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Determine the equation of a cubic of the form

y=ax^3+bx^2+c if the cubic has a y-intercept of (0,3) and passes through the points (1,6) and (-1,4).

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer: y = x^3+2x^2+3

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Step-by-step explanation:

If you plug in x = 0 and y = 3, then the original equation boils down to c = 3. The x = 0 cancels out pretty much everything except that c term.

We have y=ax^3+bx^2+c update to y=ax^3+bx^2+3

Now plug in x = 1 and y = 6 from the point (1,6)

y=ax^3+bx^2+3

6=a(1)^3+b(1)^2+3

6 = a+b + 3

a+b = 6-3

a+b = 3

Now plug in the coordinates of (-1,4) which are x = -1 and y = 4

y=ax^3+bx^2+3

4=a(-1)^3+b(-1)^2+3

4 = -a + b + 3

-a+b = 4-3

-a+b = 1

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Here are the two equations we're interested in

a+b = 3

-a+b = 1

We'll add these equations straight down. The 'a' terms cancel. The b terms add to 2b. The right hand sides add to 3+1 = 4

We're left with 2b = 4 and it solves to b = 2

Use any of the equations involving 'a' and b to determine that a = 1

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To summarize we have

a = 1

b = 2

c = 3

This means y=ax^3+bx^2+c updates fully to y=1x^3+2x^2+3 which simplifies to y = x^3+2x^2+3 and it's the final answer.

Visual verification is shown below. Desmos is a graphing tool I use all the time, as well as GeoGebra. Both are free apps.

Determine the equation of a cubic of the form y=ax^3+bx^2+c if the cubic has a y-intercept-example-1
User Tony Jose
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