Solve y = -0.9x²: Finding Values Where Function is Positive

Question

Given the function:

y=0.9x2 y=-0.9x^2

Determine for which values of x f(x) > 0 holds

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's apply the analysis and reasoning as follows:

Step 1: Analyze the function y=0.9x2 y = -0.9x^2 . This is a quadratic function of the form ax2 ax^2 where a=0.9 a = -0.9 . Since a<0 a < 0 , the parabola opens downwards.

Step 2: Consider the values of y y . For a parabola opening downwards, the peak (vertex) is at its maximum, and from this point, the parabola decreases, stretching indefinitely in the negative direction of y y .

Step 3: Determine the maximum value. In the quadratic function y=0.9x2 y = -0.9x^2 , the vertex at x=0 x = 0 gives the maximum value of y y , which is y=0 y = 0 since y=0.9×02=0 y = -0.9 \times 0^2 = 0 .

Step 4: Examine the entire function's range. Since beyond the vertex y=0 y = 0 , the values of y y are strictly negative, there are no values of x x for which f(x)>0 f(x) > 0 .

Conclusion: Because the function y=0.9x2 y = -0.9x^2 has its only non-negative point at x=0 x = 0 (where it equals zero) and decreases for all other values of x x , there are no x x -values that make the function positive (i.e., f(x)>0 f(x) > 0 is never true). Therefore, no x x satisfies the condition f(x)>0 f(x) > 0 .

The correct choice is 3: No x.

Answer

x0 x\ne0