If f(x) = x^2, what is f(-3)?

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Multiple Choice

If f(x) = x^2, what is f(-3)?

Explanation:
Evaluating a function means plugging the input into the expression. For f(x) = x^2, substitute x with -3: f(-3) = (-3)^2. A negative number squared becomes positive, since (-3) times (-3) equals 9. So f(-3) equals 9. The other values don’t fit because -9 would come from a different interpretation of the operation, 0 would require input 0, and 81 would come from squaring 9 (or -9), not -3.

Evaluating a function means plugging the input into the expression. For f(x) = x^2, substitute x with -3: f(-3) = (-3)^2. A negative number squared becomes positive, since (-3) times (-3) equals 9. So f(-3) equals 9. The other values don’t fit because -9 would come from a different interpretation of the operation, 0 would require input 0, and 81 would come from squaring 9 (or -9), not -3.

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