Question

A flock of geese is flying north for the summer while a bird watcher is observing. He notices that they are flying in the shape of an absolute value graph. The lead goose is 5 miles east and 3 miles north of the bird watcher. A second goose is flying 1 mile east and 2 miles north of the bird watcher. If the bird watcher is standing at the origin write an equation for the flight of the geese in the form of y=a|(x-h)|+k

Answer 1

y = -¼│x − 5│+ 3

Explanation:

y = a│x − h│+ k

(h, k) is the vertex of the absolute value graph. In this case, it's (5, 3).

y = a│x − 5│+ 3

One point on the graph is (1, 2). Plug in to find the value of a.

2 = a│1 − 5│+ 3

2 = 4a + 3

a = -¼

Therefore, the graph is:

y = -¼│x − 5│+ 3