Solve the Quadratic Inequality: When is -4x² - 12 Positive?

Question

Look at the function below:

y=4x212 y=-4x^2-12

Determine for which values of x x the following is true:

f\left(x\right) > 0

Step-by-Step Solution

The goal is to find the values of x x for which f(x)>0 f(x) > 0 given y=4x212 y = -4x^2 - 12 . Start by analyzing the equation y=4x212 y = -4x^2 - 12 .

Since the quadratic term is negative (a=4 a = -4 ), the parabola opens downwards. This means the maximum point of the parabola (its vertex) is at the top.

Find the vertex using the formula for the x x -coordinate of the vertex, x=b2a x = -\frac{b}{2a} . Here, b=0 b = 0 , so the vertex is at x=0 x = 0 .

Calculate y y -value at the vertex:
y=4(0)212=12 y = -4(0)^2 - 12 = -12 .

This evaluation confirms y=12 y = -12 , which is less than 0 at the vertex.

Since the entire parabola opens downward and the highest point y y achieves is still negative (12 -12 ), the function is never greater than 0 at any point.

No x x values satisfy y>0 y > 0 . Therefore, no values of x x make the quadratic positive.

Thus, the answer is: No values of x x .

Answer

No values of x x