Let f(x)=x2−2x. What is the value of f(f(f(f(f(f(−1))))))?
Solution — click to reveal
We start from the inside and work our way out: f(−1)=(−1)2−2(−1)=3. Therefore f(f(f(f(f(f(−1))))))=f(f(f(f(f(3)))). Now f(3)=32−2⋅3=3. We can use that fact repeatedly to conclude f(f(f(f(f(f(−1))))))=f(f(f(f(f(3))))=f(f(f(f(3)))⋮=f(3)=3.