4.4.1 Using Function Notation in Tables of Values

Algebra 14.4.1 Using Function Notation in Tables of Values

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Warm Up

Use the tables to answer each question.

$x$	$f (x) = 10 - 2 x$
1	8
1.5	7
5	0
–2	14

$x$	$g (x) = x^{3}$
–2	–8
0	0
1	1
3	27

What do you notice?

Compare your answers:

The tables don't say “input” and “output.”
While there is a column labeled $x$ , there is not a column labeled $y$ .
One function is called $f$ . The other is called $g$ .
There’s an expression (rather than a number) on the right side of the equation $f (x) = 10 - 2 x$ and $g (x) = x^{3}$ .
If we substitute the values in the left column for the $x$ in the expression, we get the values in the right column.

What do you wonder?

Compare your answers:

Why is $x$ on the right side of the equal sign?
Are there rules about how to name functions?
What does each equation, $f (x) = 10 - 2 x$ and $g (x) = x^{3}$ , mean?

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