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| Title of object: |
argument |
| Canonical Name: |
Argument2 |
| Type: |
Definition |
| Created on: |
2006-07-27 20:10:09 |
| Modified on: |
2007-06-19 21:13:39 |
| Classification: |
msc:03E20, msc:97D70 |
Preamble:
% this is the default PlanetMath preamble. as your knowledge
% of TeX increases, you will probably want to edit this, but
% it should be fine as is for beginners.
% almost certainly you want these
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
% used for TeXing text within eps files
%\usepackage{psfrag}
% need this for including graphics (\includegraphics)
%\usepackage{graphicx}
% for neatly defining theorems and propositions
%\usepackage{amsthm}
% making logically defined graphics
%\usepackage{xypic}
% there are many more packages, add them here as you need them
% define commands here
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Content:
The {\sl argument\/} of a function is its input. For example, in the expression $f(x)$, $x$ is the argument of $f$.
A common error for those who are unfamiliar with mathematics is to treat a function and its argument as two separate entities. For example, in solving the equation $\ln x=5$ for $x$, people who are unfamiliar with mathematics may give the erroneous answer $\displaystyle x=\frac{5}{\ln}$. This error might be circumvented by stressing that a function and its argument are not multiplied, but rather that a function \PMlinkescapetext{acts on} its argument.
Another common error is to try to separate the argument of a function. This error is most common when the argument consists of at least two terms. For example, students may write $f(x+5)=f(x)+f(5)$ regardless of what the function $f$ is. |
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