Find the coordinates of th vertex and write the equation of the axis of symmetry given the function f(x)=-x^2-3x-2.Is the vertex a maximum or a minimum?

Answer 1

complete the square
f(x) = -x^2 - 3x - 2
= -[x^2 + 3x + .........] - 2
= -[ x^2 + 3x) + 9/4 - 9/4 ] - 2
= -[(x + 3/2)^2 - 9/4] - 2
= -(x + 3/2)^2 + 9/4 - 8/4
= -(x+3/2)^2 + 1/4

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