Graphing

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ACT Math › Graphing

Questions 1 - 10

Which of the given functions is depicted below?

Act_math_184_01

Explanation

The graph has x-intercepts at x = 0 and x = 8. This indicates that 0 and 8 are roots of the function.

The function must take the form y = x(x - 8) in order for these roots to be true.

The parabola opens downward, indicating a negative leading coefficient. Expand the equation to get our answer.

y = -x(x - 8)

y = -x2 + 8x

y = 8x - x2

Therefore, the answer must be y = 8x - x2

Which of the given functions is depicted below?

Act_math_184_01

Explanation

The graph has x-intercepts at x = 0 and x = 8. This indicates that 0 and 8 are roots of the function.

The function must take the form y = x(x - 8) in order for these roots to be true.

The parabola opens downward, indicating a negative leading coefficient. Expand the equation to get our answer.

y = -x(x - 8)

y = -x2 + 8x

y = 8x - x2

Therefore, the answer must be y = 8x - x2

Which of the following functions represents a parabola that has a vertex located at (–3,4), and that passes through the point (–1, –4)?

f(x) = _x_2 – 5

f(x) = –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14

f(x) = 2_x_2 + 4_x_ – 2

f(x) = x_2 + 6_x + 13

f(x) = 2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14

Explanation

Because we are given the vertex of the parabola, the easiest way to solve this problem will involve the use of the formula of a parabola in vertex form. The vertex form of a parabola is given by the following equation:

f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k, where (h, k) is the location of the vertex, and a is a constant.

Since the parabola has its vertex as (–3, 4), its equation in vertex form must be as follows:

f(x) = a(x – (–3)2 + 4 = a(x + 3)2 + 4

In order to complete the equation for the parabola, we must find the value of a. We can use the point (–1, –4), through which the parabola passes, in order to determine the value of a. We can substitute –1 in for x and –4 in for f(x).

f(x) = a(x + 3)2 + 4

–4 = a(–1 + 3)2 + 4

–4 = a(2)2 + 4

–4 = 4_a_ + 4

Subtract 4 from both sides.

–8 = 4_a_

Divide both sides by 4.

a = –2

This means that the final vertex form of the parabola is equal to f(x) = –2(x + 3)2 + 4. However, since the answer choices are given in standard form, not vertex form, we must expand our equation for f(x) and write it in standard form.

f(x) = –2(x + 3)2 + 4

= –2(x + 3)(x + 3) + 4

We can use the FOIL method to evaluate (x + 3)(x + 3).

= –2(x_2 + 3_x + 3_x_ + 9) + 4

= –2(x_2 + 6_x + 9) + 4

= –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 18 + 4

= –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14

The answer is f(x) = –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14.

Give the -intercept of the graph of the function

$f(x) = 5 \cdot 4^{x- 3}- 3$

Round to the nearest tenth, if applicable.

The graph has no -interceptx

Explanation

The -intercept is , where :

$f(x) = 5 \cdot 4^{x- 3}- 3$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3}- 3 = 0$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3}- 3 + 3= 0 + 3$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3}= 3$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3} \div 5= 3 \div 5$

$4^{a- 3} = 0.6$

$\ln \left (4^{a- 3} \right )=\ln 0.6$

$(a- 3)\ln 4 =\ln 0.6$

$a- 3=\frac{\ln 0.6}{\ln 4 } \approx \frac{-0.5108}{1.3863}\approx -0.3685$

$a- 3+3 \approx -0.3685 + 3$

$a \approx 2.63$

The -intercept is .

Which of the following functions represents a parabola that has a vertex located at (–3,4), and that passes through the point (–1, –4)?

f(x) = _x_2 – 5

f(x) = –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14

f(x) = 2_x_2 + 4_x_ – 2

f(x) = x_2 + 6_x + 13

f(x) = 2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14

Explanation

f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k, where (h, k) is the location of the vertex, and a is a constant.

Since the parabola has its vertex as (–3, 4), its equation in vertex form must be as follows:

f(x) = a(x – (–3)2 + 4 = a(x + 3)2 + 4

f(x) = a(x + 3)2 + 4

–4 = a(–1 + 3)2 + 4

–4 = a(2)2 + 4

–4 = 4_a_ + 4

Subtract 4 from both sides.

–8 = 4_a_

Divide both sides by 4.

a = –2

f(x) = –2(x + 3)2 + 4

= –2(x + 3)(x + 3) + 4

We can use the FOIL method to evaluate (x + 3)(x + 3).

= –2(x_2 + 3_x + 3_x_ + 9) + 4

= –2(x_2 + 6_x + 9) + 4

= –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 18 + 4

= –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14

The answer is f(x) = –2_x_2 – 12_x_ – 14.

Give the -intercept of the graph of the function

$f(x) = 5 \cdot 4^{x- 3}- 3$

Round to the nearest tenth, if applicable.

The graph has no -interceptx

Explanation

The -intercept is , where :

$f(x) = 5 \cdot 4^{x- 3}- 3$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3}- 3 = 0$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3}- 3 + 3= 0 + 3$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3}= 3$

$5 \cdot 4^{a- 3} \div 5= 3 \div 5$

$4^{a- 3} = 0.6$

$\ln \left (4^{a- 3} \right )=\ln 0.6$

$(a- 3)\ln 4 =\ln 0.6$

$a- 3=\frac{\ln 0.6}{\ln 4 } \approx \frac{-0.5108}{1.3863}\approx -0.3685$

$a- 3+3 \approx -0.3685 + 3$

$a \approx 2.63$

The -intercept is .

Which pair of coordinates lies within quadrant II?

Explanation

By definition, quadrant I has positive coordinates, quadrant II has coordinates, quadrant III has negative coordinates, and quadrant IV has coordinates, as shown by the diagram below. Only one answer choice falls within quadrant II. All others lie in other coordinates or one of the axes.