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Advanced MathEasyEvaluating a polynomial function at a negative input

Advanced Math practice question

The function g is defined by g(x) = x³ + 2x. What is the value of g(−2) ?

  1. A. −12Correct
  2. B. −10
  3. C. −4
  4. D. 12

Answer: A. −12

g(−2) = (−2)³ + 2(−2) = −8 + (−4) = −12. B encodes computing (−2)³ as −6 (multiplying the base by the exponent instead of cubing): −6 − 4 = −10. C encodes a sign error in the linear term, using 2(−2) = +4: −8 + 4 = −4. D encodes treating (−2)³ as +8 (assuming an even-power sign result): 8 + 4 = 12.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. −10
You computed (−2)³ as −6 by multiplying the base by the exponent; cubing means (−2)(−2)(−2) = −8, so the answer is −8 − 4 = −12.
C. −4
You got (−2)³ = −8 right, but 2(−2) = −4, not +4, so the sum is −12.
D. 12
You treated (−2)³ as +8, but an odd power of a negative number stays negative: (−2)³ = −8, giving −8 − 4 = −12.

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