Question
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The parabola opens upward and the vertex is at (-6, -16).
Solution
To analyze the function
, we will complete the following steps:
Part (a): Determine the direction of the parabola
The direction in which a parabola opens is determined by the coefficient of the
term.
- If the coefficient is positive, the parabola opens upward.
- If the coefficient is negative, the parabola opens downward.
In our case, the coefficient of
is
(which is positive), so the parabola opens upward.
Part (b): Find the vertex
The vertex of a parabola given in the standard form
can be found using the formula for the x-coordinate of the vertex:
Where:
Let’s calculate the x-coordinate of the vertex.
- Substitute
and into the formula:
Now, let’s calculate this value.
Calculate the value by following steps:
Calculate the value by following steps:
- step0: Calculate:
- step1: Calculate:
- step2: Rewrite the expression:
- step3: Reduce the fraction:
- step4: Reduce the fraction:
The x-coordinate of the vertex is.
Next, we need to find the y-coordinate of the vertex by substituting
back into the original function:
Let’s calculate this value.
Calculate the value by following steps:
Calculate the value by following steps:
- step0: Calculate:
- step1: Multiply the numbers:
- step2: Evaluate the power:
- step3: Calculate:
The y-coordinate of the vertex is.
Conclusion
The vertex of the parabola is at the point
.
Summary of Answers:
- The parabola opens upward.
- The vertex is
.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
Like
error msg


Bonus Knowledge
The function you have,
, is a quadratic function. Since the coefficient of
is positive (in this case, 1), the parabola opens upward.
To find the vertex, we can use the vertex formula. The x-coordinate of the vertex can be found using
, where
and
. Plugging in the values,
. Then, substituting
back into the equation to find the y-coordinate gives us
. Therefore, the vertex is
.
If you’re looking for the way to visually represent this function, graphing the parabola can be incredibly helpful. Why not sketch it out? You could even use graphing software or an app! You’ll see exactly how the vertex sits at the lowest point of the upward-opening curve.
For a deeper dive into quadratic functions, exploring the differences between vertex form and standard form can be a fun challenge. Vertex form, which looks like
, focuses more on identifying the vertex immediately from the equation. It’s also a great way to practice completing the square!