Have you ever wondered about names, maybe the meaning of your name or a friend’s name?
Function notation is just that, a notation. What is a notation? Simply a way to write something. In this case a way to name a function and clearly show the input values vs. the output values of the function.
Now, we sometimes are going to deal with arbitrary functions, or functions not in a word problem. In this case the most famous function notation you will see is f(x), read f of x. Why f? Because that is the first letter of the word function. Why x? Because x is the most common letter used for the input variable.
If you need a refresher on what makes a function a function, check out the fundamental Functions!
If you are struggling to evaluate (solve) the expression on the right side of the equation above, check out the fundamental Simplifying Expressions.
What’s next: Function notation is used in application problems. Check out the fundamental Problem Solving: Linear Function Applications to see function notation in action.