To analyze the graph of the equation \( y = -x^2 + x + 6 \):
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Determining the direction of opening: The coefficient of \( x^2 \) is negative (\(-1\)), which means the graph opens downward.
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Finding the x-axis intersections (x-intercepts): To find where the graph crosses the x-axis, we set \( y = 0 \): \[ 0 = -x^2 + x + 6 \] Rearranging gives: \[ x^2 - x - 6 = 0 \] We can factor this quadratic equation: \[ (x - 3)(x + 2) = 0 \] Thus, the x-intercepts are \( x = 3 \) and \( x = -2 \).
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Determining the number of x-intercepts: Since the graph crosses the x-axis at two points, this means the equation has two real roots.
Putting it all together:
The graph of the equation opens downward and crosses the x-axis at (3, 0) and (-2, 0). This means that the equation has two real roots.