document.write( "Question 362971: Determine, without graphing, whether the given quadratic function has a maximum value or a minimum value and then find that value.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(x) = -x2 - 3x - 8
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #258694 by robertb(5830)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The coefficient of \"x%5E2\" is negative, so the graph is a parabola facing downward, and hence the function has a maximum. The maximum value happens at \"x+=+-b%2F%282a%29+=+--3%2F%282%2A-1%29+=+3%2F-2+=+-3%2F2\". The maximum value is \"-%28-3%2F2%29%5E2+-+3%2A%28-3%2F2%29-8+=+-9%2F4%2B9%2F2-8+=+9%2F4-8+=+-23%2F4\". \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );