Questions about the world of GRE Math from other sources and general math related questions.
lmmattia88
Students
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 3:25 pm
 

Algebra Practice Problem

by lmmattia88 Tue Nov 05, 2013 10:43 pm

If g(y)=y^2 - 1/y+1, what is g(1/x)?

I understand to plug in (1/x) for y, I just don't understand how to simplify the problem (step by step) to get the answer
tommywallach
Manhattan Prep Staff
 
Posts: 1917
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:18 am
 

Re: Algebra Practice Problem

by tommywallach Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:08 pm

If g(y)=y^2 - 1/y+1, what is g(1/x)?

Just take it piece by piece:

y^2 = (1/x)^2 = 1/(x^2)

1/y = 1/ (1/x) = x/1 = x

and 1 is just 1

so

1/(x^2) + x + 1

That's it.

(I think there's a possibility you wanted to include some more parentheses in your original post, but I don't know, so I solved it as written!).

-t