Chapter 5 - Section 5.3 - Introduction to Polynomials - Exercise Set - Page 363: 15

$(a)$ $-2$ $(b)$ $4$

$x^{2}-5x-2$ $(a)$ $x=0$ Replace $x$ with $0$ and evaluate the indicated operations: $(0)^{2}-5(0)-2=-2$ $(b)$ $x=-1$ Replace $x$ with $-1$ and evaluate the indicated operations: $(-1)^{2}-5(-1)-2=1+5-2=4$