Evaluate $a^2+\frac{12}{b}$ when $a=-4$ and $b=6$.
The objective is to evaluate the expression \(a^2 + \frac{12}{b}\) given the specific values \(a = -4\) and \(b = 6\). This problem requires basic substitution followed by standard arithmetic operations, including exponentiation, division, and addition. By substituting these values into the expression, we can reduce the algebraic form to a single numerical value.
First, substitute \(a = -4\) into the term \(a^2\). Squaring a negative number results in a positive value:
\[(-4)^2 = (-4) \times (-4) = 16.\]
Next, substitute \(b = 6\) into the term \(\frac{12}{b}\). Performing the division, we get:
\[\frac{12}{6} = 2.\]
Finally, add the results obtained from the previous steps to find the value of the full expression:
\[a^2 + \frac{12}{b} = 16 + 2 = 18.\]
Thus, evaluating the expression with the given values yields a final result of 18.
Consider a scenario where you are calculating the total power output of a system. Let the power consumption of one component be represented by the square of the voltage deviation, \(a^2\), and another component be represented by \(\frac{12}{b}\), where \(b\) is a resistance value. If \(a = -4\) volts and \(b = 6\) ohms, calculating the total power gives the total energy efficiency requirement for that specific state. Using algebraic substitution helps engineers quickly assess performance under varying operating conditions.