Final answer:
To find the practical domain of a quadratic function, you can follow these steps: determine x-values where the function is undefined, identify the vertex and use its x-coordinate as the domain, consider context restrictions, and solve the quadratic expression for x.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the practical domain of a quadratic function, you can follow these steps:
- Determine the x-values where the quadratic function is undefined. This includes values that would result in division by zero, such as when the quadratic function is in the denominator of a fraction.
- Identify the vertex of the quadratic function and use its x-coordinate as the domain. The vertex is the point where the quadratic function reaches its highest or lowest value.
- Consider any restrictions imposed by the context of the problem. For example, if the problem involves measuring time, negative values for time might not make sense.
- Set the quadratic expression equal to zero and solve for x. This will give you the x-values where the quadratic function crosses the x-axis.