Its not essentially the same... f(x) is not y.
Well, first of all, this is related to polynomials. A polynomial can be really long, so if you have to write it a lot of times it would be a pain, so you can just give a name to it. To give a name you use a letter and, between brackets, you put the variables that it uses. Examples:
CODE
x + 2 -> p(x)
x³ + (2/3)x² - 3/4 -> q(x)
y² + 5x³y - (5/4)x² - 5y + 2x/3 -3 -> m(x, y)
Now, the functions have this form:
polynomial = y
like x³ + 3x² - 5y + 4 = y
But since it has a polynomial, a function can be really long, and it would be a pain, so you can just give a name to the polynomial. For that, the standar is use the letter 'f', from 'function':
CODE
x + 3 = y -> f(x) = y
x² - 3x + 1/2 -> f(x) = y
50x³ - (5/4)x² - 3x/7 + 1/2 -> f(x) = y
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Yes, I know. I was trying not to be complicated for god's sake.