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Use a method to find the vertex form for x^2 - 12x + 32 = 0

User Scott Morken
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1 Answer

22 votes
22 votes

Explanation:

x² - 12x + 32 = 0

the goal is the vertex form : a form like

(x - h)² + k = r²

with (h, k) being the vertex or center and r the radius.

doing all the multiplications we get

x² - 2hx + h² + k - r² = 0

and we compare this with our original equation. we see

x² = x²

-12x = -2hx

-12 = -2h

6 = h

32 = h² + k - r²

32 = 36 + k - r²

-4 = k - r²

possible solution : k = 0 and then r = 2

but also e.h. k = 12, r = 4

so, without the information about e.h. the radius we cannot identify one solution.

so, "A" vertex form (one of many possible ones) is

(x - 6)² = 4

User Igor Parra
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2.8k points