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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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10 Dec 2010, 10:03
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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point (0,y). Is y < 0 ?

(1) The vertex of parabola is (2,-5)
(2) The parabola intersects with axis-x at point (-2,0) and (6,0)
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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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10 Dec 2010, 12:52
aalriy
In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point (0,y). Is y<0.

I. The vertex of parabola is (2,-5)
II. The parabola intersects with axis-x at point (-2,0) and (6,0)
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Though it's possible to solve this question algebraically the easiest way will be to visualize it and draw on a paper.

(1) The vertex of parabola is (2,-5) --> the vertex is in the IV quadrant: if the parabola is downward it'll have negative y-intercept, but if it's upward then it can have positive as well as negative y-intercept. Not sufficient.

(2) The parabola intersects with axis-x at point (-2,0) and (6,0) --> now if the vertex is above x-axis then parabola will have positive y-intercept and if its vertex is below x-axis it'll have negative y-intercept. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) As from (1) the vertex is below x-axis then from (2) we'll have that parabola must have negative y-intercept. Sufficient.

You can look at the diagram below to see that a parabola passing through the given three points must have negative y-intercept only.
Attachment:
MSP139819db6ebe95a9e2a900005889a632a09g5628.gif
MSP139819db6ebe95a9e2a900005889a632a09g5628.gif [ 3.25 KiB | Viewed 17235 times ]

Answer: C.

Hope it's clear.

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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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20 Oct 2011, 21:12
Thanks Bunuel for the explanation,
I was thinking since option B gives us (-2,0) and (6,0) vertices, with this we can assume that the parabola is directed upwards and it's Y intersect will be -ve and hence sufficient, but
after reading your explanation I understand it better :)
1+ Kudos to you.
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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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27 Jun 2013, 21:30
Bumping for review and further discussion*. Get a kudos point for an alternative solution!

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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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27 Oct 2013, 23:40
Hi Bunuel

What is wrong in the following approach

1) Insufficient
The vertex of parabola is (2,-5) --> the vertex is in the IV quadrant: if the parabola is downward it'll have negative y-intercept, but if it's upward then it can have positive as well as negative y-intercept. Not sufficient

I was thinking from option 2 we can find the product of the roots and sum of the roots
product of roots = c/a = -12

and sum of roots = -b/a = 4

hence come up with an equation y = x^2-4x-12

and from the question stem we have that it intercepts at 0,y

Putting x = 0 we get y = -12 (negative) and B alone is sufficient .
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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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28 Oct 2013, 00:13
sr2013
Hi Bunuel

What is wrong in the following approach

1) Insufficient
The vertex of parabola is (2,-5) --> the vertex is in the IV quadrant: if the parabola is downward it'll have negative y-intercept, but if it's upward then it can have positive as well as negative y-intercept. Not sufficient

I was thinking from option 2 we can find the product of the roots and sum of the roots
product of roots = c/a = -12

and sum of roots = -b/a = 4

hence come up with an equation y = x^2-4x-12

and from the question stem we have that it intercepts at 0,y

Putting x = 0 we get y = -12 (negative) and B alone is sufficient .
Show more

How did you get y=x^2-4x-12 from c/a=-12 and -b/a=4? You cannot solve c/a=-12 and -b/a=4 to get unique values of a, b, and c.

For example if a=2, c=-12, and b=-4 you'll get 2x^2-24x-8=0:
Attachment:
MSP2141ga1ih773ii7e3di00002h2000h2fiibia6c.gif
MSP2141ga1ih773ii7e3di00002h2000h2fiibia6c.gif [ 3.51 KiB | Viewed 15333 times ]

If a=-1, c=12, and b=4 you'll get -x^2+4x+12=0:
Attachment:
MSP24971d0ia65iig79i4gg000037eb4cg662i7adih.gif
MSP24971d0ia65iig79i4gg000037eb4cg662i7adih.gif [ 3.44 KiB | Viewed 15368 times ]

Or in other words infinitely many parabolas have x intercepts at -2 and 6. You cannot get unique equation only from that info.

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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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15 Oct 2014, 00:53
Bunuel
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Hi Bunuel

What is wrong in the following approach

1) Insufficient
The vertex of parabola is (2,-5) --> the vertex is in the IV quadrant: if the parabola is downward it'll have negative y-intercept, but if it's upward then it can have positive as well as negative y-intercept. Not sufficient

I was thinking from option 2 we can find the product of the roots and sum of the roots
product of roots = c/a = -12

and sum of roots = -b/a = 4

hence come up with an equation y = x^2-4x-12

and from the question stem we have that it intercepts at 0,y

Putting x = 0 we get y = -12 (negative) and B alone is sufficient .

