Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Quadratic Function
A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, typically expressed in the form ƒ(x) = ax² + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants. The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola, which can open upwards or downwards depending on the sign of 'a'. Understanding the general form is essential for defining specific quadratic functions based on given intercepts.
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X-Intercepts
X-intercepts are the points where a function crosses the x-axis, meaning the output (y-value) is zero. For a quadratic function, if the x-intercepts are known, they can be used to express the function in factored form as ƒ(x) = a(x - r1)(x - r2), where r1 and r2 are the x-intercepts. In this case, the x-intercepts (1, 0) and (-2, 0) will help in constructing the quadratic function.
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Y-Intercept
The y-intercept is the point where a function crosses the y-axis, which occurs when the input (x-value) is zero. For a quadratic function, knowing the y-intercept allows us to determine the constant term 'c' in the standard form. In this question, the y-intercept (0, 4) indicates that when x = 0, the function value is 4, providing a crucial piece of information for defining the quadratic function.
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