respectively.

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 Assessment

Directions: Read each item carefully and answer the following items
based on what you have learned in this module.
A. Evaluate the following functions at x = - 4.
1. f ( x )=x 3−64
2. g ( x )=¿ x 3−3 x 2+3 x−1|
3. r(x) = √ 5−x
x +3
4. f ( x )= 2
x +7 x +12

B. Evaluate f ( a+b ) where f ( x )=4 x 2−3 x .

C. Given f ( x )=3 x−5 , evaluate the following:

1. f (0)
2. f (-3)
1
3. f ( )
3
4. f (5)
5. f (1)
6. f (-1)

D. Given f ( x )=x 2−4 x +4 . Solve for:

1. f (3)
2. f (x+3)
3. Is f (x+3) the same as f (x) + f (3)?

E. Solve the following word problems.

1. The velocity V (in m/s) of a ball thrown upward t seconds after the
ball was thrown is given by V(t) = 20 – 9.8t. Calculate V(0) and V(1),
and explain what these results mean.

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 2. Suppose that s(T) is the top speed (in km per hour) of a runner
when the temperature is T degrees Celsius. Explain what the
statements
s(15) = 12 and s(30) = 10 mean.

Answer Key

What I know
A. Evaluate the following functions at x = 3.
1. f ( x )=x −3 = 0
2. f ( x )=x 2−3 x +5 = 5
3. f ( x )=2 x 2 +8 x−15= 27
4. f ( x )=3 x−8= 1
5. f ( x )=x 2−13 x = -30
6. f ( x )= √ x 3 + x+ 3= √3 33
3

2
x +1
7. p ( x )= = -10
x−4
8. f ( x )=¿ x −5∨¿ where ¿ x−5∨¿ means the absolute value of x – 5. =
2

B. Given f ( x )=❑√ x−3, find the following values.

1. f (3) = 0
2. f ( 4 ) = 1
3. f ( 6 ) = √ 3
4. f ( 12 ) = 3
5. f ( x−3 )= √ x−6
6. f ( )1−x
1
=
3 x −2
1−x
7. f ( x + 4 x+7 ) = √ x 2+ 4 x +4 or
2

8. f (2x) = √ 2 x −3

What’s More

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Independent Activity
A. 1. -2
2. 1
3. -3
4.Π – 2
5. x – 1
6. 3x – 2

B. 1. 4
2. 2
3. -4
4. 2√ 2
5. 4x
6. 2/x

What I Can do
1. ₱2700.00 and ₱3950.00, respectively
2. 80 and 20 meters, respectively

Assessment
A. 1. -128
2. 125
3. 3
4. -4 is not in the domain of q(x)

B. 4a2 – 3a + 8ab – 3b + 4b2

C. 1. -5
2. -14
3. -4
4. 10
5. -2
6. -8

D. 1. 1
2. x2 + 2x + 1
3. f (x) + f (3) = x2 + 4x + 5 ≠ f (x+ 3)

E. 1. V(0) = 20 – 9.8(0) = 20 and V(1) = 20 – 9.8(1) = 10.2. These results

indicate that the initial velocity of the ball is 20 m/s. after 1 second, the ball
is travelling more slowly, at 10.2 m/s.
2. The first equation means that when the temperature is 15°C, then
the top speed of a runner is 12km per hour. However, when the temperature
rises to 30°C, the top speed is reduced to 10 km per hour.

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References:
Adrao, Eugenio, Raquel Avante, and Elvin Ulpina. Advanced Algebra,
Trigonometry and Statistics. Quezon City: Neo Asia Publishing
Incorporated, 2010.

Barcelona, Alvin, Rene Belecina, and John Llenord Villanueva. Senior High
Conceptual Math & Beyond General Mathematics. Quezon City:
Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc., 2016.

Barcelona, Alvin, Rene Belecina, and John Llenord Villanueva. Senior High
Conceptual Math & Beyond General Mathematics (Teacher’s Guide).
Quezon City: Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc., 2016.

Commission on Higher Education, Teaching Guide for Senior High School:

General Mathematics (Quezon City, Philippines: EC-TECT Commercial,
2016).

“Evaluating Functions,” Math is Fun, accessed June 15, 2020,

https://www.mathisfun.com/algebra/functions-evaluating.html.

Oronce, Orlando, Gil Nonato Santos, and Marie Ona. Interactive

Mathematics II: Concepts, Structures, and Methods for High School.
Manila: Rex Bookstore, 2002.

Rees, Paul, Fred Sparks, and Charles Sparks Rees. College Algebra. Tenth
Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2013.

Tiojanco, Rosita, Maria Eleazar and Claro Precioso. Advanced Algebra.

Quezon City: Abiva Publishing House, Inc., 1976.

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Written by:
ANGELICA MARIAE T. TAN-AWON
Senior High School Teacher II
Candaping National High School

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