Answer:
The maximum possible number of mosquitoes is 25 millions
Step-by-step explanation:
Let
m(x) -----> the number of mosquitoes in Minneapolis, Minnesota (in millions of mosquitoes)
x ----> the rainfall in centimeters
we have
This is a quadratic equation (vertical parabola) open downward
The vertex is the maximum
we know that
The maximum possible number of mosquitoes is equal to the y-coordinate of the vertex
Find out the coordinate of the vertex
The general equation of a vertical parabola in vertex form is equal to
where
a is a coefficient
(h,k) is the vertex
so
In this problem
a=-1 (open downward)
(h,k)=(5,25)
The y-coordinate is 25
therefore
The maximum possible number of mosquitoes is 25 millions