Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Mathematics/2016 November 28

= November 28 =

Qualities or properties of Quadratic equations (parabola) and linear equations
For quadratic functions, I already know that we need to know the vertex, axis of symmetry, x-intercepts, y-intercepts, whether it goes down or up, and whether it has minimum or maximum value. What else do we need to know? Also, for the linear equations, I already know that we need to know the x-intercepts, the y-intercepts, whether it goes from bottom right to top left or it goes from bottom right to top left, and the slope. What else do we need to know about the linear equation? Donmust90 (talk) 02:03, 28 November 2016 (UTC)Donmust90Donmust90 (talk) 02:03, 28 November 2016 (UTC)


 * What one "needs to know" is context-dependent, conditional on what one needs it for. In your case, the most likely answer is "go ask your teacher."  If that's not the right context then you should try to ask a better question. --JBL (talk) 03:52, 28 November 2016 (UTC)


 * With a linear function we can determine, just by observation, the slope, the x-axis intercept and the y-axis intercept. (If the slope is zero, the image of the function is parallel to the x-axis. If the slope is positive, the image of the function slopes from low-left to high-right. If the slope is negative, the image of the function slopes from high-left to low-right. If the slope is undefined, it is parallel to the y-axis.)
 * In some questions we are not told the function but instead are told the coordinates of two points that lie on the image of the function; or we are told the slope, and the coordinates of one point. In such questions we can determine the function.
 * With a quadratic polynomial function we can proceed in a similar way to the above, but there are added challenges. See your text book. Dolphin  ( t ) 06:19, 28 November 2016 (UTC)