HOPE Charter School Thursday, February 12, 2009

2009 PSSA Boot Camp

PSSA Math Reporting Categories:

A Numbers and Operations
B Measurement
C Geometry
√ D Algebraic Concepts
E Data Analysis and Probability

SOLUTIONS
Name (legibly printed): _______________________________________________

Seminar (circle one): Ackerman Beals Capers Harvey Hickson

Instructions:
• Place your solution into box in front of main office by end of 4th period today.
• Winner will be announced during 6th period lunch today. Winner will be randomly
selected from all entries, but the answer must be correct and justified (SHOW WORK OR
EXPLAIN).
• Link with questions and solutions posted at http://hopecharter.blogspot.com

What are the coordinates of the vertex of the parabola with the equation
y  x2  8x  5
A  4,11
B  4, 11
C  0,5 
D  6, 7 

Solutions:
y  x2  8x  5
The standard form of a quadratic equation is
y  ax 2  bx  c
So a  1, b  8, c  5

Solution 1 – knowing the vertex formula:

The formula for the vertex of a parabola is
 b 
V   Vx , Vy     , f  Vx  
 2a 
b
Vx  
2a
8
Vx  
2  1
Vx  4
Note that the only answer with x = 4 is answer B.
If there were more than one answer with x = 4, we would need to solve for y of the vertex, Vy
Vy  f  Vx 
Vy  42  8  4   5
Vy  16  32  5
Vy  11
  Vx , Vy    4, 11  Correct answer is B.

Solution 2 – graphical solution (graphing calculator, TI-83 & TI-84 family):

Solution 3 – graphical solution (computer software, here using Mathematica software):

y
25

20

15

10

x
 2 2 4 6 8 10
 5

 10
Solution 4 – Calculus – derivatives for minimum or maximum (here using Mathematica
software):

The vertex of a parabola is at the minimum if the parabola opens up

The vertex of a parabola is at the maximum if the parabola opens down.
For this particular quadratic equation, y  x 2  8 x  5 , note that a  1 , which means the parabola
opens up, that the parabola has a minimum at the vertex.

In Calculus, the first derivative set to zero indicates a minimum or a maximum.

Using alternative syntax: