document.write( "Question 1058856: find a formula for the least degree through the points (-4,0),(-2,-2),(1,0) \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #673952 by KMST(5328) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Three points not on a straight line define a quadratic function.
\n" ); document.write( "Since we have two zeros of the function, we know it is not linear,
\n" ); document.write( "so the factories form must be
\n" ); document.write( " $\"f%28x%29=a%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( "For $\"x=-2\"$ we must have $\"f%28-2%29=-2\"$ , so
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%28-2%2B4%29%28-2-1%29=-2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%2A2%2A%28-3%29=-2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"-6a=-2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a=%28-2%29%2F%28-6%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a=1%2F3\"$
\n" ); document.write( "So the function is
\n" ); document.write( " $\"f%28x%29=%281%2F3%29%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29\"$ . \n" ); document.write( "

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