In Exercises 1–4, use the vertex and intercepts to sketch the graph of each quadratic function. Give the equation for the parabola's axis of symmetry. Use the graph to determine the function's domain and range. f(x) = (x + 4)^2 - 2

Key Concepts

Vertex of a Quadratic Function

The vertex of a quadratic function is the highest or lowest point on the graph, depending on the direction of the parabola. For the function f(x) = (x + 4)^2 - 2, the vertex can be found directly from the vertex form of a quadratic equation, which is f(x) = a(x - h)^2 + k, where (h, k) is the vertex. In this case, the vertex is at (-4, -2).

Axis of Symmetry

The axis of symmetry for a quadratic function is a vertical line that divides the parabola into two mirror-image halves. It can be determined using the formula x = h, where h is the x-coordinate of the vertex. For the given function, the axis of symmetry is x = -4, indicating that the parabola is symmetric about this line.

Domain and Range of Quadratic Functions

The domain of a quadratic function is the set of all possible x-values, which is typically all real numbers for parabolas. The range, however, depends on the vertex; if the parabola opens upwards, the range starts from the y-coordinate of the vertex to positive infinity. For f(x) = (x + 4)^2 - 2, the domain is all real numbers, while the range is [-2, ∞) since the vertex is the minimum point.