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Explain why f(x)=x^2+x+5 crosses the y axis but not the x axis

User CT Zhu
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1 Answer

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The function whon't intercept the x-axis because the minimum is at x = 4.75

Why the function does not cross the x-axis?

A function can cross the x-axis only if the value y = 0 is allowed, and the y-axis only if the value x = 0 is allowed.

Here we have the function:

f(x) = x² + x + 5

When x = 0 we have:

f(0) = 0² + 0 + 5

f(0) = 5

Now, let's see that there is no value of x such that f(x) = 0.

We can see this because the vertex of the function is at:

x = -1/(2*1) = -1/2

Evaluating there, we will get:

f(-1/2) = (-1/2)² + -1/2 + 5

= 1/4 - 1/2 + 5

= 4.75

That is the minimum value that the function can take, so it will never intercept the x-axis.

User Ken Le
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