Calculating the equation of a curve - GMAT Quantitative
Card 0 of 72
Suppose the points
and
are plotted to connect a line. What are the
-intercept and
-intercept, respectively?
Suppose the points and
are plotted to connect a line. What are the
-intercept and
-intercept, respectively?
First, given the two points, find the equation of the line using the slope formula and the y-intercept equation.
Slope:

Write the slope-intercept formula.

Substitute a given point and the slope into the equation to find the y-intercept.



The y-intercept is:
.
Substitiute the slope and the y-intercept into the slope-intercept form.

To find the x-intercept, substitute
and solve for x.




The x-intercept is: 
First, given the two points, find the equation of the line using the slope formula and the y-intercept equation.
Slope:
Write the slope-intercept formula.
Substitute a given point and the slope into the equation to find the y-intercept.
The y-intercept is: .
Substitiute the slope and the y-intercept into the slope-intercept form.
To find the x-intercept, substitute and solve for x.
The x-intercept is:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Suppose the curve of a function is parabolic. The
-intercept is
and the vertex is the
-intercept at
. What is a possible equation of the parabola, if it exists?
Suppose the curve of a function is parabolic. The -intercept is
and the vertex is the
-intercept at
. What is a possible equation of the parabola, if it exists?
Write the standard form of the parabola.

Given the point
, the y-intercept is -4, which indicates that
. This is also the vertex, so the vertex formula can allow writing an expression in terms of variables
and
.
Write the vertex formula and substitute the known vertex given point
.



Using the values of
,
, and the other given point
, substitute these values to the standard form and solve for
.




Substitute the values of
,
, and
into the standard form of the parabola.
The correct answer is: 
Write the standard form of the parabola.
Given the point , the y-intercept is -4, which indicates that
. This is also the vertex, so the vertex formula can allow writing an expression in terms of variables
and
.
Write the vertex formula and substitute the known vertex given point .
Using the values of ,
, and the other given point
, substitute these values to the standard form and solve for
.
Substitute the values of ,
, and
into the standard form of the parabola.
The correct answer is:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
If the
-intercept and the slope are
, what's the equation of the line in standard form?
If the -intercept and the slope are
, what's the equation of the line in standard form?
Write the slope intercept formula.

Convert the given x-intercept to a known point, which is
.
Substitute the given slope and the point to solve for the y-intercept.


Substitute the slope and y-intercept into the slope-intercept formula.

Add 1 on both sides of the equation, and subtract
on both sides of the equation to find the equation in standard form.

Write the slope intercept formula.
Convert the given x-intercept to a known point, which is .
Substitute the given slope and the point to solve for the y-intercept.
Substitute the slope and y-intercept into the slope-intercept formula.
Add 1 on both sides of the equation, and subtract on both sides of the equation to find the equation in standard form.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of the following functions has as its graph a curve with
, and
as its only two
-intercepts?
Which of the following functions has as its graph a curve with , and
as its only two
-intercepts?
By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, a polynomial equation of degree 3 must have three solutions, or roots, but one root can be a double root or triple root. Since the polynomial here has two roots,
and 4, one of these must be a double root. Since the leading term is
, the equation must be

or

We rewrite both.












The correct response can be
or
. The first is not among the choices, so the last is the correct choice.
By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, a polynomial equation of degree 3 must have three solutions, or roots, but one root can be a double root or triple root. Since the polynomial here has two roots, and 4, one of these must be a double root. Since the leading term is
, the equation must be
or
We rewrite both.
The correct response can be or
. The first is not among the choices, so the last is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of the following functions does not have as its graph a curve with
as an
-intercept?
Which of the following functions does not have as its graph a curve with as an
-intercept?
We can evaluate
in each of the definitions of
in the five choices. If
,
is an
-intercept.



















does not have
as an
-intercept, so it is the correct choice.
We can evaluate in each of the definitions of
in the five choices. If
,
is an
-intercept.
does not have
as an
-intercept, so it is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Only one of the following equations has a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. Which one?
Only one of the following equations has a graph with an -intercept between
and
. Which one?
The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if
is a continuous function, as all five of the polynomial functions in the given choices are, and
and
are of different sign, then the graph of
has an
-intercept on the interval
.
We evaluate
and
for each of the five choices to find the one for which the two have different sign.



and
are both negative.



and
are both negative.



and
are of different sign.



and
are both positive.



and
are both positive.
is the function in which
and
are of different sign, so it is represented by a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. This is the correct choice.
The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if is a continuous function, as all five of the polynomial functions in the given choices are, and
and
are of different sign, then the graph of
has an
-intercept on the interval
.
We evaluate and
for each of the five choices to find the one for which the two have different sign.
and
are both negative.
and
are both negative.
and
are of different sign.
and
are both positive.
and
are both positive.
is the function in which
and
are of different sign, so it is represented by a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. This is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Between which two points is an
-intercept of the graph of the function

located?
Between which two points is an -intercept of the graph of the function
located?
As a polynomial function,
has a continuous graph. By the Intermediate Value Theorem, if
and
are of different sign, then
for some
- that is, the graph of
has an
-intercept between
and
. Evaluate
for all
and observe between which two integers the sign changes.























Since
and
, the
-intercept is between
and
.
As a polynomial function, has a continuous graph. By the Intermediate Value Theorem, if
and
are of different sign, then
for some
- that is, the graph of
has an
-intercept between
and
. Evaluate
for all
and observe between which two integers the sign changes.
Since and
, the
-intercept is between
and
.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Suppose the points
and
are plotted to connect a line. What are the
-intercept and
-intercept, respectively?
Suppose the points and
are plotted to connect a line. What are the
-intercept and
-intercept, respectively?
First, given the two points, find the equation of the line using the slope formula and the y-intercept equation.
Slope:

Write the slope-intercept formula.

Substitute a given point and the slope into the equation to find the y-intercept.



The y-intercept is:
.
Substitiute the slope and the y-intercept into the slope-intercept form.

To find the x-intercept, substitute
and solve for x.




The x-intercept is: 
First, given the two points, find the equation of the line using the slope formula and the y-intercept equation.
Slope:
Write the slope-intercept formula.
Substitute a given point and the slope into the equation to find the y-intercept.
The y-intercept is: .
Substitiute the slope and the y-intercept into the slope-intercept form.
To find the x-intercept, substitute and solve for x.
The x-intercept is:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Suppose the curve of a function is parabolic. The
-intercept is
and the vertex is the
-intercept at
. What is a possible equation of the parabola, if it exists?
Suppose the curve of a function is parabolic. The -intercept is
and the vertex is the
-intercept at
. What is a possible equation of the parabola, if it exists?
Write the standard form of the parabola.

Given the point
, the y-intercept is -4, which indicates that
. This is also the vertex, so the vertex formula can allow writing an expression in terms of variables
and
.
Write the vertex formula and substitute the known vertex given point
.



Using the values of
,
, and the other given point
, substitute these values to the standard form and solve for
.




Substitute the values of
,
, and
into the standard form of the parabola.
The correct answer is: 
Write the standard form of the parabola.
Given the point , the y-intercept is -4, which indicates that
. This is also the vertex, so the vertex formula can allow writing an expression in terms of variables
and
.
Write the vertex formula and substitute the known vertex given point .
Using the values of ,
, and the other given point
, substitute these values to the standard form and solve for
.
Substitute the values of ,
, and
into the standard form of the parabola.
The correct answer is:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
If the
-intercept and the slope are
, what's the equation of the line in standard form?
If the -intercept and the slope are
, what's the equation of the line in standard form?
Write the slope intercept formula.

Convert the given x-intercept to a known point, which is
.
Substitute the given slope and the point to solve for the y-intercept.


Substitute the slope and y-intercept into the slope-intercept formula.

Add 1 on both sides of the equation, and subtract
on both sides of the equation to find the equation in standard form.

