Advanced MathMediumEvaluating a factored quadratic at a negative input
Advanced Math practice question
The function p is defined by p(x) = (x − 5)(x + 2). What is the value of p(−3)?
Answer: 8
p(−3) = (−3 − 5)(−3 + 2) = (−8)(−1) = 8.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 40
- Careful with signs: the factors are −8 and −1, giving +8.
- If you answered -8
- Both factors are negative, so their product is positive 8.
- If you answered -10
- −10 is p(0), the y-intercept; here the input is −3.
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