Here is the solution for you...
f(x) = ax^4 - 4x^2 + ax - 3
Therefore,
f(b) = ab^4 - 4b^2 + ab - 3
and
f(-b) = ab^4 - 4b^2 -ab - 3
Now f(b) - f(-b) = 2ab
You can see except ab all the terms would cancel out.
So answer is (B).
Since f(b) – f(-b), you're negating the second half of the equation, and the -3 changes to a +3... and both of the 3 cancels to 0.resilient wrote:I follow you up to the last step. f(-b) = ab^4 - 4b^2 -ab - 3 but shouldnt it be
f(-b) = a(-b)^4 - 4(-b)^2 -a(-b) - 3 . WIth all this, I am getting 2ab-6. Thanks for the explanation. I am understanding much better and am stuck on last detail. Was very tired when studying last night!
Look the original equation is:resilient wrote:I follow you up to the last step. f(-b) = ab^4 - 4b^2 -ab - 3 but shouldnt it be
f(-b) = a(-b)^4 - 4(-b)^2 -a(-b) - 3 . WIth all this, I am getting 2ab-6. Thanks for the explanation. I am understanding much better and am stuck on last detail. Was very tired when studying last night!
Check here you have changed the sign of coefficient of term x. It should be +a instead of -a.resilient wrote: f(-b) = a(-b)^4 - 4(-b)^2 -a(-b) - 3 .
Since f(x) = ax^4 - 4x^2 + ax - 3, we know:resilient wrote:If f(x) = ax^4 - 4x^2 + ax - 3, then f(b) - f(-b) will equal:
A. 0
B. 2ab
C. 2ab^4 - 8b^2 - 6
D. -2ab^4 + 8b^2 + 6
E. 2ab^4 - 8b^2 + 2ab - 6
