Chapter 5: Problem 17
Use the related graph of each equation to determine its solutions. $$ -0.5 x^{2}=0 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution is \(x = 0\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Equation
We are given the quadratic equation \(-0.5x^2 = 0\). Our task is to find the solutions to this equation by using a graph. This means we need to find the value(s) of \(x\) that make this equation true.
02
Simplify the Equation
Since the equation is \(-0.5x^2 = 0\), we can divide both sides by \(-0.5\) to simplify it, resulting in \(x^2 = 0\). This means we need to find \(x\) such that \(x^2\) equals zero.
03
Graph the Equation
The equation \(x^2 = 0\) can be represented as the graph of the function \(y = x^2\). This is a parabola opening upwards that touches the x-axis at the origin, which is the point \((0,0)\).
04
Determine the Solutions From the Graph
The solution to the equation is the x-coordinate where the graph touches or crosses the x-axis. From the graph of \(y = x^2\), it only touches the x-axis at the origin, \((0,0)\). Thus, the solution of the equation \(x^2 = 0\) is \(x = 0\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Graph of a Function
A graph of a function serves as a visual representation of an equation. It helps us understand how the values of the variables in a function relate to each other. In the context of a quadratic equation like \[-0.5x^2 = 0\] , the graph gives us insight into where the function equals zero.
- This particular equation, when simplified, becomes \[x^2 = 0\] , which is represented by the graph of the function \[y = x^2\] .
- The function \[y = x^2\] has a very distinctive shape known as a parabola. In our case, this parabola touches the x-axis at just one point, the origin. This tells us where the solutions of the equation lie.
- Graphing functions can often make complex equations simpler to solve, as it provides a visual way to see solutions or check the behavior of the function.
Solutions of Equations
A solution of an equation refers to the value(s) that solve said equation, making it a true statement. Specifically, for a quadratic equation like \[-0.5x^2 = 0\] , solving the equation means finding the value(s) of \(x\) that satisfy the equation.
- By simplifying the equation to \[x^2 = 0\] , we determine that \(x\) must be 0, since \(0^2 = 0\)
- Solutions can often be found where the graph of an equation intersects the x-axis. The x-coordinates of these points are the solutions.
- If a graph does not touch or cross the x-axis, then sometimes a quadratic equation has no real solutions, or it might have solutions in terms of complex numbers instead.
Parabola
A parabola is an essential concept in algebra, especially when discussing quadratic equations. It is a U-shaped curve that can open upwards or downwards depending on the coefficient of the squared term, \(a\), in the standard quadratic form \[ax^2 + bx + c = 0\].
- In the equation we analyzed, \[-0.5x^2 = 0\], once simplified to \[x^2 = 0\], the parabola \(y = x^2\) represents the graph which opens upwards, making the vertex its lowest point.
- Parabolas are symmetric around a vertical line, known as the axis of symmetry, which for \[y = x^2\] is the y-axis itself.
- Parabolas have a unique point called the vertex, which is the peak or the minimum of the parabola. In our case, the vertex is at the origin point \((0,0)\).