I have no idea how to solve this and my book has no examples to show me. "What is the minimum product of two numbers whose difference is 4?"
Let z = one number
Let x = other number
Let y = their product = xz
So y = xz
Since their difference is 4
z - x = 4
z = 4+x
y = xz
y = x(4+x)
y = 4x+x²
y = x²+4x
This is a parabola that opens upward:
So its lowest point is the minimum value of y. That is the vertex.
The x-coordinate of the vertex is = = -2
Its y-coordinate is found by substituting x = -2 in
y = x²+4x
y = (-2)²+4(-2)
y = 4-8
y = -4
So the vertex is (-2,-4)
Since y = the product, the minimum product is -4.
Edwin