Algebra Examples

$y = - 4 x^{2} - 24 x - 31$

Step 1

Rewrite the equation in vertex form.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1

Complete the square for $- 4 x^{2} - 24 x - 31$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.1

Use the form $a x^{2} + b x + c$ , to find the values of $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ .

$a = - 4$

$b = - 24$

$c = - 31$

Step 1.1.2

Consider the vertex form of a parabola.

$a {(x + d)}^{2} + e$

Step 1.1.3

Find the value of $d$ using the formula $d = \frac{b}{2 a}$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.3.1

Substitute the values of $a$ and $b$ into the formula $d = \frac{b}{2 a}$ .

$d = \frac{- 24}{2 \cdot - 4}$

Step 1.1.3.2

Simplify the right side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.3.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $- 24$ and $2$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.3.2.1.1

Factor $2$ out of $- 24$ .

$d = \frac{2 \cdot - 12}{2 \cdot - 4}$

Step 1.1.3.2.1.2

Cancel the common factors.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.3.2.1.2.1

Factor $2$ out of $2 \cdot - 4$ .

$d = \frac{2 \cdot - 12}{2 (- 4)}$

Step 1.1.3.2.1.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$d = \frac{2 \cdot - 12}{2 \cdot - 4}$

Step 1.1.3.2.1.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$d = \frac{- 12}{- 4}$

Step 1.1.3.2.2

Cancel the common factor of $- 12$ and $- 4$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.3.2.2.1

Factor $- 4$ out of $- 12$ .

$d = \frac{- 4 (3)}{- 4}$

Step 1.1.3.2.2.2

Cancel the common factors.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.3.2.2.2.1

Factor $- 4$ out of $- 4$ .

$d = \frac{- 4 \cdot 3}{- 4 \cdot 1}$

Step 1.1.3.2.2.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$d = \frac{- 4 \cdot 3}{- 4 \cdot 1}$

Step 1.1.3.2.2.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$d = \frac{3}{1}$

Step 1.1.3.2.2.2.4

Divide $3$ by $1$ .

$d = 3$

Step 1.1.4

Find the value of $e$ using the formula $e = c - \frac{b^{2}}{4 a}$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.4.1

Substitute the values of $c$ , $b$ and $a$ into the formula $e = c - \frac{b^{2}}{4 a}$ .

$e = - 31 - \frac{{(- 24)}^{2}}{4 \cdot - 4}$

Step 1.1.4.2

Simplify the right side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.4.2.1

Simplify each term.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1.4.2.1.1

Raise $- 24$ to the power of $2$ .

$e = - 31 - \frac{576}{4 \cdot - 4}$

Step 1.1.4.2.1.2

Multiply $4$ by $- 4$ .

$e = - 31 - \frac{576}{- 16}$

Step 1.1.4.2.1.3

Divide $576$ by $- 16$ .

$e = - 31 - - 36$

Step 1.1.4.2.1.4

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 36$ .

$e = - 31 + 36$

Step 1.1.4.2.2

Add $- 31$ and $36$ .

$e = 5$

Step 1.1.5

Substitute the values of $a$ , $d$ , and $e$ into the vertex form $- 4 {(x + 3)}^{2} + 5$ .

$- 4 {(x + 3)}^{2} + 5$

Step 1.2

Set $y$ equal to the new right side.

$y = - 4 {(x + 3)}^{2} + 5$

Step 2

Use the vertex form, $y = a {(x - h)}^{2} + k$ , to determine the values of $a$ , $h$ , and $k$ .

$a = - 4$

$h = - 3$

$k = 5$

Step 3

Since the value of $a$ is negative, the parabola opens down.

Opens Down

Step 4

Find the vertex $(h, k)$ .

$(- 3, 5)$

Step 5

Find $p$ , the distance from the vertex to the focus.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.1

Find the distance from the vertex to a focus of the parabola by using the following formula.

$\frac{1}{4 a}$

Step 5.2

Substitute the value of $a$ into the formula.

$\frac{1}{4 \cdot - 4}$

Step 5.3

Simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.3.1

Multiply $4$ by $- 4$ .

$\frac{1}{- 16}$

Step 5.3.2

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{1}{16}$

Step 6

Find the focus.

Tap for more steps...

Step 6.1

The focus of a parabola can be found by adding $p$ to the y-coordinate $k$ if the parabola opens up or down.

$(h, k + p)$

Step 6.2

Substitute the known values of $h$ , $p$ , and $k$ into the formula and simplify.

$(- 3, \frac{79}{16})$

Step 7

Find the axis of symmetry by finding the line that passes through the vertex and the focus.

$x = - 3$

Step 8