Question

What is the equation of the graph below?

Answer 1

@StudyGurl14

Answer 2

here

Answer 3

Please post the graph right away, before you contact another user.

Answer 4

Okay, first step. Find the vertex.

Answer 5

which would be 2, right?

Answer 6

The vertex is a point, so your result must be a point: (x,y)

Answer 7

^

Answer 8

(3,2)?

Answer 9

Once you have the vertex, what do you do with it?

Answer 10

StudyGurl: feel free to take over if y ou wish.

Answer 11

i input it into the equation

Answer 12

@StudyGurl14

Answer 13

Okay, so the equation of a parabola: \(\Large y=a(x-h)^2+k\) where (h,k) is the vertex

Answer 14

yes

Answer 15

so plug in your vertex into the equation

Answer 16

ok I got y=a(x-3)^2+2

Answer 17

Do you have a graphing calculator? If so, graph your function. Does your graph resemble the given graph?

Answer 18

no, i do not own a graphing calculator, sorry

Answer 19

What is your value for a? How did you obtain it?

Answer 20

a is the slope? I forget

Answer 21

It's a multiplier, but it's not a slope in the way we usually think of slope.

Answer 22

yep. now we have to find a. to find that, first we need another point on the parabola. can you find one?

Answer 23

no, a is not the slope

Answer 24

Does the graph open up or down?
What does this question have to do with the value of a?

Answer 25

1 @StudyGurl14 and it opens up @mathmale

Answer 26

sorry, but I think not. I see the given graph opening down.

Answer 27

^

Answer 28

remember, points are (x,y), not just one number

Answer 29

You can find various math utilities online that will graph functions for youi.
Please go to http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=y-2%3D-%28x-3%29%5E2 and take a look. What is the value of a?

Answer 30

what point is this?

Answer 31

-2 @StudyGurl14

Answer 32

yes (1,-2)

Answer 33

plug that point into the equation y= a(x - 3)^2 + 2 and solve for a

Answer 34

what would a and x be? @StudyGurl14

Answer 35

Your equation is y= a(x - 3)^2 + 2 and your goal is to find the valule of "a". In previous work you found that another point on the given graph is (1,-2). Substitute 1 for x and -2 for y in y= a(x - 3)^2 + 2.

This will leave you with an equation in "a" alone. Try this, please. Solve for "a."

Answer 36

would i distribute "a"?

Answer 37

No. Your best bet: "Substitute 1 for x and -2 for y in y= a(x - 3)^2 + 2."

Answer 38

ok, so then i would get -2=a(1-3)^2+2 correct

Answer 39

Yes. Simplify this as much as possible. See whether you can solve it for a.

Answer 40

i got -2=2a+2, which would then be -2=4a

Answer 41

Have you tried solving for a?

Answer 42

i got a=-0.5

Answer 43

It's important that you have a way to graph equations such as this one.
If your "a" is -0.5, then your equation is y=-0.5(x-3)^2 + 2. Double check. Do you agree with this or not?

Answer 44

no, it would be more complicated to graph and should be a whole number for this one

Answer 45

I'm telling you I believe it is important that you have a way of graphing equations. So much information can be obtained from good graphs.
Have you spoken with your parents about buying a graphing calculator, e. g., a TI-84?

Answer 46

no, but how do i solve this problem NOW without the graphing calculator...

Answer 47

The equation is y=-0.5(x-3)^2 + 2. I would liek for you to use an online utility to graph this. go to this web page:

Answer 48

http://www.wolframalpha.com

Tell me when you're there.

Answer 49

ok I'm putting in the equation now

Answer 50

ok, I got x=3

Answer 51

sorry , i didn't include my answer choices: y = − (x + 2)2 + 2
y = − (x − 3)2 + 2
y = (x − 2)2 + 2
y = (x + 3)2 + 2

Answer 52

Did you go to wolframalpha.com?

Answer 53

yes

Answer 54

thank you. type in y-2=(x-3)^2. You could copy that equation and paste it into the yellow box on wolframalpha.

Answer 55

When you've finished doing that, either hit RETURN or click on the = symbol at the right end of the box.

Answer 56

ok, I did correctly now I got this equation:

y=(x-3)^2+2

Answer 57

@mathmale but that doesn't correlate with my answer choices

Answer 58

Unfortunately, that means your equation is not completely correct.

Try typing this equation into wolframalpha: y-2=-(x-3)^2

Answer 59

ok i typed it in correctly, but i don't know which equation i should be looking at

Answer 60

I want you to compare the graph given you by wolframalpha to the graph given in your math problem. If they are exactly the same, then y ou have found the correct "a."

Answer 61

no, they are not the same...

Answer 62

In what way are the 2 graphs different?

Answer 63

I'm asking you to compare graphs, not to compare equations.

Answer 64

oh ok, then they are in fact the same

Answer 65

then you have found the correct "a" value.

Type out the whole equation of the curve you were given.

y

Answer 66

ok,,, how do i do that??!! Your directions are always cryptic and not very helpful.

Answer 67

it takes 30 minutes to solve one problem whereas, with other help its much faster and i learn more

Answer 68

I've given you a considerable amount of time. If you feel the need to be critical now, then I may choose to give my time and experience to someone else. I've typed the equation again and again. Go back and look thru our conversation. It begins with y-2. The goal of this problem was to determine the equation of the given curve.

Answer 69

OK. I'm sorry you're not satisfied. Good evening.

Answer 70

ok, I know you are trying to help, but it is very hard to understand

Answer 71

Sometimes when a student has trouble understanding, it is as much or more the lack of preparation and participation on the part of the student as it is any defects in the teacher's approach. I had enjoyed working with you up until a few minutes ago, but when you reward my efforts with complaints and negative comparisons of me with other tutors, I lose interest almost immediately. Keep this in mind next time you criticize someone who is trying to help you.