TITLE: If $ f(x)=x^2-3x+1$ then $ f(x-2) = ?$
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: If $ f(x)=x^2-3x+1$ then $ f(x-2) = ?$
I'm not sure how to properly deal with this function and solve for $f(x-2)$.

REPLY [3 votes]: The eaisest way to think and do these kinds of problems is to simply just say that x = x-2, and directly substitute directly into the original function. 
$$f(x) = x^2 - 3x + 1$$ 
Let $x = x - 2$
Sub back into original function for $x$
   \begin{eqnarray*}    
   f(x-2) &=& (x-2)^2-3(x-2)+1\\
          &=& x^2 -4x + 4 -3x + 6 + 1\\
          &=& x^2 -7x + 11
\end{eqnarray*}