/*! 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 477 For the following exercises, fin... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

For the following exercises, find the \(x\) - and \(y\) -intercepts for the functions. $$f(x)=\frac{x^{2}+x+6}{x^{2}-10 x+24}$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
No x-intercepts; y-intercept (0, 1/4).

Step by step solution

01

Find the x-intercepts

To find the x-intercepts, set the function equal to zero and solve for \(x\): \[f(x) = \frac{x^2 + x + 6}{x^2 - 10x + 24} = 0\]The numerator must equal zero: \[x^2 + x + 6 = 0\] Using the quadratic formula \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\), with \(a = 1\), \(b = 1\), and \(c = 6\), we calculate the discriminant: \[b^2 - 4ac = 1^2 - 4\cdot1\cdot6 = 1 - 24 = -23\]Since the discriminant is negative, the quadratic has no real roots. Thus, there are no x-intercepts.
02

Find the y-intercept

To find the y-intercept, set \(x = 0\) in the function:\[f(0) = \frac{0^2 + 0 + 6}{0^2 - 10\cdot0 + 24} = \frac{6}{24} = \frac{1}{4}\]Thus, the y-intercept is \((0, \frac{1}{4})\).
03

Summary

The function \(f(x) = \frac{x^2 + x + 6}{x^2 - 10x + 24}\) does not have any x-intercepts because the numerator has no real roots. The y-intercept is found at \((0, \frac{1}{4})\).

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 Formula
The quadratic formula is a crucial tool for finding the roots of a quadratic equation. A quadratic equation is any equation that can be transformed into the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\). This formula is given by: \[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]Using this formula, you can find the values of \(x\) that make the quadratic equation zero, which are called the roots.
  • \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are the coefficients of the equation.
  • The \(\pm\) in the formula indicates that there are generally two possible solutions for \(x\).
In our exercise, the numerator was a quadratic equation \(x^2 + x + 6 = 0\), where \(a = 1\), \(b = 1\), and \(c = 6\). So, we used the quadratic formula to find its roots.
Discriminant
The discriminant is part of the quadratic formula, specifically the expression under the square root: \(b^2 - 4ac\). It tells us a lot about the nature of the roots of the quadratic equation. Here's what the discriminant indicates:
  • If \(b^2 - 4ac > 0\), there are two distinct real roots.
  • If \(b^2 - 4ac = 0\), there is exactly one real root, also known as a double root.
  • If \(b^2 - 4ac < 0\), there are no real roots, only complex ones.
In the exercise, the discriminant was calculated as \(-23\), which is negative. This means that the quadratic has no real roots, indicating why the function \(f(x)\) had no x-intercepts.
Real Roots
Real roots are the solutions of a quadratic equation that are real numbers. These roots can be found using the quadratic formula, as long as the discriminant (\(b^2 - 4ac\)) is non-negative. Real roots are
  • Where the graph of the quadratic equation touches or crosses the x-axis.
  • Essential for determining the x-intercepts of a function.
In problems involving the sum of rational functions, finding the real roots of the numerator is key to locating the x-intercepts. However, in our specific exercise, since the discriminant was negative, there were no real roots and consequently no x-intercepts.
Rational Function
A rational function is defined as the ratio of two polynomials, where the numerator and the denominator are polynomial expressions. The function given in our exercise was \[f(x) = \frac{x^2 + x + 6}{x^2 - 10x + 24}\]To find the intercepts of a rational function:
  • X-intercepts: Occur where the numerator itself equals zero (providing the denominator is not zero).
  • Y-intercept: Found by evaluating the function at \(x = 0\).
For our exercise, the numerator did not produce real roots, leading to no x-intercepts. The y-intercept was calculated by plugging \(x = 0\) into the function and simplifying.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.