Chapter 12: Problem 63
Find the x-intercepts of the graph of the equation. $$y=-x^{2}+4 x+1$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The x-intercepts of the function are \(x = 2 + \sqrt{5}\) and \(x = 2 - \sqrt{5}\).
Step by step solution
01
Set the Function to Zero
Set the function \(y = -x^2 + 4x + 1\) equal to zero to find the x-values when y = 0, i.e. \(0 = -x^2 + 4x + 1\).
02
Rearrange the Equation
Rearrange the equation to the standard quadratic form, i.e. \(x^2 - 4x - 1 = 0.\)
03
Solving the Quadratic Equation
Use the formula \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\) for a quadratic equation in the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\). In this case, \(a = 1\), \(b = -4\), and \(c = -1\). The solutions to the equation are \(x = \frac{-(-4) \pm \sqrt{(-4)^2 - 4*1*(-1)}}{2*1} = 2 \pm \sqrt{5}\).
04
Check the Solutions
Substitute \(x = 2 + \sqrt{5}\) and \(x = 2 - \sqrt{5}\) into the equation and confirm that they satisfy \(y = -x^2 + 4x + 1\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation is an essential concept in algebra, commonly encountered in high school mathematics. It's a polynomial equation of degree two, which means the highest exponent of the variable is a square (i.e., 2). The general form of a quadratic equation is given as:\[ ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \]where:
- a, b, and c are constants with a ≠0.
- x is the variable or unknown.
- The term ax2 is the quadratic term, bx is the linear term, and c is the constant term.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool that provides the solutions to any quadratic equation written in standard form. It is particularly useful when the equation cannot be easily factored. The formula is expressed as:\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]Here's a breakdown of the components:
- a, b, and c are coefficients from the standard form of the quadratic equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \).
- The symbol \( \pm \) indicates there are generally two solutions, corresponding to the addition and subtraction of the square root term.
- The term under the square root, \( b^2 - 4ac \), is called the discriminant. It determines the nature of the roots:
- If \( b^2 - 4ac > 0 \), there are two distinct real solutions.
- If \( b^2 - 4ac = 0 \), there is one real solution, a repeated root.
- If \( b^2 - 4ac < 0 \), the solutions are complex and not real numbers.
Standard Form of a Quadratic Equation
The standard form of a quadratic equation is essential for identifying and solving quadratic problems effectively. It is generally written as:\[ ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \]Here's why it's important:
- The arrangement helps in using various methods for solving the equation, like the quadratic formula, factoring, or completing the square.
- It makes it easy to identify coefficients a, b, and c, which are crucial inputs for the quadratic formula.
- Transforming any quadratic expression into this form often involves rearranging and simplifying the expression, as seen in the provided solution, where the equation was rearranged to \( x^2 - 4x - 1 = 0 \).