document.write( "Question 98523: Determine, without graphing, whether the given quadratic function has a maximum value or a minimum value and then find that value.\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #71681 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The function has a maximum since the first term \"-x%5E2\" has a negative coefficient. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "To find the max, you need to find the axis of symmetry first\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "To find the axis of symmetry, use this formula:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=-b%2F%282a%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "From the equation \"y=-x%5E2-3x-9\" we can see that a=-1 and b=-3\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%28--3%29%2F%282%2A-1%29\" Plug in b=-3 and a=-1\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=3%2F%282%2A-1%29\" Negate -3 to get 3\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%283%29%2F-2\" Multiply 2 and -1 to get -2\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=-3%2F2\" Reduce\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the axis of symmetry is \"x=-3%2F2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the x-coordinate of the vertex is \"x=-3%2F2\" (which is \"x=-1.5\" in decimal form). Lets plug this into the equation to find the y-coordinate of the vertex.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Lets evaluate \"f%28-1.5%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"f%28x%29=-x%5E2-3x-9\" Start with the given polynomial\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"f%28-1.5%29=-%28-1.5%29%5E2-3%28-1.5%29-9\" Plug in \"x=-1.5\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"f%28-1.5%29=-%282.25%29-3%28-1.5%29-9\" Raise -1.5 to the second power to get 2.25\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"f%28-1.5%29=-6.75\" Now combine like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the vertex is (-1.5,-6.75)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So that means the functions highest value is -6.75 which means the functions maximum is -6.75\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice if you graph the equation \"y=-x%5E2-3x-9\" you get\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice the highest y value is -6.75. So our answer is graphically verified.
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