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# If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:

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Intern
Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Posts: 28
If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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26 Dec 2015, 23:20
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Difficulty:

45% (medium)

Question Stats:

57% (01:44) correct 43% (01:59) wrong based on 111 sessions

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If y = x^2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:

a) a/b
b) -a/b
c) -a/2
d) -b/2
e) b/a

I tried it by substituting the value of x everywhere For once that is making the problem lengthy, secondly I got stuck . Can anybody help please?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 7212
Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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27 Dec 2015, 05:16
1
2
shreyashid wrote:
If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:

a) a/b
b) -a/b
c) -a/2
d) -b/2
e) b/a

I tried it by substituting the value of x everywhere For once that is making the problem lengthy, secondly I got stuck . Can anybody help please?

Hi,
the easiest way is algebrically...
if your quad eq is a*x^2 + b*x +c, its min or max value will occur at -b/2a...
since the eq forms a parabola/ curve due to value a*x^2, the max or min value will depend on a..
here the eq is x^2 + ax + c=y..
so b in -b/2a...= a in x^2 + ax + c and a=1..
so -b/2a will become -a/2 for this equation ..
ans C..
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Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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28 Dec 2015, 17:15
1
2
Hi shreyashid,

This question can be solved by TESTing VALUES.

We're given the equation Y = X^2 + AX + B.

IF.. we use a simple Classic Quadratic....
A = 2
B = 1
Y = X^2 + 2X + 1

We can then go about finding the answer that yields the MINIMUM result when X = ...

Answer A: A/B = 2/1 = 2 --> 4+4+1 = +9
Answer B: -A/B = -2/1 = -2 --> 4-4+1 = +1
Answer C: -A/2 = -2/2 = -1 --> 1-2+1 = 0
Answer D: -B/2 = -1/2 -->(1/4)-1+1 = +1/4
Answer E: B/A = 1/2 --> (1/4)+1+1 = +2 1/4

From these results, we can see the minimum result:

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Senior Manager
Joined: 20 Aug 2015
Posts: 388
Location: India
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V44
Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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29 Dec 2015, 02:08
shreyashid wrote:
If y = x^2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:

a) a/b
b) -a/b
c) -a/2
d) -b/2
e) b/a

I tried it by substituting the value of x everywhere For once that is making the problem lengthy, secondly I got stuck . Can anybody help please?

Theory:
Assume the equation to be A$$x^2$$ + Bx + C = 0
The minimum value of this equation is found by differentiating it once and putting = 0
Hence 2Ax + B = 0
Therefore the minimum value of this equation will be at x = $$\frac{-B}{{2A}}$$

Coming back to the problem, if we compare x^2 + ax + b with A$$x^2$$ + Bx + C = 0
we have A = 1, B = a and C = b

Therefore the minimum value will be at x = -a/2*1 = -a/2

Option C
Intern
Joined: 20 Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Concentration: Finance, Human Resources
GRE 1: Q163 V152
Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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12 Jan 2016, 22:45
Given that:
y=x^2+ax+b.
differentiate this equation and equate to zero.
d(y)/d(x)=2x+a.....1
equate it to zero.
2x+a=0.
x=-a/2.
Intern
Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Posts: 28
Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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12 Jan 2016, 23:28
thanks everyone. the Parabola logic makes it look so simple
Intern
Joined: 01 Sep 2016
Posts: 29
Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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15 Sep 2016, 02:16
1
The minimum value of this equation is found by differentiating it once and putting = 0
Hence 2Ax + B = 0
how did you reach to 2Ax+B=0.Pls explain in detail.srt for the troube
Manager
Joined: 17 May 2015
Posts: 249
Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:  [#permalink]

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18 Feb 2017, 04:52
shreyashid wrote:
If y = x^2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:

a) a/b
b) -a/b
c) -a/2
d) -b/2
e) b/a

I tried it by substituting the value of x everywhere For once that is making the problem lengthy, secondly I got stuck . Can anybody help please?

Hi,

We can use the method of completing the square to solve this problem.
\begin{align*} y &= x^{2} + ax +b\\ &= x^{2} + 2\times x \times \frac{a}{2} + \left(\frac{a}{2}\right)^{2} + b - \left(\frac{a}{2}\right)^{2}\\ &= \left( x + \frac{a}{2} \right)^{2} + b - \left(\frac{a}{2}\right)^{2} \end{align*}

The above expression will have minimum value at $$x = -\frac{a}{2}$$.

Thanks.
Re: If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is: &nbs [#permalink] 18 Feb 2017, 04:52
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# If y = x2 + ax + b, y is minimum when x is:

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