How to Check Your Work When Evaluating a Function

When you’re working with a function, it’s really important to check your work! This helps you make sure you’re correct and gives you confidence. Here’s a fun way to do it:

1. Know the Function: First, make sure you understand the function you are using! For example, if your function is ( f(x) = 2x + 3 ), know that ( x ) is the input and the operations are multiplying by 2 and then adding 3.

2. Substitute Carefully: When you put the input value into the function, take your time! If you’re finding ( f(4) ), you will replace ( x ) with 4: [ f(4) = 2(4) + 3 ] Work through this step by step!

3. Do the Math: Now, do the calculations carefully:

   • First, multiply 2 by 4 to get 8.
   • Next, add 3 to that, which gives you 11! So, ( f(4) = 11 ).

4. Check Again: Time for the fun part—check your work again! Look over your calculations:

   • Did you substitute the input correctly?
   • Are all your math steps correct?

5. Reverse Check: To be extra sure, try a reverse check! Take your answer (11) and plug it back in to see if you can find ( x ). If ( f(x) = 11 ), you should find ( x = 4 ).

6. Practice Regularly: Finally, keep practicing with different functions and inputs! The more you evaluate and check your work, the more confident you will feel!

So remember this checklist, and you’ll be great at algebra in no time! 🌟 Happy evaluating!