How do you find the vertex for y=x^2+6x+7y=x2+6x+7?

2 Answers
Aug 24, 2017

Use the 'complete the square form' i.e. (x±1/2b)^2-n(x±12b)2n

Explanation:

Okay, so:
in order to get to the complete the square form, you need to halve the 'b' coefficient of your ax^2±bx±cax2±bx±c equation. So, in this case, halve 6 to get:

(x+3)^2(x+3)2

right?

Let's expand the bracket, shall we?

(x+3)^2(x+3)2
=x^2+6x+9=x2+6x+9

Now, you'll notice that the 'c' isn't 7, but 9. That's where the 'n' comes in. The 'n' is supposed to be a simple calculation that gets your 'c' right; if your 'n' becomes a little bit too complicated, double check if you've done the halving/ expanding correctly!

=x^2+6x+9=x2+6x+9

We can get the 'c' to 7 by subtracting 2. The -2 becomes 'n'. So we get:

=x^2+6x+9-2=x2+6x+92
=x^2+6x+7=x2+6x+7

To get:

(x+3)^2-2(x+3)22

So now that you have your complete the square form done, think of what number gets ONLY the bracket to equal to 0. In this case, -3. Thus, -3 becomes your x value for the vertex.

(-3+3)-2(3+3)2

=0-2=02

However, you have the remaining 'n' part to think of as well, but since the bracket is already equal to 0,

0-2=-202=2

your 'n' value becomes the y value for the vertex! So the vertex of the graph is:

(-3, -2)

Hope this helps!

Aug 24, 2017

An alternative to finding the vertex. See explanation for steps.

Vertex has a coordinate of (-3,-2)(3,2)

Explanation:

y=x^2+6x+7y=x2+6x+7 is a quadratic equation.

Graphing xx and yy on a cartesian plane would give a curve.
In this case, the graph is curving up due to the fact that x^2x2 has a positive coefficient.

Since it is a graph curving up, we know that the gradient at points on the graph would be increasing from a negative number when the value of x increases.

At the vertex, or in other words, the minimum point (in this case since it curves up) has a gradient of 0.

Why?
Because the minimum point is a point where the gradient changes from negative to positive.

Firstly, to find its vertex, we need to form a gradient function, dy/dxdydx

Differentiate y=x^2+6x+7y=x2+6x+7
dy/dx=2x+6dydx=2x+6

We know that at vertex, gradient or dy/dx=0dydx=0
:.2x+6=0

x=-6/2=-3

We have the x-coordinate of the vertex. To find the y-coordinate, simply plug in x=-3 into y=x^2+6x+7

y=(-3)^2+6(-3)+7
y=9-18+7=-2

The vertex has a coordinate of (-3,-2)