Think of a function like a machine ...

• Substitute "in" value for x (or other variable)

• Calculate "out" value using Order of Operations

Think of a function like a machine ...

• Substitute "in" value for x (or other variable)

• Calculate "out" value using Order of Operations

• This example is showing f(x)=5x + 1

• This is read f (of x) = 5x plus 1

• So, with function notation, the y is replaced with f(x).

Function Machine

You will also see this type of function machine.

You can see that x is being put into the machine, and f(x), which is the output, is coming out.

Example 1

Here, we're told that our rule is

f(x) = -2x +4 and that x is equal to -3.

When we input -3 into our equation, we get an output of 10.

Make sure you are using FUNCTION NOTATION. f(-3) = 10. This is read f of -3 equal 10.