answersLogoWhite

0

An even function is symmetric around the vertical axis. An odd function - such as the sine function - has a sort of symmetry too - around the point of origin. If you graph this specific function (for example, on the Wolfram Alpha website), you can see that the function has none of these symmetries. To prove that the function is NOT even, nor odd, just find a number for which f(x) is neither f(-x) nor -f(-x).

Actually proving that a function IS even or odd (assuming it actually is) is more complicated, of course - you have to prove that it has the "even" or the "odd" property for EVERY value of x.

Let f(x) = 2x3 - x2. Notice that f is defined for any x, since it is a polynomial function.

If f(-x) = f(x), then f is even.

If f(-x) = -f(x), then f is odd.

f(-x) = 2(-x)3 - (-x)2 = -2x3 - x2

Since f(-x) ≠ f(x) = 2x3 - x2, f is not even.

Since f(-x) ≠ - f(x) = -(2x3 - x2) = -2x3 + x2, f is not odd.

Therefore f is neither even nor odd.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

What else can I help you with?