Final answer:
The vertex of a quadratic function can be found using the formula x_v = -b/(2a). In this case, the vertex is at (2, 1) with a maximum value of 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vertex of a quadratic function in the form f(x) = ax² + bx + c can be found using the formula x_v = -b/(2a), where a, b, and c are the coefficients of the function. In this case, a = -1, b = 4, and c = -3. Plugging these values into the formula, we get x_v = -4/(2*(-1)) = 2. To find the y-coordinate of the vertex, we substitute the x-coordinate back into the function: f(2) = (-2)^2 + 4*2 - 3 = 1. Therefore, the vertex of the function is at (2, 1), and the maximum value of f(x) is 1.