F(x)=x-3 I think but I am not sure
Santo made 4 less than twice as many cupcakes as Lynn.
x * 2 - 4
Answer:
a) 32
b) 
Step-by-step Explanation:
Initial pattern has 7 sticks.
Second one has 7+5 sticks.
Third has 7+5+5 sticks.
.
.
.
Sixth has 7+5+5+5+5+5=32 sticks.
$n^{th}$ has $7+ 5(n-1)$ sticks.
Remember that a quadratic equation is a parabola. The equation is of the type y = Ax^2 + Bx + C
A linear equation is a straight line. The equation is of the type y = MX + N
The soluction of that system is Ax^2 + Bx + C = MX + N
=> Ax^2 + (B-M)x + (C-N) = 0
That is a quadratic equation.
A quadratic equation may have 0, 1 or 2 real solutions. Those are all the possibilitis.
So you must select 0, 1 and 2.
You can also get to that conclusion if you draw a parabola and figure out now many point of it you can intersect with a straight line.
You will realize that depending of the straight line position it can intersect the parabola in none point, or one point or two points.