Question #abef5

1 Answer
May 9, 2017

Min: (-3.5, -3.25)
Roots: x~=-5.3028 and x~=-1.6972

Explanation:

This polynomial is in the form

y=ax^2+bx+c

Where
a=1
b=7
c=9

The x-value of the minimum point of the parabola is given by

x_min=-b/(2a)=-7/2~=-3.5

The minimum y-value occurs when you plug that x_min into y

y_min=(-7/2)^2+7(-7/2)+9=-13/4~=-3.25

So the minimum point of the parabola is at the point (-3.5, -3.25)

Finally, you find where the parabola crosses the x-axis by plugging the given equation into the quadratic formula using a, b, and c from above.

x=(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)
x=(-7+-sqrt((-7)^2-4(1)(9)))/(2(1))
x=-7+-1/2sqrt(13)
So, x~=-5.3028 and x~=-1.6972

Graphing gives:
graph{x^2+7x+9 [-6.4, 0.1, -3.49, 0.408]}