Precalculus Examples

$f (x) = 2 x^{2} + 5 x - 17$ ; find $f (- 1)$

Step 1

Replace the variable $x$ with $- 1$ in the expression.

$f (- 1) = 2 {(- 1)}^{2} + 5 (- 1) - 17$

Step 2

Simplify $2 {(- 1)}^{2} + 5 (- 1) - 17$ .

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Step 2.1

Remove parentheses.

$2 {(- 1)}^{2} + 5 (- 1) - 17$

Step 2.2

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.2.1

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $2$ .

$2 \cdot 1 + 5 (- 1) - 17$

Step 2.2.2

Multiply $2$ by $1$ .

$2 + 5 (- 1) - 17$

Step 2.2.3

Multiply $5$ by $- 1$ .

$2 - 5 - 17$

Step 2.3

Simplify by subtracting numbers.

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Step 2.3.1

Subtract $5$ from $2$ .

$- 3 - 17$

Step 2.3.2

Subtract $17$ from $- 3$ .

$- 20$