SOLUTION: The profit on a watch is given by P = x2 – 13x – 80 and where x is the number of watches sold per day. How many watches were sold on a day when there was a $50 loss?

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Numbers -> SOLUTION: The profit on a watch is given by P = x2 – 13x – 80 and where x is the number of watches sold per day. How many watches were sold on a day when there was a $50 loss?      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com
Ad: Algebrator™ solves your algebra problems and provides step-by-step explanations!
Ad: Algebra Solved!™: algebra software solves algebra homework problems with step-by-step help!

   


Question 188303: The profit on a watch is given by P = x2 – 13x – 80 and where x is the number of watches sold per day. How many watches were sold on a day when there was a $50 loss?
Found 2 solutions by jojo14344, Mathtut:
Answer by jojo14344(1512) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Let known P=Y=Profit or Losses

Solving for "x" for number of watches. More importantly to see the X-Intercepts.
Given:P=x%5E2-13x-80
By Quadratic, wheresystem%28a=1%2Cb=%28-13%29%2Cc=%28-80%29%29
Discriminant: b^2-4ac= -13^2 - 4(1)(-80)=169+320=489
Then,
x=%28-%28-13%29%2B-sqrt%28489%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29=%2813%2B-22.11%29%2F2
x=%2813%2B22.11%29%2F2=35.11%2F2=red%2817.55%29
x=%2813-22.11%29%2F2=-9.11%2F2=red%28-4.55%29
X-Intercepts = > (17.55,0) & (-4.55,0)
For Y-Intercept:
Let fx=0 ----> P=y=0%5E2-13%280%29-80=red%28-80%29
Y-Intercept = > (0,-80)

We now get the vertex thru Vertex-Form, a%28x-h%29%5E2%2Bk, wheresystem%28h=x%2Ck=y%29
Going back to our eqn:
P=x%5E2-13x-80, complete the square, by taking "Half" of the middle constant then "squared":

In our eqn, the middle constant is 13, taking half of it = 13%2F2=6.5, then squared it= 6.5%5E2=highlight%2842.25%29. We "add" and also "subtract" to the eqn:
P=%28x%5E2-13x%2Bhighlight%2842.25%29%29highlight%28-42.25%29-80%29
P=%28x-6.5%29%5E2-122.25 --->follows a%28x-h%29%5E2%2Bk
In our eqn, we have vertex, h=x=6.5 & k=y=-122.25

We see graph,
drawing%28500%2C500%2C-10%2C20%2C-130%2C30%2Cgrid%281%29%2Cgraph%28500%2C500%2C-10%2C20%2C-130%2C30%2Cx%5E2-13x-80%29%2Cblue%28circle%2817.55%2C0%2C.25%29%29%2Cblue%28circle%28-4.55%2C0%2C.25%29%29%2Cblue%28circle%280%2C-80%2C.25%29%29%2C+blue%28circle%286.5%2C-122.25%2C.25%29%29%29
The Y axis, is where the Profit or Losses.
So if you have a loss of $50, that equals to -50 on the Y axis.

Make a straigth line from -50 on the Y axis to the right until it touches the curve. As it touched the curve, extend the line downwards until it touches the X axis.

This will show the number of watches for the loss sale of $50.00.

drawing%28500%2C500%2C-10%2C20%2C-130%2C30%2Cgraph%28500%2C500%2C-10%2C20%2C-130%2C30%2Cx%5E2-13x-80%29%2Cblue%28circle%2817.55%2C0%2C.25%29%29%2Cblue%28circle%28-4.55%2C0%2C.25%29%29%2Cblue%28circle%280%2C-80%2C.25%29%29%2Cgreen%28line%280%2C-50%2C15%2C-50%29%29%2Cgreen%28line%2815%2C-50%2C15%2C0%29%29%2Cred%28locate%280.3%2C-50%2C-50%29%29%2Cblue%28locate%2814%2C6%2C15=watches%29%29%2Cblue%28circle%286.5%2C-122.25%2C.25%29%29%29 ----> 15 watches sold for a loss of $50.00

Let's check,
Go back our Eqn, & substitute x=15:
P=15%5E2-13%2815%29-80=225-195-80
highlight%28P=-50%29, Loss

Thank you,
Jojo









Answer by Mathtut(3670) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
-50=x%5E2-13x-80
:
x%5E2-13x-30=0
:
%28x-15%29%28x%2B2%29=0
:
so x=15 and -2....since you cant sell a negative number of watches
:
x=15 watches