judocallin said:
Am I going to use the form ax^2 +bx+c=0, to solved this? No. There is nothing "to solve", in this manner.
This exercise is
not like being told to find the values of x that satisfy something like 7x^2 - 10x - 3 = 0 (in other words, having to find x when y is 0). In this exercise, y is not zero.
All they want to see is the General Form of a quadratic equation [ y = Ax^2 + Bx + C ] with the correct Real values substituted for those three parameter symbols A, B, and C.
But, the Real values that you substitute for the parameters A, B, and C need to produce a correct formula for y. In other words, the quadratic equation that you write must be for the particular parabola that passes through those three given points.
You will know when the formula is correct because, when you use it to calculate the value of y, you will get -4 when x is 0, you will get -6 when x is 1, and you will get -3 when x is 2.
That's why I used the symbols A, B, and C as
variables, in my first response, to generate those three equations, where y = -4 when x = 0, and y = -6 when x = 1, and y = -3 when x = 2.
If those three Real numbers for A, B, and C work in the system, then they will work in the quadratic equation to produce the given coordinates (0,-4) (1,-6) 2,-3).
Does it make more sense now?
Solve the system of three equations in my first response. Substitute the solution for A,B,C in the General Form, and write down that equation. You're done.
Do you know how to solve a system of two equations in two unknowns? Like the following.
4A + 2B = 1
A + B = -2
MY EDIT: Corrected name to General Form :roll: (I'm currently wondering who really cares what it's called.)