Chapter 2: Problem 45
Find the roots and sketch the graphs of the quadratic functions:\(-2 x^{2}-3 x+2\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The roots are \( x = -2 \) and \( x = \frac{1}{2} \). The graph is an upside-down parabola intersecting the x-axis at these points.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Quadratic Equation
The quadratic equation given is \( -2x^2 - 3x + 2 \). A standard quadratic equation is in the form \( ax^2 + bx + c \). Here, \( a = -2 \), \( b = -3 \), and \( c = 2 \).
02
Use the Quadratic Formula
The roots of a quadratic equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \) can be found using the quadratic formula: \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \). In this case, substitute \( a = -2 \), \( b = -3 \), and \( c = 2 \) into the formula.
03
Calculate the Discriminant
The discriminant is \( b^2 - 4ac \). Substitute \( b = -3 \), \( a = -2 \), and \( c = 2 \) into the formula to get \( (-3)^2 - 4(-2)(2) = 9 + 16 = 25 \).
04
Compute the Roots
Substitute the discriminant back into the quadratic formula to find the roots:\[ x = \frac{-(-3) \pm \sqrt{25}}{2(-2)} = \frac{3 \pm 5}{-4} \]Calculate the two roots:- \( x_1 = \frac{3 + 5}{-4} = \frac{8}{-4} = -2 \)- \( x_2 = \frac{3 - 5}{-4} = \frac{-2}{-4} = \frac{1}{2} \)
05
Sketch the Graph of the Quadratic Function
The graph of the quadratic function is a parabola. Since \( a = -2 \) is negative, the parabola opens downward. The roots of the function are at \( x = -2 \) and \( x = \frac{1}{2} \), so these are the points where the parabola intersects the x-axis. The vertex can be found using \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} = -\frac{-3}{2(-2)} = \frac{3}{4} \). Substitute \( x = \frac{3}{4} \) back into the function to find the y-coordinate of the vertex. The vertex is a maximum point due to the negative leading coefficient.
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation is a fundamental concept in algebra and appears in various fields of science and engineering. It's an equation of the second degree, which means it includes a term squared (^2). The general form is:
- \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \)
- \( a \) determines if the parabola opens upwards (\( a > 0 \)) or downwards (\( a < 0 \)).
- \( b \) and \( c \) influence the position of the vertex and the axis of symmetry of the parabola.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for finding the roots of a quadratic equation. These roots are the solutions where the quadratic intersects the x-axis. The formula is:
- \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \)
- \( -b \) determines the horizontal shift due to the linear portion.
- \( \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac} \) gives us the potential for two solutions, accounting for both positive and negative square roots.
- \( 2a \) calculates the average effects of the parabola's shape around the vertex.
Graphing Parabolas
Graphing a parabola, which is the graphical representation of a quadratic function, gives us a visual understanding of its behavior. A parabola is always symmetric around its vertex, which acts as a central balance point. For quadratic functions like our example \(-2x^2 - 3x + 2\):
- The vertex is located by computing \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \).
- For this equation, the vertex happens at \( x = \frac{3}{4} \).
- If \( a > 0 \), the parabola opens upwards with a vertex at the lowest point.
- If \( a < 0 \), the parabola opens downward, making the vertex a peak.
Discriminant Calculation
The discriminant is an essential part of the quadratic formula, found under the radical in \( \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac} \) and determines the nature of the roots of the quadratic equation:
- If \( b^2 - 4ac > 0 \), there are two distinct real roots.
- If \( b^2 - 4ac = 0 \), there is one real root (a double root).
- If \( b^2 - 4ac < 0 \), the roots are complex or imaginary and not real numbers.
- The discriminant is calculated as \( (-3)^2 - 4(-2)(2) = 9 + 16 = 25 \).