Question

PLEASE HELP QUICK

Suppose a particle is moving along the x-axis. The position, measured in feet, of the particle can be modeled by the quadratic equation y = 3x2 − 12x − 9, where x is time, in seconds. What does the number −9 represent for the quadratic function?
  The particle is 9 feet to the left of the origin.
The particle is moving left 9 feet per second.
The particle is accelerating at −9 feet per second squared.
The particle has stopped at 9 seconds.

Answer 1

THe equation is of the form

`y =ax^2 +bx +c`

Where c is the constant or the initial value .

In the given equation , that is

`y=3x^2-12x-9`

Coefficient of x square represents the acceleration, so 3 is the acceleration. Coefficient of x represents the velocity, so -12 is the velocity. And the constant , 9 shown the initial position and since its negative , so it must be to the left of the origin . Therefore the correct option is the first option .