Set x Equal to Something: How to Use Brackets in a Function

[Femme_physics]

I was always sure you use brackets but lately a certainly question had shaken my confidence. Can you confirm one uses brackets when settings the x equal to something in a function f(x).

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi Femme_physics!

(wouldn't it have been quicker to type it rather than attach a picture? )

If f(x) = -x² + 4

then f(-10) = -(-10)² + 4.

I don't know what --10² + 4 would mean, but I suspect it would be --(10²) + 4 = (10²) + 4

 

[Femme_physics]

Tiny-tim! Good to see you! Where've you been hiding? ^^ :)

Hi Femme_physics!

(wouldn't it have been quicker to type it rather than attach a picture? )

LMAO! Force of habit!

If f(x) = -x² + 4

then f(-10) = -(-10)² + 4.

I don't know what --10² + 4 would mean, but I suspect it would be --(10²) + 4 = (10²) + 4

Heh, yes. So it's settled, you use brackets.

 

[tiny-tim]

Tiny-tim! Good to see you! Where've you been hiding? ^^ :)

finding nemo!

where were you? ​

 

[Femme_physics]

Hehe. You know I'm always here, distraught about some new statics problem. My lovely guardian angel these days is I like Serena :) But you're also always welcome to flop those golden fins, sending me ripples of comprehension in my quest to understand mechanics^^

 

[Mark44]

I don't know what --10² + 4 would mean, but I suspect it would be --(10²) + 4 = (10²) + 4

Clearly, --10² + 4 means 9² + 4 = 85.

Similarly, ++10² + 4 would be 11² + 4 = 125


BTW, some of us on the west side of the Atlantic call these things - [] - brackets, these things - {} - braces, these things - <> - angle brackets, and these things - () - parentheses. I understand that the terminology is somewhat different in GB.

 

[Char. Limit]

these things - <> - angle brackets

Oh, is that what they're called? I just call them arrow thingies.

 

[Femme_physics]

Oh, is that what they're called? I just call them arrow thingies.

Aherm, vector notation on the Cartesian plane. Check yourself before you wreck yourself ;)

 

[Char. Limit]

To be fair, I also call brackets "square thingies" and paretheses "round thingies".

 

[Femme_physics]

To be fair, I also call brackets "square thingies" and paretheses "round thingies".

LOL. I actually knew you were joking, Char, I just wanted to jokingly patronize over you and sound smart for a milisecond :D

 

[Char. Limit]

LOL. I actually knew you were joking, Char, I just wanted to jokingly patronize over you and sound smart for a milisecond :D

Huh? I'm not joking. That's actually what I call them.

 

[Mark44]

|| - straight thingies?
& - curly thingy?
~ - wavy thingy?

 

[Char. Limit]

See, Mark gets me! Oh, and these: {} are pointy thingies.