Provide a real-world example that would be represented by this function and tell what the key features: vertex, x intercepts, y intercept and the axis, above represent.

Answer 1

Let's consider the quadratic function given by the equation:

\[ f(x) = a(x - h)^2 + k \]

where \( (h, k) \) is the vertex of the parabola. This function can represent various real-world scenarios. A concrete example could be the path of a projectile, such as a ball thrown in the air.

Real-World Example: The Path of a Projectile

Imagine you throw a ball at a certain angle and an initial speed. The height of the ball at any time \( t \) can be modeled as a quadratic function of time.

1. Key Features:
   • Vertex: The vertex \( (h, k) \) of the parabola gives the maximum height of the ball (if it opens downward). In this case, \( h \) could represent the time at which the ball reaches its maximum height, and \( k \) represents that maximum height.
   • X-intercepts (Roots): The x-intercepts are the times when the ball is at height 0 (when it hits the ground). If we solve \( f(x) = 0 \) for the function, we get the two moments when the ball is launched and when it returns to the ground.
   • Y-intercept: The y-intercept is the initial height from which the ball is thrown. This occurs when \( x = 0 \), representing the time right as the projectile is launched.
   • Axis of Symmetry: The axis of symmetry \( x = h \) indicates the line that divides the parabola into two mirror-image halves. In this context, it represents the point in time when the ball reaches its peak height.

Summary

In the projectile example:

• The vertex shows the highest point reached by the projectile.
• The x-intercepts indicate when the projectile hits the ground.
• The y-intercept gives the initial launch height.
• The axis of symmetry denotes the time at which the projectile is halfway through its trajectory.

This understanding helps in predicting how the projectile will behave over time, whether for sports, engineering projects, or physics experiments.

Answer 2

can u do another example

Answer 3

Sure! Another real-world example of a quadratic function could be the profit of a company based on the number of units sold of a particular product.

Real-World Example: Profit from Selling Products

Consider a business that sells a product. The profit \( P \) as a function of the number of units sold \( x \) might be modeled by a quadratic equation:

\[ P(x) = -ax^2 + bx + c \]

Where:

• \( a \) is a positive constant (indicating that the profit decreases after a certain number of units due to increased costs or market saturation).
• \( b \) is a coefficient representing the revenue from sales.
• \( c \) is the initial profit (fixed costs or profit without any sales).

Key Features:

1. Vertex:

   • The vertex \( (h, k) \) of this parabola represents the maximum profit the company can achieve. Here, \( h \) indicates the number of units sold to reach that maximum profit, while \( k \) represents the maximum profit itself.

2. X-intercepts (Roots):

   • The x-intercepts are the points at which the profit is zero, meaning the company breaks even. If we find the x-intercepts by setting \( P(x) = 0 \), we can determine how many units must be sold to cover costs. These are important for understanding the minimum sales needed to avoid losses.

3. Y-intercept:

   • The y-intercept occurs at \( P(0) \), representing the profit when no units are sold. This value \( c \) might be negative, indicating fixed costs that the company incurs even without sales.

4. Axis of Symmetry:

   • The axis of symmetry, given by \( x = h \), tells us the number of units sold at which profit is maximized. This is crucial for the company to understand the optimal production and sales level.

Summary

In this profit example:

• The vertex indicates the point of maximum profit.
• The x-intercepts show how many units need to be sold to break even.
• The y-intercept indicates the initial profit or loss when no products are sold.
• The axis of symmetry indicates the optimal sales amount for the highest profit.

This model enables businesses to plan their production, set sales goals, and manage pricing strategies effectively.