Answer:
m(u) = -0.25(u +2)² +1 or -0.25u² -u
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation is fairly easily written in vertex form, as the vertex point is on a grid line intersection at (-2, 1). The parabola opens downward, so the scale factor is negative.
The vertical change from the vertex is only a fraction of a unit when u differs from the vertex by 1. It is 1 unit when u differs from the vertex by 2, so the magnitude of the vertical scale factor is 1/2² = 1/4.
Our equation will be of the form ...
m(u) = (vertical scale factor)(u - (horizontal vertex location))² + (vertical vertex location)
For this graph, the equation is ...
m(u) = -0.25(u +2)² +1
or, simplifying, we get ...
m(u) = -0.25u² -u
