The axis of symmetry for the function f(x) = –2x2 + 4x + 1 is the line x = 1. Where is the vertex of the function located?
Answer:
(1, 3)
Step-by-step explanation:
You are given the h coordinate of the vertex as 1, but in order to find the k coordinate, you have to complete the square on the parabola. The first few steps are as follows. Set the parabola equal to 0 so you can solve for the vertex. Separate the x terms from the constant by moving the constant to the other side of the equals sign. The coefficient HAS to be a +1 (ours is a -2 so we have to factor it out). Let's start there. The first 2 steps result in this polynomial:
\(-2x^2+4x=-1\). Now we factor out the -2:
\(-2(x^2-2x)=-1\). Now we complete the square. This process is to take half the linear term, square it, and add it to both sides. Our linear term is 2x. Half of 2 is 1, and 1 squared is 1. We add 1 into the set of parenthesis. But we actually added into the parenthesis is +1(-2). The -2 out front is a multiplier and we cannot ignore it. Adding in to both sides looks like this:
\(-2(x^2-2x+1)=-1-2\). Simplifying gives us this:
\(-2(x^2-2x+1)=-3\)
On the left we have created a perfect square binomial which reflects the h coordinate of the vertex. Stating this binomial and moving the -3 over by addition and setting the polynomial equal to y:
\(-2(x-1)^2+3=y\)
From this form,
\(y=-a(x-h)^2+k\)
you can determine the coordinates of the vertex to be (1, 3)