SOLUTION: Consider the function f(x) = x^2 +6x - 2 Find h, the x-coordinate of the vertex of this parabola

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Question 114591: Consider the function f(x) = x^2 +6x - 2
Find h, the x-coordinate of the vertex of this parabola
Answer by jim_thompson5910(21667) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To find the x-coordinate, simply use this formula: x=-b%2F%282a%29

So in this case, a=1 and b=6. Now plug them into the formula

x=-%286%29%2F%282%2A1%29


x=-6%2F2 Multiply

x=-3 Reduce


So the x-coordinate, or h, is -3


Check: Notice if we graph f%28x%29+=+x%5E2+%2B6x+-+2, we can see that the x-coordinate of the vertex is -3. So this verifies our answer.

+drawing%28+500%2C+500%2C++-10%2C+10%2C+-12%2C+10%2C%0D%0Agraph%28+500%2C+500%2C++-10%2C+10%2C+-12%2C+10%2C+x%5E2+%2B6x+-+2%29%2C%0D%0Aline%28-3%2C-20%2C-3%2C20%29%0D%0A%29+