What does the vertex of a parabola represent in the context of a quadratic funct
Practice Questions
Q1
What does the vertex of a parabola represent in the context of a quadratic function?
The maximum or minimum point of the function.
The x-intercept of the function.
The y-intercept of the function.
The point where the function is undefined.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What does the vertex of a parabola represent in the context of a quadratic function?
Step 1: Understand what a parabola is. A parabola is a U-shaped curve that can open upwards or downwards.
Step 2: Know that a quadratic function is a type of function that can be written in the form y = ax^2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are numbers.
Step 3: Identify the vertex of the parabola. The vertex is the highest or lowest point on the curve.
Step 4: Determine the direction the parabola opens. If it opens upwards (like a U), the vertex is the minimum point. If it opens downwards (like an upside-down U), the vertex is the maximum point.
Step 5: Conclude that the vertex represents the maximum or minimum value of the quadratic function, depending on the direction the parabola opens.
