Question

How do you find the axis of symmetry, graph and find the maximum or minimum value of the function `y=x^2+8x-1`?

Answer 1

`x=-4` is the axis of symmetry
Minimum at (-4,-17)

Explanation:

`[-b]/[2a]` gives the axis of symmetry

`-8/2=-4`

`y=(-4)^2+8xx-4-1`

`y= -17`

To graph the function you can draw a table of results knowing there is symmetry about `x=-4`