Find Coefficients in y=2x²-3x-6: Quadratic Equation Analysis

Quadratic Coefficients with Standard Form

Identify the coefficients based on the following equation

y=2x23x6 y=2x^2-3x-6

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find the function coefficients
00:03 We'll use the formula to represent a quadratic equation
00:11 We'll separate the variable from the coefficient
00:27 We'll compare the formula to our equation and find the coefficients
00:37 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Identify the coefficients based on the following equation

y=2x23x6 y=2x^2-3x-6

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Identify the given quadratic function.
  • Match it with the standard form of a quadratic equation y=ax2+bx+cy = ax^2 + bx + c.
  • Extract the values of aa, bb, and cc directly from the comparison.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The given quadratic function is y=2x23x6y = 2x^2 - 3x - 6.
Step 2: The standard form of a quadratic equation is y=ax2+bx+cy = ax^2 + bx + c.
Step 3: By matching the given quadratic function with the standard form:

- The coefficient of x2x^2 is 22, so a=2a = 2.
- The coefficient of xx is 3-3, so b=3b = -3.
- The constant term is 6-6, so c=6c = -6.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is a=2a = 2, b=3b = -3, c=6c = -6.

3

Final Answer

a=2,b=3,c=6 a=2,b=-3,c=-6

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Standard Form: Match y=ax2+bx+c y = ax^2 + bx + c exactly
  • Technique: Read coefficients directly: 2x23x6 2x^2 - 3x - 6 gives a=2, b=-3, c=-6
  • Check: Verify each coefficient matches its position in standard form ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Confusing coefficient positions or forgetting negative signs
    Don't assume a=-6, b=3, c=2 by reading constants left to right = wrong coefficient assignment! This ignores the actual position and sign of each term. Always match each coefficient to its exact position: a with x², b with x, c as the constant term.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

What is the value of the coefficient \( b \) in the equation below?

\( 3x^2+8x-5 \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is b = -3 and not 3?

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The coefficient includes the sign in front of it! Since we have 3x -3x , the coefficient b equals negative 3, not positive 3.

What if the equation isn't written in standard form?

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You might need to rearrange terms first! Always put the equation in ax2+bx+c ax^2 + bx + c order before identifying coefficients.

Can any of the coefficients be zero?

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Yes! If there's no x x term, then b = 0. If there's no constant, then c = 0. But if a = 0, it's not a quadratic equation anymore!

How do I remember which coefficient is which?

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Think alphabetically: 'a' goes with the highest power (x2 x^2 ), 'b' with the middle power (x x ), and 'c' with no variable (constant).

What if the x² term comes last in the equation?

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The position in the equation doesn't matter - only the power of x! The coefficient of x2 x^2 is always 'a', regardless of where it appears.

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