Given -f(x+5), what could the transformation description be? i know that f(x) is reflected over the x-axis, but would it translate 5 units to the left or five units to the right?

5units to the left.as long as the argument of the function (the stuff that will be inputted into the function; in this case it is x+5) has no coefficient on x, (+) means to the left means to the right.======side note (not related to your original question): if, for example, there was  , there has to be no coefficient on x to identify correct translations. so if you factor out a negative to get      -5) \big)[/tex]it'll actually be a reflection in the y-axis and  5 units right 

If you need an equation, it would be y=2x+8, y would be how long it grew, x being weeks.if you need how long he was asleep, it would be 4 weeks if he started with no beard, the equation would be x=8÷2if he did have a beard before hand, the equation would be 2w+x=8