Question

The power generated by an electrical circuit (in watts) as a function of its current c (in amperes) is modeled by: P(c) = -12c^2 + 120c What is the maximum power generated by the circuit? _____ watts

Answer 1

Answer:

The maximum power generated by the circuit is 300 watts.

Step-by-step explanation:

A quadratic function is one that can be written as an equation of the form:

f (x) = ax² + bx + c

where a, b and c (called terms) are any real numbers and a is nonzero.

In this case, f(x) is P(c) [the power generated], x is the current c (in amperes), a = -12, b = 120 and c = 0.

The vertex is a point that is part of the parabola, which has the value as ordered  minimum or maximum function. If the scalar a> 0, the parabola opens or faces up and the vertex is the minimum of the function. In contrast, if a <0, the parabola opens downward and the vertex is the maximum of the function.

The calculation of the vertex, which in this case will be the maximum of the function, is carried out as follows:

• The value of x, in this case the value of current c in amperes, can be calculated with the formula $c=\frac{-b}{2*a}$ . In this case: $c=\frac{-120}{2*(-12)}$ So c= 5 amperes. The current is 5 amperes.
• The value of y, in this case the value of the electric current in watts, is obtained by substituting the value of c previously obtained in the function. In this case: P(5)= -12*5²+120*5. So P(5)= 300 watts

The maximum power generated by the circuit is 300 watts.