What is the vertex of y=x^2-2x-35?

1 Answer
Feb 29, 2016

color(blue)("Vertex" -> (x,y)-> (1,-36)

I have shown a really 'cool' trick to solve this.

Explanation:

To demonstrate how useful the method I am about to show you is.

Just by looking at the given equation I determine that x_("vertex") is at x=+1

Then it is just a matter of substitution to find y_("vertex") which is -36
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok! lets deal with the method!

The standardised equation structure ax^2+bx+c

In you case a=1

Change ax^2+bx+c" to " a(x^2+b/a x) +c

Then x_("vertex") = (-1/2)xx b/a
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
color(blue)("Solving your question")

a=1

b/a = (-2)/1=-2

x_("vertex")=(-1/2)xx(-2) = color(red)(+1)

color(brown)("The above is part way to developing the vertex equation format")

Sometimes the number are a bit more difficult to work out.

y_("vertex")=(color(red)(1))^2-2(color(red)(1))-35

y_("vertex")=1-2-35=-36

color(blue)("Vertex" -> (x,y)-> (1,-36)