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Advanced Math / Nonlinear functions Difficulty: Medium
f of x equals, x cubed, plus 3 x squared, minus 6 x, minus 1

For the function f defined above, what is the value of f of negative 1?

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Explanation

Choice C is correct. Substituting negative 1 for x in the given function f gives f of negative 1 equals, open parenthesis, negative 1, close parenthesis, cubed, plus 3 times, open parenthesis, negative 1, close parenthesis, squared, minus, 6 times negative 1, minus 1, which simplifies to f of negative 1 equals, negative 1 plus, 3 times 1, minus, 6 times negative 1, minus 1. This further simplifies to f of negative 1 equals, negative 1 plus 3, plus 6, minus 1, or f of negative 1, equals 7.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from correctly substituting negative 1 for x in the function but incorrectly simplifying the resulting expression to f of negative 1 equals, negative 1 minus 3, minus 6, minus 1, or negative 11. Choice B is incorrect and may result from arithmetic errors. Choice D is incorrect and may result from correctly substituting negative 1 for x in the function but incorrectly simplifying the expression to f of negative 1 equals, 1 plus 3, plus 6, plus 1, or 11.