Question

Evaluate the function f(x) = -8x^5 + 6x^4 - 5x^3 + 10x^2 + 9x - 1 when x = -1.

a) -30
b) -25
c) 32
d) -19

Answer 1

After substituting -1 into the function f(x) and performing the operations, the value of f(-1) equals 19, which is not listed among the provided choices.

Step-by-step explanation:

To evaluate the function f(x) = -8x^5 + 6x^4 - 5x^3 + 10x^2 + 9x - 1 when x = -1, we substitute -1 for x in the equation: f(-1) = -8(-1)^5 + 6(-1)^4 - 5(-1)^3 + 10(-1)^2 + 9(-1) - 1. This simplifies to: f(-1) = -8(-1) + 6(1) - 5(-1) + 10(1) - 9 - 1. Which further simplifies to: f(-1) = 8 + 6 + 5 + 10 - 9 - 1. Adding those together, we get: f(-1) = 8 + 6 + 5 + 10 - 9 - 1 = 19