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Explanation:
We'll start things off by computing the inner function u(2)
Plug x = 2 into the u(x) function
u(x) = -x-1
u(2) = -2-1
u(2) = -3
This tells us that w(u(2)) is the same as w(-3). I replaced u(2) with -3.
We'll plug x = -3 into the w(x) function
w(x) = 2x^2-1
w(-3) = 2(-3)^2 - 1
w(-3) = 2(9) - 1
w(-3) = 18-1
w(-3) = 17
Therefore, w(u(2)) = 17
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Here's a slightly different approach:
Let's find what w(u(x)) is in general
w(x) = 2x^2 - 1
w(u(x)) = 2(u(x))^2 - 1
w(u(x)) = 2(-x-1)^2 - 1
Then we can plug in x = 2
w(u(x)) = 2(-x-1)^2 - 1
w(u(2)) = 2(-2-1)^2 - 1
w(u(2)) = 2(-3)^2 - 1
w(u(2)) = 2(9) - 1
w(u(2)) = 18 - 1
w(u(2)) = 17