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#1 2005-12-14 07:31:48
- sarah
- Guest
second order functions
Hey guys.
This might seem like a very silly question, but oh well: what is the significance of the number b in x2 + bx?
thank yooo
#3 2005-12-14 07:50:55
- MathsIsFun
- Administrator
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Re: second order functions
It just means you multiply x times b
So, if you knew that b was, say, 12, then you would have:
x^2 + 12 × x
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#4 2005-12-14 08:33:37
- Ricky
- Moderator
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Re: second order functions
if the equation is x^2 + bx = 0, then b is the negative location of the second root (the first being 0). In other words, -b is a root of the equation.
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#5 2005-12-14 09:28:37
- John E. Franklin
- Star Member
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Re: second order functions
The larger b is, then the parabola is bent more upward as you go right?
Just a guess.
If b is negative then the parabola is bent more downward as you go right?
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#6 2005-12-14 11:06:20
- mathsyperson
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Re: second order functions
You're thinking of when it is something like bx².
When it is x² + bx, the graph shifts more to the left as b increases and more downward as |b| increases.
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It wanted to be normal.