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Evaluating 2x2βˆ’xβˆ’32x^2 - x - 3 when x=ax = a

To evaluate the quadratic expression 2x2βˆ’xβˆ’32x^2 - x - 3 when x=ax = a, substitute the variable aa for the variable xx throughout the expression. First, replace every instance of xx with aa using parentheses to get 2(a)2βˆ’(a)βˆ’32(a)^2 - (a) - 3. Then, simplify the expression by removing the parentheses, yielding 2a2βˆ’aβˆ’32a^2 - a - 3. This example demonstrates that evaluating an expression can involve substituting another variable, rather than a numerical value, resulting in a new algebraic expression.

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Updated 2026-04-24

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