document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=123395>Question 123395</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am having a very hard time trying to figure this out. Can you please help me?\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Find the axis of symmetry.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "y = -x squared + 6x - 2 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #90567 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Fombitz><B>Fombitz(32388)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Fombitz><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Fombitz><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=90567\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=-x%5E2%2B6x-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=-x%5E2%2B6x-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The quickest way is to get a piece of graph paper or use EXCEL to graph the function.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+graph%28+300%2C+300%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-x%5E2%2B6x-2%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+graph%28+300%2C+300%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-x%5E2%2B6x-2%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > <BR>\n" );
document.write( "That's good but not exact. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The best way is to complete the square in x.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-x%5E2%2B6x%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-x%5E2%2B6x%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Take half of the x coefficient and square it.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=%286%2F2%29%5E2=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=%286%2F2%29%5E2=9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Be careful of the negative sign in front of the x square term. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "You need to add -9 to complete the square. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-x%5E2%2B6x-9=-%28x-3%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-x%5E2%2B6x-9=-%28x-3%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add -9 to both sides of the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y-9=-x%5E2%2B6x-9-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y-9=-x%5E2%2B6x-9-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y-9=-%28x-3%29%5E2-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y-9=-%28x-3%29%5E2-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y=-%28x-3%29%5E2%2B7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y=-%28x-3%29%5E2%2B7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "As you can see the axis of symmetry is x=3.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );