Step by step
The question
Question: what is the smallest value of f in this table of f?
smallest value of f = ?
1 Look at the table
The table shows f.
Each x on top has its f(x) right under it.
For example, f of −3 is 9.
x: top row
f(x): right under its x
2 Find the smallest value
The values of f are the numbers in the f(x) row.
We look for the smallest one.
smallest value of f → the bottom of the f(x) row
Careful!
The value of f is a number in the f(x) row.
We answer with it, not with the x.
Careful: the value is f(x), not the x
The f(x) row is 9, 4, 1 and 0.
The smallest is 0.
So the smallest value of f is 0.
It is at x = 0.
smallest value = 0
3 Check
Let's check: in the f(x) row, no number is smaller than 0.
So the answer is right!
f(x) row: 9, 4, 1, 0 smallest: 0
Let's look back.
First: look at the table.
Then: find the smallest value.
Last: check.
Answer
smallest value = 0