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How do you write an equation in intercept form from vertex form?

User Profex
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1 Answer

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Answer:

y = a · (x -(h +√(-k/a))) · (x -(h -√(-k/a))) . . . . . . from y = a(x -h)² +k

Explanation:

You want to know how to write an equation in intercept form from vertex form.

Solve for x

"Intercept form" of the equation of a parabola is the factored form. The x-intercepts are the values of x that make the factors zero. This form can be found from vertex for by solving for the x-intercepts—the values of x where y=0.

X-intercepts

The vertex form equation is ...

y = a(x -h)² +k . . . . . . . vertex (h, k)

Solving for x when y=0, we have ...

0 = a(x -h)² +k

-k/a = (x -h)² . . . . . . . subtract k and divide by 'a'

±√(-k/a) = x -h . . . . . take the square root

x = h ±√(-k/a) . . . . . add h

These are the x-intercepts.

Intercept form

To write the equation in intercept form, we use these values to form factors of the quadratic. Each x-intercept (p) corresponds to a factor (x-p). The factors are multiplied by 'a' to keep the same vertical scaling of the graph that the original function had.

y = a · (x -(h +√(-k/a))) · (x -(h -√(-k/a))) . . . . . . intercept form

User Sven Liivak
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