Write the slope intercept formula.
Convert the given x-intercept to a known point, which is .
Substitute the given slope and the point to solve for the y-intercept.
Substitute the slope and y-intercept into the slope-intercept formula.
Add 1 on both sides of the equation, and subtract on both sides of the equation to find the equation in standard form.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of the following functions has as its graph a curve with
, and
as its only two
-intercepts?
Which of the following functions has as its graph a curve with , and
as its only two
-intercepts?
By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, a polynomial equation of degree 3 must have three solutions, or roots, but one root can be a double root or triple root. Since the polynomial here has two roots,
and 4, one of these must be a double root. Since the leading term is
, the equation must be

or

We rewrite both.












The correct response can be
or
. The first is not among the choices, so the last is the correct choice.
By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, a polynomial equation of degree 3 must have three solutions, or roots, but one root can be a double root or triple root. Since the polynomial here has two roots, and 4, one of these must be a double root. Since the leading term is
, the equation must be
or
We rewrite both.
The correct response can be or
. The first is not among the choices, so the last is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of the following functions does not have as its graph a curve with
as an
-intercept?
Which of the following functions does not have as its graph a curve with as an
-intercept?
We can evaluate
in each of the definitions of
in the five choices. If
,
is an
-intercept.



















does not have
as an
-intercept, so it is the correct choice.
We can evaluate in each of the definitions of
in the five choices. If
,
is an
-intercept.
does not have
as an
-intercept, so it is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Only one of the following equations has a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. Which one?
Only one of the following equations has a graph with an -intercept between
and
. Which one?
The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if
is a continuous function, as all five of the polynomial functions in the given choices are, and
and
are of different sign, then the graph of
has an
-intercept on the interval
.
We evaluate
and
for each of the five choices to find the one for which the two have different sign.



and
are both negative.



and
are both negative.



and
are of different sign.



and
are both positive.



and
are both positive.
is the function in which
and
are of different sign, so it is represented by a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. This is the correct choice.
The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if is a continuous function, as all five of the polynomial functions in the given choices are, and
and
are of different sign, then the graph of
has an
-intercept on the interval
.
We evaluate and
for each of the five choices to find the one for which the two have different sign.
and
are both negative.
and
are both negative.
and
are of different sign.
and
are both positive.
and
are both positive.
is the function in which
and
are of different sign, so it is represented by a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. This is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Between which two points is an
-intercept of the graph of the function

located?
Between which two points is an -intercept of the graph of the function
located?
As a polynomial function,
has a continuous graph. By the Intermediate Value Theorem, if
and
are of different sign, then
for some
- that is, the graph of
has an
-intercept between
and
. Evaluate
for all
and observe between which two integers the sign changes.























Since
and
, the
-intercept is between
and
.
As a polynomial function, has a continuous graph. By the Intermediate Value Theorem, if
and
are of different sign, then
for some
- that is, the graph of
has an
-intercept between
and
. Evaluate
for all
and observe between which two integers the sign changes.
Since and
, the
-intercept is between
and
.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Suppose the points
and
are plotted to connect a line. What are the
-intercept and
-intercept, respectively?
Suppose the points and
are plotted to connect a line. What are the
-intercept and
-intercept, respectively?
First, given the two points, find the equation of the line using the slope formula and the y-intercept equation.
Slope:

Write the slope-intercept formula.

Substitute a given point and the slope into the equation to find the y-intercept.



The y-intercept is:
.
Substitiute the slope and the y-intercept into the slope-intercept form.

To find the x-intercept, substitute
and solve for x.




The x-intercept is: 
First, given the two points, find the equation of the line using the slope formula and the y-intercept equation.
Slope:
Write the slope-intercept formula.
Substitute a given point and the slope into the equation to find the y-intercept.
The y-intercept is: .
Substitiute the slope and the y-intercept into the slope-intercept form.
To find the x-intercept, substitute and solve for x.
The x-intercept is:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Suppose the curve of a function is parabolic. The
-intercept is
and the vertex is the
-intercept at
. What is a possible equation of the parabola, if it exists?
Suppose the curve of a function is parabolic. The -intercept is
and the vertex is the
-intercept at
. What is a possible equation of the parabola, if it exists?
Write the standard form of the parabola.

