How do you find the vertex and the intercepts for 3x2+12x9?

1 Answer
May 7, 2016

vertex: maximum point(2,3)
Y-intercept = -9
X-intercept = 1 and 3

Explanation:

The given equation is 3x2+12x9=y.
Given that the coefficient(constant number in front) of x2 is negative 3, for any NEGATIVE coefficient, the graph is a SAD smiley (has a maximum point).
Note for a POSITIVE coefficient, the graph is a HAPPY smiley (has a minimum point).

Complete the square to find the vertex:

3x2+12x9=0
3(x24x)9=0
3(x2)2(3)(2)29=0
3(x2)2+129=0
3(x2)2+3=0

In this form 3(x2)2+3=0,
the constant 3 is the y coordinate of the vertex.
And (x-2) = 0 is the x coordinate of the vertex, equate for x,
x=2 is the x coordinate. Hence the vertex is (2, 3).

To find the intercepts:

For y-intercept, equate x=0,
3(0)2+12(0)9=y
0+09=y
y= -9 is the y coordinate of the y-intercept.

For x-intercept, equate y=0, then factorise to find the 2 x intercepts,
3x2+12x9=0
(3x+3)(x3)=0
Hence, the factors of the equation is (-3x+3) and (x-3), solve for x,
(3x+3)=0
x=33
x=1

(x-3) =0,
x=3
Hence the x intercepts are x=1 and x =3.