A function, lambda, is defined by lambda(p, q) = (p - q)^2, if p = 0 p, if p

Question

A function, lambda, is defined by

lambda(p, q) = (p - q)^2,  if p >= 0
               p,           if p < 0

The value of the expression lambda(-3 + 2, -2 + 3) is:

A. -1
B. 0
C. 9/4
D. 16

Accepted Answer

-1 (Option A) The function lambda(p, q) is piecewise: when the first argument p is non-negative, the output is (p - q)^2; when p is negative, the output is simply p. We first simplify the arguments: -3 + 2 = -1 and -2 + 3 = 1. Since p = -1 < 0, we use the second rule and the answer is p = -1.

A function, lambda, is defined by lambda(p, q) = (p - q)^2, if p >= 0 p, if p < 0 The value of the expression lambda(-3 + 2, -2 + 3) is: A. -1 B. 0 C. 9/4 D. 16