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f(x) tells you what f is for any value of x. So, f(3) means you substitute 3 wherever you see x:
f(x) = 4x-5
f(3) = 4(3)-5 = 12-5 = 7
f(0) = f(0)-5 = -5
etc.
So, if f(x) = -21, you have
-21 = 4x-5
-16 = 4x
x = -4