Question f-x-x-
The function is defined by the given equation. For what value of does reach its minimum?
f x = x - 10 x + 13 The function f is defined by the
Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Nonlinear Functions — Quadratic graphs and vertex form. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice D is correct. It's given that , which can be rewritten as . Since the coefficient of the -term is positive, the graph of in the xy-plane opens upward and reaches its minimum value at its vertex. The x-coordinate of the vertex is the value of such that reaches its minimum. For an equation in the form , where , , and are constants, the x-coordinate of the vertex is . For the equation , , , and . It follows that the x-coordinate of the vertex is , or . Therefore, reaches its minimum when the value of is .
Alternate approach: The value of for the vertex of a parabola is the x-value of the midpoint between the two x-intercepts of the parabola. Since it’s given that , it follows that the two x-intercepts of the graph of in the xy-plane occur when and , or at the points and . The midpoint between two points, and , is . Therefore, the midpoint between and is , or . It follows that reaches its minimum when the value of is .
Choice A is incorrect. This is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the graph of in the xy-plane.
Choice B is incorrect. This is one of the x-coordinates of the x-intercepts of the graph of in the xy-plane.
Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
More Nonlinear Functions practice questions
- f x = 4 x 2 - 50 x + 126 The given equation
- The function p is defined by p n = 7 n 3 . What
- The parabola opens downward. The vertex is at point (4 comma 9). The parabola
- f x = x + 7 2 + 4 The function f is defined
- The function f w = 6 w 2 gives the area of a rectangle,
- The exponential function g is defined by g x = 19 · a x
- In quadrant 3, the curve rises to its maximum at point (0 comma negative
- q ( x ) = 32 ( 2 x ) Which table gives three
Browse all Passport to Advanced Math practice questions or return to the full SAT question bank.
