document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=151429>Question 151429</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am trying to find the vertex for the function: f(x)=x^2 + x - 2. I believe the axis of symmetry is -1/2 since x= -b/2(a)(which should be the x-coordinate) but when I plug it in to find y I am coming up with - 3/2 which doesnt seem correct. Where am i going wrong, and what would be the vertex?  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #111320 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=111320\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <BR>\n" );
document.write( "In order to find the vertex, we first need to find the x-coordinate of the vertex.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "To find the x-coordinate of the vertex, use this formula: <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%28-b%29%2F%282a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%28-b%29%2F%282a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%28-b%29%2F%282a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%28-b%29%2F%282a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given formula.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "From <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=x%5E2%2Bx-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=x%5E2%2Bx-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, we can see that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%28-%281%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%28-%281%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=%28-1%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=%28-1%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply 2 and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the x-coordinate of the vertex is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Note: this means that the axis of symmetry is also <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now that we know the x-coordinate of the vertex, we can use it to find the y-coordinate of the vertex.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=x%5E2%2Bx-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=x%5E2%2Bx-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=%28-1%2F2%29%5E2%2B-1%2F2-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=%28-1%2F2%29%5E2%2B-1%2F2-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=-1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=-1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=1%2F4-1%2F2-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=1%2F4-1%2F2-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=1%2F4-2%2F4-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=1%2F4-2%2F4-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=1%2F4-2%2F4-8%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=1%2F4-2%2F4-8%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=8%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"8%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=-9%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=-9%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine the fractions.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the y-coordinate of the vertex is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=-9%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=-9%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the vertex is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \left(-\frac{1}{2},-\frac{9}{4}\right)\"> or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \left(-0.5,-2.25\right)\"> in decimal form.\r<BR>\n" );
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