SOLUTION: Use the method of completing the square to find the standard form of the quadratic function. f(x) = x^2 + 6x − 1 State the vertex and axis of symmetry of the graph of the f

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Question 1003803: Use the method of completing the square to find the standard form of the quadratic function.
f(x) = x^2 + 6x − 1
State the vertex and axis of symmetry of the graph of the function.
y=
axis of symmetry x=
vertex(x, y)=

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20055)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use the method of completing the square to find the standard form of the quadratic function.
f(x) = x^2 + 6x − 1
State the vertex and axis of symmetry of the graph of the function.
We want to get it in the form



where the vertex is (h,k) and the axis of symmetry
is the vertical line whose equation is x=h.

Make sure it's in order of descending powers:



Factor out the coefficient of the first two terms.
It's 1 here so this step isn't necessary, but I'll
do it anyway so it'll be in the form 



1.  Multiply the coefficient of x, which is 6, by 1/2, getting 3.
2.  Square the result of step 1, 32=9
3.  Add and subtract that number, that is add + 9 - 9 after the 6x:



Factor the first three terms:



If you followed the 3 steps above both factors are the same and
it can be written as the square of a binomial:



Distribute to remove the outer (large) parentheses, leaving the
square of the binomial intact:



Combine the remaining terms as -10



That's in the form 



where a=1, -h=+3, i.e., h=-3, k=-10

so the vertex is (h,k) = (-3,-10) and the axis of symmetry
is the vertical line whose equation is x=h, or x=-3. 



Edwin


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