if f(x) = ax + b and f(2) = f(4) then a = ?
i cant seem to figure out if i plug in 2 or 4 into the eq.
i no the answer is 0 but how do i strt?
f(2) = f(4) --->
2 a + b - 4 a + b --->
2 a = 4 a --->
(4 - 2) a = 0 --->
2 a = 0 ---->
a = 0
To find the value of "a" in the equation f(x) = ax + b, you are given that f(2) = f(4). To solve for "a," you need to substitute the values of x into the equation.
Start by plugging in the value x = 2 into the equation f(x) = ax + b. This gives you:
f(2) = a(2) + b
Do the same for x = 4:
f(4) = a(4) + b
Since f(2) = f(4), we can equate the two equations:
a(2) + b = a(4) + b
Now you can simplify the equation by canceling out the "b" terms:
2a = 4a
Subtracting 2a from both sides of the equation gives:
0 = 2a
Finally, divide both sides of the equation by 2 to solve for "a":
a = 0
Therefore, the value of "a" in the equation f(x) = ax + b is 0.