Question

A parabola is graphed on a coordinate plane. The x-axis ranges from negative 10 to 3 in increments of 1. The y-axis ranges from negative 10 to 10 in increments of 1.
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The parabola passes through coordinates left parenthesis negative 8 comma negative 6 right parenthesis, left parenthesis negative 6 comma 6 right parenthesis, left parenthesis negative 4 comma 10 right parenthesis, left parenthesis negative 2 comma 6 right parenthesis, and left parenthesis 0 comma negative 6 right parenthesis.

Determine whether the a-value is positive or negative. Provide an appropriate reason.

(1 point)

The a-value is positive because the graph is of a parabola that opens up.

The a-value is negative because the y-intercept is negative.

The a-value is negative because the x-intercepts are negative.

The a-value is negative because the graph is of a parabola that opens down.
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Answer 1

The a-value is negative because the graph is a parabola that opens down — the point (-4, 10) is the maximum (vertex) and the y-values decrease on both sides, so a < 0.