Question

Explain how you could write a quadratic function in factored form that would have a vertex with an x-coordinate of 3 and two distinct roots.

Answer 1

The vertex lies on the axis of symmetry, so the axis of symmetry is x = 3. Find any two x-intercepts that are equal distance from the axis of symmetry. Use those x-intercepts to write factors of the function by subtracting their values from x. For example, 2 and 4 are each 1 unit from x = 3, so f(x) = (x – 2)(x – 4) is a possible function