Advanced Math practice question

Answer: B. 10

Work from the inside out: f(3) = 3² − 1 = 8, then g(8) = 8 + 2 = 10. The trap is choice C, computing f(g(3)) = f(5) = 24 instead; composition is not commutative, so order matters.

Why the other answers are wrong

A. 8

8 is f(3) — you did the inside step correctly but stopped before applying g; you still need g(8) = 8 + 2.

C. 24

That's f(g(3)) = f(5) = 5² − 1 = 24; you applied the functions in the wrong order. In g(f(3)) the inner function is f.

D. 26

No single clean slip gives 26 — it isn't f(3), g(3), or either composition. Work strictly inside out: find f(3) = 8 first, then feed that into g.

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