/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 58 Determine the number of \(x\) -i... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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Determine the number of \(x\) -intercepts of the graph of \(f(x)=a x^{2}+b x+c(a \neq 0),\) based on the discriminant of the related equation \(f(x)=0\). (Hint: Recall that the discriminant is \(\left.b^{2}-4 a c .\right)\) $$ f(x)=-2 x^{2}+5 x-10 $$

Short Answer

Expert verified
The graph has no real \( x \)-intercepts.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the coefficients

Identify the coefficients in the given quadratic function \( f(x) = -2x^2 + 5x - 10 \). Here, \( a = -2 \), \( b = 5 \), and \( c = -10 \).
02

Recall the discriminant formula

The discriminant \( \triangle \) of a quadratic equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \) is given by \( b^2 - 4ac \).
03

Substitute the coefficients into the discriminant

Substitute \( a = -2 \), \( b = 5 \), and \( c = -10 \) into the discriminant formula: \[ \triangle = 5^2 - 4(-2)(-10) \].
04

Simplify the discriminant

Simplify the expression to find the value of the discriminant: \[ \triangle = 25 - 80 = -55 \].
05

Determine the number of x-intercepts

The number of \( x \)-intercepts depends on the value of the discriminant \( \triangle \):- If \( \triangle > 0 \), there are 2 distinct real \( x \)-intercepts.- If \( \triangle = 0 \), there is exactly 1 real \( x \)-intercept.- If \( \triangle < 0 \), there are no real \( x \)-intercepts.Since \( \triangle = -55 < 0 \), the graph has no real \( x \)-intercepts.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Quadratic Function
A quadratic function is a type of polynomial function represented by the general form: \(f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c\), where \(a eq 0\). This function forms a parabola when graphed on a coordinate plane. The parameter \(a\) determines the direction of the parabola (opening upwards if \(a > 0\) and downwards if \(a < 0\)), while \(b\) and \(c\) adjust the slope and position of the parabola. Understanding the quadratic function is key to solving many problems in algebra and calculus.
X-Intercepts
The \(x\)-intercepts of a quadratic function are the points where the graph crosses the x-axis. To find these intercepts, set \(f(x) = 0\) and solve the corresponding quadratic equation. The solutions to this equation give the \(x\)-coordinates of these intercepts. The number of solutions (or \(x\)-intercepts) is determined by the discriminant \(\Delta\). Therefore, knowing the discriminant helps us quickly identify how many times a quadratic graph intersects the x-axis:
  • If \(\Delta > 0\), there are 2 distinct real \(x\)-intercepts.
  • If \(\Delta = 0\), there is exactly 1 real \(x\)-intercept.
  • If \(\Delta < 0\), there are no real \(x\)-intercepts.
This is important for visualizing the behavior of quadratic functions.
Coefficients
In the quadratic function \(f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c\), \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are known as the coefficients. Each coefficient serves a distinct role:
  • \(a\) (the leading coefficient) influences the direction and width of the parabola.
  • \(b\) affects the location of the vertex horizontally.
  • \(c\) is the constant term and indicates the y-intercept of the function (the point where the parabola crosses the y-axis).
By identifying and analyzing these coefficients, we can determine key characteristics of the quadratic function and its graph.
Discriminant Formula
The discriminant of a quadratic equation \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\) is given by the formula \(\Delta = b^2 - 4ac\). This value determines the nature of the roots of the equation, which in turn affects the number of \(x\)-intercepts of the quadratic function. In our given function \(f(x) = -2x^2 + 5x - 10\), we identified the coefficients as \(a = -2\), \(b = 5\), and \(c = -10\).
Using the discriminant formula:
\[\Delta = 5^2 - 4(-2)(-10) = 25 - 80 = -55\]
Since the discriminant is negative \((\Delta < 0)\), it indicates that the quadratic equation has no real roots. Consequently, the graph of the quadratic function does not intersect the x-axis, hence there are no real \(x\)-intercepts.

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