Question

Can any answer this question?

For questions 3–4, order the group of quadratic functions from widest to narrowest graph.

y = –5x^2, y = –x^2, y = –4x^2 (1 point)

y = –x^2, y = –5x^2, y = –4x^2
y = –x^2, y = –4x^2, y = –5x^2
y = –5x^2, y = –4x^2, y = –x^2
y = –4x^2, y = –x^2, y = –5x^2

Answer 1

For any function, the first coefficient determines how narrow it is. Why? Well, let's think about it. The higher the absolute value of the first coefficient, the larger the rate of change of the function -- in other words, the slope is steeper. Therefore, the answer is the second option, because the absolute value of the first coefficient increases as the set progresses.