You just need to plug those expressions inside the formula: it doesn't matter if they're expressions involving a variable instead of plain numbers: the formula becomes

If you want, you can simplify it by expanding the square and then multiply the two parenthesis:

Answer:
1/4 of them were rotten
rotten ones = 1/4 × 12 = 3
ones that weren't rotten = 12 - 3 = 9
3 points. Do the vertical line test.
Remark
First of all you have to declare the meaning of g(f(x)) After you have done that, you have to make the correct substitution.
Givens
f(x) = 4x^2 + x + 1
g(x) = x^2 - 2
Discussion
What the given condition g(f(x)) means is that you begin with g(x). Write down g(x) = x^2 - 2
Wherever you see an x on either the left or right side of the equation, you put fix)
Then wherever you see f(x) on the right you put in what f(x) is equal to.
Solution
g(x) = x^2 - 2
g(f(x)) = (f(x))^2 - 2
g(f(x)) = [4x^2 + x + 1]^2 - 2
f(x)^2 =
4x^2 + x + 1
<u>4x^2 + x + 1</u>
16x^4 + 4x^3 + 4x^2
4x^3 + x^2 + x
<u> 4x^2 + x + 1</u>
16x^4 + 8x^3 + 9x^2 + 2x + 1
Answer
g(f(x)) = 16x^4 + 8x^3 + 9x^2 + 2x + 1 - 2
g(f(x)) = 16x^4 + 8x^3 + 9x^2 + 2x - 1