Given the point
, the y-intercept is -4, which indicates that
. This is also the vertex, so the vertex formula can allow writing an expression in terms of variables
and
.
Write the vertex formula and substitute the known vertex given point
.



Using the values of
,
, and the other given point
, substitute these values to the standard form and solve for
.




Substitute the values of
,
, and
into the standard form of the parabola.
The correct answer is: 
Write the standard form of the parabola.
Given the point , the y-intercept is -4, which indicates that
. This is also the vertex, so the vertex formula can allow writing an expression in terms of variables
and
.
Write the vertex formula and substitute the known vertex given point .
Using the values of ,
, and the other given point
, substitute these values to the standard form and solve for
.
Substitute the values of ,
, and
into the standard form of the parabola.
The correct answer is:
Compare your answer with the correct one above
If the
-intercept and the slope are
, what's the equation of the line in standard form?
If the -intercept and the slope are
, what's the equation of the line in standard form?
Write the slope intercept formula.

Convert the given x-intercept to a known point, which is
.
Substitute the given slope and the point to solve for the y-intercept.


Substitute the slope and y-intercept into the slope-intercept formula.

Add 1 on both sides of the equation, and subtract
on both sides of the equation to find the equation in standard form.

Write the slope intercept formula.
Convert the given x-intercept to a known point, which is .
Substitute the given slope and the point to solve for the y-intercept.
Substitute the slope and y-intercept into the slope-intercept formula.
Add 1 on both sides of the equation, and subtract on both sides of the equation to find the equation in standard form.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of the following functions has as its graph a curve with
, and
as its only two
-intercepts?
Which of the following functions has as its graph a curve with , and
as its only two
-intercepts?
By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, a polynomial equation of degree 3 must have three solutions, or roots, but one root can be a double root or triple root. Since the polynomial here has two roots,
and 4, one of these must be a double root. Since the leading term is
, the equation must be

or

We rewrite both.












The correct response can be
or
. The first is not among the choices, so the last is the correct choice.
By the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, a polynomial equation of degree 3 must have three solutions, or roots, but one root can be a double root or triple root. Since the polynomial here has two roots, and 4, one of these must be a double root. Since the leading term is
, the equation must be
or
We rewrite both.
The correct response can be or
. The first is not among the choices, so the last is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of the following functions does not have as its graph a curve with
as an
-intercept?
Which of the following functions does not have as its graph a curve with as an
-intercept?
We can evaluate
in each of the definitions of
in the five choices. If
,
is an
-intercept.



















does not have
as an
-intercept, so it is the correct choice.
We can evaluate in each of the definitions of
in the five choices. If
,
is an
-intercept.
does not have
as an
-intercept, so it is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Only one of the following equations has a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. Which one?
Only one of the following equations has a graph with an -intercept between
and
. Which one?
The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if
is a continuous function, as all five of the polynomial functions in the given choices are, and
and
are of different sign, then the graph of
has an
-intercept on the interval
.
We evaluate
and
for each of the five choices to find the one for which the two have different sign.



and
are both negative.



and
are both negative.



and
are of different sign.



and
are both positive.



and
are both positive.
is the function in which
and
are of different sign, so it is represented by a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. This is the correct choice.
The Intermediate Value Theorem states that if is a continuous function, as all five of the polynomial functions in the given choices are, and
and
are of different sign, then the graph of
has an
-intercept on the interval
.
We evaluate and
for each of the five choices to find the one for which the two have different sign.
and
are both negative.
and
are both negative.
and
are of different sign.
and
are both positive.
and
are both positive.
is the function in which
and
are of different sign, so it is represented by a graph with an
-intercept between
and
. This is the correct choice.
Compare your answer with the correct one above