McGraw Hill Integrated II, 2012
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McGraw Hill Integrated II, 2012 View details
1. Graphing Quadratic Functions
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Exercise 51 Page 100

Practice makes perfect
a

For the quadratic function h(x)=ax^2+bx+c, the y-coordinate of the vertex is the maximum value of the function when a<0.

Let's identify the values of a, b, and c in the given quadratic function. y=- 3x^2-12x-9 ⇕ y= - 3x^2+( - 12)x+( - 9) We can see above that a= - 3, b= - 12, and c= - 9. We will now use these values to find the desired information. Since a= - 3 is less than 0, the parabola will open downwards. This means it will have a maximum value.

b

The maximum value is given by substituting - b2a for x. Before we find the value of the function at this point, we need to substitute a= - 3 and b= - 12 in - b2a.

- b/2a
â–¼
Substitute values and evaluate
- - 12/2( - 3)
- - 12/- 6
- 12/6
- 2

Now we have to substitute - 2 for x in the given equation.

y=- 3x^2 -12x -9
y = - 3( - 2)^2 -12( - 2) -9
â–¼
Simplify right-hand side
y = - 3(4) -12(- 2) -9
y = - 3(4) +24 -9
y = - 12 +24 -9
y = 3

This tells us that the maximum value of the function is 3.

c

Unless there are any specified restrictions on the x-values, the domain of a quadratic function is all real numbers. Therefore, the domain of this function is all real numbers. Furthermore, since a= - 3 is less than 0, the range is all values less than or equal to the maximum value, 3.

Domain:& {All real numbers} Range:& {y | y ≤ 3}