How did you get y=x^2-4x-12 from c/a=-12 and -b/a=4? You cannot solve c/a=-12 and -b/a=4 to get unique values of a, b, and c.

For example if a=2, c=-12, and b=-4 you'll get 2x^2-24x-8=0:
Attachment:
MSP2141ga1ih773ii7e3di00002h2000h2fiibia6c.gif

If a=-1, c=12, and b=4 you'll get -x^2+4x+12=0:
Attachment:
MSP24971d0ia65iig79i4gg000037eb4cg662i7adih.gif

Or in other words infinitely many parabolas have x intercepts at -2 and 6. You cannot get unique equation only from that info.
Show more


Hi Bunuel

I have tried solving it using standard expressions for parabola
For parabola y= ax2+ bx+ c, standard vertex is located at point (-\frac{b}{2a}, c-\frac{b^2}{4a}).

From a) we know the value of vertex as (2,-5)
by putting the value in standard vertex we can get c=-4
it is also given in the question stem that parabola intersects y axis at (0,y)
from this we can get the value of y as -4. which is sufficient to answer the question.

Please let me know whats wrong with this approach.
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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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15 Oct 2014, 01:59
kd1989
Bunuel
sr2013
Hi Bunuel

What is wrong in the following approach

1) Insufficient
The vertex of parabola is (2,-5) --> the vertex is in the IV quadrant: if the parabola is downward it'll have negative y-intercept, but if it's upward then it can have positive as well as negative y-intercept. Not sufficient

I was thinking from option 2 we can find the product of the roots and sum of the roots
product of roots = c/a = -12

and sum of roots = -b/a = 4

hence come up with an equation y = x^2-4x-12

and from the question stem we have that it intercepts at 0,y

Putting x = 0 we get y = -12 (negative) and B alone is sufficient .

How did you get y=x^2-4x-12 from c/a=-12 and -b/a=4? You cannot solve c/a=-12 and -b/a=4 to get unique values of a, b, and c.

For example if a=2, c=-12, and b=-4 you'll get 2x^2-24x-8=0:
Attachment:
MSP2141ga1ih773ii7e3di00002h2000h2fiibia6c.gif

If a=-1, c=12, and b=4 you'll get -x^2+4x+12=0:
Attachment:
MSP24971d0ia65iig79i4gg000037eb4cg662i7adih.gif

Or in other words infinitely many parabolas have x intercepts at -2 and 6. You cannot get unique equation only from that info.


Hi Bunuel

I have tried solving it using standard expressions for parabola
For parabola y= ax2+ bx+ c, standard vertex is located at point (-\frac{b}{2a}, c-\frac{b^2}{4a}).

From a) we know the value of vertex as (2,-5)
by putting the value in standard vertex we can get c=-4
it is also given in the question stem that parabola intersects y axis at (0,y)
from this we can get the value of y as -4. which is sufficient to answer the question.

Please let me know whats wrong with this approach.
Show more


The post you are quoting has an answer to your question. You cannot solve for c.

P.S. Please read this: rules-for-posting-please-read-this-before-posting-133935.html#p1096628 (Writing Mathematical Formulas on the Forum)

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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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12 May 2016, 19:55
ruchi857
In the xy plane,a parabola intersects with axis-y at point (0,y). is y<0?

1. The vertex of the parabola is (2,-5)
2. The parabola intersects with axis X at point (-2,0) and (6,0)
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A parabola has a vertex and a similar curve on both sides..
the vertex can be MIN or MAX value depending on the way parabola opens up...

1. The vertex of the parabola is (2,-5)
we know vertex lies below the x-axis, but --
a) if it opens upwards- the intersect with y-axis can be either below x-axis or above it..
b) if it opens downwards- the intersect with y-axis will be below x-axis ..
Insuff

2. The parabola intersects with axis X at point (-2,0) and (6,0)
we know vertex would lie at (-2+6)/2 = 2 as x, BUT we cannot determine if VERTEX is above or below x-axis..
whereever vertex lies, the intersect will lie on that point ..
since the curve moves from 2 to -2 in that Quadrant -

a) if it opens upwards- the intersect with y-axis will be below x axis, as the vertex will be below x-axis..
b) if it opens downwards- the intersect with y-axis will be above x-axis, as the vertex will be above x-axis ..

combined-
statement I tells us that the vertex is below the x-axis and statement II tells us that if vertex is below x- axis the intersect is also below x-axis..
so y<0..
Suff
C

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In the xy-plane, a parabola intersects with axis-y at point
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22 Nov 2023, 04:08
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