16Hit1600
AlgebraHardGreatest value of a linear expression over an interval

Algebra practice question

If −2 ≤ x < 5, what is the greatest possible value of 3 − 2x?

Answer: 7

3 − 2x decreases as x increases, so it is greatest at the least x: 3 − 2(−2) = 7.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 3
3 uses x = 0.
If you answered 13
13 comes from 3 + 2(5), a sign slip.
If you answered -7
−7 comes from x = 5, which is excluded and gives the least value anyway.

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