Finding the Equation of the Quadratic Function

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 128 views

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Introduction

A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, which means the highest power of the variable is two. The general form of a quadratic function is f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants. In this article, we will find an equation of the quadratic function that has horizontal intercepts at (-3,0) and (9,0) and crosses the y-axis at y = -26.

Horizontal Intercepts

The horizontal intercepts of a quadratic function are the points where the graph of the function crosses the x-axis. In other words, they are the points where the function has a value of zero. The x-coordinates of the horizontal intercepts are the solutions to the equation f(x) = 0.

Example

Suppose we have a quadratic function f(x) = a(x + 3)(x - 9). The horizontal intercepts of this function are (-3,0) and (9,0), since the function has a value of zero at these points.

Crossing the Y-Axis

The y-axis is the vertical line that passes through the origin (0,0). When a function crosses the y-axis, it means that the function has a value of zero at the point where the graph of the function intersects the y-axis.

Example

Suppose we have a quadratic function f(x) = a(x + 3)(x - 9). The y-intercept of this function is the point where the graph of the function intersects the y-axis. To find the y-intercept, we need to substitute x = 0 into the equation of the function.

Finding the Equation of the Quadratic Function

Now that we have the horizontal intercepts and the y-intercept, we can find the equation of the quadratic function. We know that the function has horizontal intercepts at (-3,0) and (9,0), so we can write the equation of the function as f(x) = a(x + 3)(x - 9).

Substituting the Y-Intercept

We are given that the function crosses the y-axis at y = -26. This means that the y-intercept of the function is (-0, -26). We can substitute x = 0 and y = -26 into the equation of the function to find the value of a.

Solving for a

To find the value of a, we can substitute x = 0 and y = -26 into the equation of the function.

f(0) = a(0 + 3)(0 - 9) -26 = a(3)(-9) -26 = -27a a = 26/27

Writing the Equation of the Quadratic Function

Now that we have found the value of a, we can write the equation of the quadratic function.

f(x) = (26/27)(x + 3)(x - 9)

Simplifying the Equation

We can simplify the equation of the quadratic function by multiplying the factors.

f(x) = (26/27)(x^2 - 6x - 27) f(x) = (26/27)x^2 - (156/27)x - 26

Conclusion

In this article, we found an equation of the quadratic function that has horizontal intercepts at (-3,0) and (9,0) and crosses the y-axis at y = -26. We used the fact that the function has horizontal intercepts at (-3,0) and (9,0) to write the equation of the function as f(x) = a(x + 3)(x - 9). We then substituted the y-intercept into the equation of the function to find the value of a. Finally, we simplified the equation of the quadratic function to get the final answer.

Final Answer

f(x) = (26/27)x^2 - (156/27)x - 26

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Introduction

In our previous article, we found an equation of the quadratic function that has horizontal intercepts at (-3,0) and (9,0) and crosses the y-axis at y = -26. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the topic.

Q&A

Q: What is a quadratic function?

A: A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, which means the highest power of the variable is two. The general form of a quadratic function is f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants.

Q: What are the horizontal intercepts of a quadratic function?

A: The horizontal intercepts of a quadratic function are the points where the graph of the function crosses the x-axis. In other words, they are the points where the function has a value of zero. The x-coordinates of the horizontal intercepts are the solutions to the equation f(x) = 0.

Q: How do I find the equation of a quadratic function given its horizontal intercepts?

A: To find the equation of a quadratic function given its horizontal intercepts, you can use the fact that the function has horizontal intercepts at (x1,0) and (x2,0). You can write the equation of the function as f(x) = a(x - x1)(x - x2), where a is a constant.

Q: How do I find the value of a in the equation of a quadratic function?

A: To find the value of a in the equation of a quadratic function, you can substitute the y-intercept into the equation of the function. The y-intercept is the point where the graph of the function intersects the y-axis.

Q: Can I use the quadratic formula to find the equation of a quadratic function?

A: Yes, you can use the quadratic formula to find the equation of a quadratic function. The quadratic formula is x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)) / 2a, where a, b, and c are the coefficients of the quadratic function.

Q: What is the difference between a quadratic function and a linear function?

A: A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, while a linear function is a polynomial function of degree one. The general form of a linear function is f(x) = ax + b, where a and b are constants.

Q: Can I use a quadratic function to model real-world phenomena?

A: Yes, you can use a quadratic function to model real-world phenomena. Quadratic functions are commonly used to model situations where the rate of change is proportional to the amount of change.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions related to the topic of finding an equation of a quadratic function. We covered topics such as the definition of a quadratic function, the horizontal intercepts of a quadratic function, and how to find the equation of a quadratic function given its horizontal intercepts.

Final Answer

The final answer to the problem of finding an equation of the quadratic function that has horizontal intercepts at (-3,0) and (9,0) and crosses the y-axis at y = -26 is:

f(x) = (26/27)x^2 - (156/27)x - 26