Analyze the Domain: Positive & Negative Intervals of y=-x²+3/4x-2

Question

Find the positive and negative domains of the following function:

y=x2+34x2 y=-x^2+\frac{3}{4}x-2

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's begin by finding the roots of the quadratic function y=x2+34x2 y = -x^2 + \frac{3}{4}x - 2 . This will help us determine the intervals where the function is positive or negative.

The coefficients of the quadratic are a=1 a = -1 , b=34 b = \frac{3}{4} , and c=2 c = -2 . Applying the quadratic formula:

x=b±b24ac2a x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

Substitute in the values:

x=34±(34)24(1)(2)2(1) x = \frac{-\frac{3}{4} \pm \sqrt{\left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^2 - 4(-1)(-2)}}{2(-1)} x=34±91682 x = \frac{-\frac{3}{4} \pm \sqrt{\frac{9}{16} - 8}}{-2}

Calculate inside the square root:

9168=91612816=11916 \frac{9}{16} - 8 = \frac{9}{16} - \frac{128}{16} = \frac{-119}{16}

The discriminant b24ac b^2 - 4ac is negative (11916\frac{-119}{16}), indicating there are no real roots. Therefore, the quadratic function doesn't intersect the x-axis.

Since the parabola is downward (the coefficient of x2 x^2 is negative), it is negative for all xR x \in \mathbb{R} .

We conclude that:

  • The function y y does not have a positive domain for any real x x .
  • The function y y is negative for all x x .

Therefore, the positive and negative domains, based on choices given, are:

x>0 x > 0 : none

x<0 x < 0 : all x x

Answer

x > 0 : none

x < 0 : all x x