Final answer:
The vertex form of the function s(x)=-5x²-10x-4 is s(x) = -5(x + 1)² + 1. The vertex is (-1, 1), which represents a maximum point. The range is y ≤ 1, and there are no x-intercepts.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert the quadratic function s(x) = -5x² - 10x - 4 into vertex form, we need to complete the square. The vertex form of a quadratic function is y = a(x - h)² + k, where (h, k) is the vertex of the parabola.
First, factor out the coefficient of the x² term from the first two terms:
s(x) = -5(x² + 2x) - 4
Next, find the number that will complete the square (b/2)² for the x terms inside the parentheses, where b is the coefficient of x:
(2/2)² = 1² = 1
Add and subtract this number inside the parentheses:
s(x) = -5(x² + 2x + 1 - 1) - 4
Combine terms outside the completed square:
s(x) = -5(x² + 2x + 1) + 5 - 4
s(x) = -5(x + 1)² + 1
This is the vertex form of the function, with (-1, 1) as the vertex. Because the coefficient of the x² term is negative, the parabola opens downwards, and thus the vertex represents a maximum point. The y-intercept is the value of s(x) when x = 0, which is -4. Since the function is a downward-opening parabola, there are no x-intercepts because the discriminant b² - 4ac is negative. The range of the function is y ≤ 1, because the maximum value at the vertex is 1 and the function decreases from there.