Question 602355
1)Without drawing the graph of the equations, determine how many points the parabola has in common with the x-axis and whether its vertex lies above, on, or below the x-axis.
 a. y = 3x^2 – 12x + 12
Find the discriminant
D = b^2 - 4ac
D = (-12)^2 - 4*3*12
D = 0 --> 1 real number solution
It's actually 2 solutions that are equal, but that makes one point on the x-axis.
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 b. y = –2x^2 + x + 3
D = 1 - 4*-2*3
D = 25
D > 0 --> 2 real solutions, 2 crossings of the x-axis
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My answer : a. 1 point in common; vertex on x-axis
Correct.
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            b. 2 points in common; vertex above x-axis
2 points.  The coefficient of the x^2 terms is negative, so it opens downward.
--> vertex above the x-axis
Correct.