Find the positive and negative domains of the function below:
y=−(x−94)2+1
The function given is y=−(x−94)2+1, which is a downward-opening parabola because the coefficient of the squared term (a=−1) is negative.
The vertex form tells us the vertex of the parabola is at (94,1).
The function will be zero where −(x−94)2+1=0. Solving this equation, we set:
−(x−94)2+1=0
(x−94)2=1
Taking the square root of both sides gives:
x−94=±1
Thus, x=94+1=913 and x=94−1=−95.
These are the roots of the quadratic, splitting the domain into three intervals: (−∞,−95), (−95,913), and (913,∞).
We need to test the sign of y in each interval:
- For x<−95, choose a test point like x=−1. Substituting into the function yields a negative value, hence the function is negative in this interval.
- For −95<x<913, choose a test point like x=0. Substituting into the function yields a positive value, hence the function is positive in this interval.
- For x>913, choose a test point like x=2. Substituting into the function yields a negative value, hence the function is negative in this interval.
After analyzing these intervals, the function is positive for −95<x<913 and negative otherwise.
Therefore, the positive and negative domains of the function are as follows:
x>913 or x<0:x<−95
x>0:−95<x<913
x > \frac{13}{9} or x < 0 : x < -\frac{5}{9}
x > 0 : -\frac{5}{9} < x < \frac{13}{9}