Precalculus Examples

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

Step 1

Rewrite the equation in vertex form.

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Step 1.1

Complete the square for $- 3 x^{2} + 4$ .

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Step 1.1.1

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

$a = - 3$

$b = 0$

$c = 4$

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 $d = \frac{b}{2 a}$ .

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Step 1.1.3.1

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

$d = \frac{0}{2 \cdot - 3}$

Step 1.1.3.2

Simplify the right side.

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Step 1.1.3.2.1

Cancel the common factor of $0$ and $2$ .

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Step 1.1.3.2.1.1

Factor $2$ out of $0$ .

$d = \frac{2 (0)}{2 \cdot - 3}$

Step 1.1.3.2.1.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 1.1.3.2.1.2.1

Factor $2$ out of $2 \cdot - 3$ .

$d = \frac{2 (0)}{2 (- 3)}$

Step 1.1.3.2.1.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$d = \frac{2 \cdot 0}{2 \cdot - 3}$

Step 1.1.3.2.1.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$d = \frac{0}{- 3}$

Step 1.1.3.2.2

Cancel the common factor of $0$ and $- 3$ .

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Step 1.1.3.2.2.1

Factor $3$ out of $0$ .

$d = \frac{3 (0)}{- 3}$

Step 1.1.3.2.2.2

Move the negative one from the denominator of $\frac{0}{- 1}$ .

$d = - 1 \cdot 0$

Step 1.1.3.2.3

Rewrite $- 1 \cdot 0$ as $- 0$ .

$d = - 0$

Step 1.1.3.2.4

Multiply $- 1$ by $0$ .

$d = 0$

Step 1.1.4

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

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Step 1.1.4.1

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

$e = 4 - \frac{0^{2}}{4 \cdot - 3}$

Step 1.1.4.2

Simplify the right side.

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Step 1.1.4.2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 1.1.4.2.1.1

Raising $0$ to any positive power yields $0$ .

$e = 4 - \frac{0}{4 \cdot - 3}$

Step 1.1.4.2.1.2

Multiply $4$ by $- 3$ .

$e = 4 - \frac{0}{- 12}$

Step 1.1.4.2.1.3

Divide $0$ by $- 12$ .

$e = 4 - 0$

Step 1.1.4.2.1.4

Multiply $- 1$ by $0$ .

$e = 4 + 0$

Step 1.1.4.2.2

Add $4$ and $0$ .

$e = 4$

Step 1.1.5

Substitute the values of $a$ , $d$ , and $e$ into the vertex form $- 3 {(x + 0)}^{2} + 4$ .

$- 3 {(x + 0)}^{2} + 4$

Step 1.2

Set $y$ equal to the new right side.

$y = - 3 {(x + 0)}^{2} + 4$

Step 2

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

$a = - 3$

$h = 0$

$k = 4$

Step 3

Find the vertex $(h, k)$ .

$(0, 4)$

Step 4