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What would the shape of your arms be if you modeled a quadratic graph? An absolute value graph?

2 Answers

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Final answer:

To model a quadratic graph, your arms would make a 'U' or an inverted 'U' shape depending on whether the quadratic opens upwards or downwards. For an absolute value graph, your arms would form a 'V' shape, reflecting the non-negative property of absolute value.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you were to model a quadratic graph using the shape of your arms, your arms would form the shape of a parabola. A parabola can open upwards or downwards and represents the graph of a quadratic function, which can be written in the form f(x) = ax² + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants and a ≠ 0. If a is positive, your arms would open upwards, just like a regular 'U' shape. If a is negative, they would open downwards like an upside-down 'U'.

When modeling an absolute value graph, your arms would form a 'V' shape. This is because the graph of an absolute value function, which is written f(x) = |x|, has a sharp point at its vertex and opens upwards, reflecting the property that absolute value is always non-negative.

User Kevin Pedersen
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1 vote

Answer:

1) A "U" shape or curve

2) a "V" or each arm straight out and point diagonally upward.

A quadratic graph involves a single variable with the highest degree being 2, such as x^2, x^2 + 4x + 2, etc. The graphs all have a U type shape, it may be opening down or up, but it will always be a U type shape.

An absolute value graph involves an equation such as y = |x| + 2, y = |x|, or y = |x - 2|, these all have a v shape. You may not include a quadratic term with the absolute value graph, otherwise it changes the shape slightly (the "arms" are curved)

Honestly you can potentially transform either graph into a different shape. For example y = .00000001x^2, while quadratic, is VERY close in shape to a line.

Of course if we maximize the graph and look at a point such as x = 10^10, we will find a great value for y and see that it does indeed curve, it just takes VERY large values of x.

User Dwight Gunning
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