SOLUTION: Hi Can you please help me with this question, its very hard for me to understand how to do this . . . Find the equation of the axis of symmetry for the graph of {{{ y=x^2-7x+12 }

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons -> SOLUTION: Hi Can you please help me with this question, its very hard for me to understand how to do this . . . Find the equation of the axis of symmetry for the graph of {{{ y=x^2-7x+12 }      Log On


   

Question 97763: Hi Can you please help me with this question, its very hard for me to understand how to do this . . .
Find the equation of the axis of symmetry for the graph of +y=x%5E2-7x%2B12+, and state whether the axis of symmetry contains a maximum point or a minimum point of the graph.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Find the equation of the axis of symmetry for the graph of y=x^2-7x+12 , and state whether the axis of symmetry contains a maximum point or a minimum point of the graph.
:
There is a simple equation to find the axis of symmetry of a quadratic equation
x = %28-b%29%2F%28%282a%29%29
:
In your equation a = 1, b = -7, c = 12, (not needed here)
x = %28-%28-7%29%29%2F%28%282%2A1%29%29; a minus a minus, is a plus
:
x = 7%2F2 or +3.5 is the axis of symmetry
:
A simple rule to know if it has a maximum or a minimum
If the coefficient of x^2 is positive, it has a minimum
If the coefficient of x^2 is negative, it has a maximum
:
It looks like this:
+graph%28+300%2C+200%2C+-4%2C+10%2C+-5%2C+15%2C+x%5E2-7x%2B12%29+
:
Note that the axis of symmetry is +3.5 and it has a minimum