If f and g are functions, where f(x) = x^3 -10x^2 +27x – 18 and g(x) = x^3 – x^2 – 6x, which of the following gives a relationship between f and g?
A) g(x) = 3 f(x)
B) g(x) = f(x) – 3
C) g(x) = f(x) + 3
D) g(x) = f(x – 3)
E) g(x) = f(x + 3)Can you solve w/o graphing?
Yes!
Note that the first term in both functions is , so the relationship isn’t multiplication. Eliminate choice A.
Note also that it’s obvious that isn’t just 3 bigger or 3 smaller than , so you can also eliminate choices B and C without any real work.
From there, it gets a little tricky. Focus on the constant terms, though. Note that has a –18 in it that goes away in . Note also that when we plug or in for , we’ll have a bunch of binomials to expand, but the only way that –18 goes away is if those binomial expansions spit out a positive 18. Without doing all the math, you should be confident that choice E is the one that will do that. To test it quickly, though, set (since this does need to be true when ).
Yep! That worked nicely.