Final answer:
To calculate p(3) for the polynomial p(x) = x² – 5x – 5, substitute 3 for x to get p(3) = (3)² – 5(3) – 5, which simplifies to p(3) = 9 – 15 – 5 = -11.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find p(3) for the polynomial p(x) = x² – 5x – 5, we need to substitute the value 3 into the polynomial:
p(3) = (3)² – 5(3) – 5
• First, square the value 3: (3)² = 9
• Next, multiply 5 by 3: 5(3) = 15
• Now, plug these values back into the polynomial:
p(3) = 9 – 15 – 5
• Combine the terms:
p(3) = 9 – 15 – 5
= -11
Therefore, the value of p(3) is –11.