If f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c and f(0) = 1 and f(-1) = 3, what is a - b Evaluate f(0) f(0) = a(0^2) + b(0) + c f(0) = a(0) + b(0) + c f(0) = c Since f(0) = 1, we have c = 1 Evaluate f(-1) f(-1) = a(-1^2) + b(-1) + c f(-1) = a(1) - b + c f(-1) = a - b + c Since f(-1) = 3, we have: a - b + c = -3 We learned above that f(0) = 1, so c = 1. Plug c = 1 into f(-1) a - b + 1 = -3 Subtract 1 from each side: a - b + 1 - 1 = -3 - 1 Cancel the 1's on the left side and we get: a - b = -4