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Advanced Math / Nonlinear functions Difficulty: Hard

Function f is a quadratic function where f-20=0 and f-4=0. The graph of y=fx in the xy-plane has a vertex at r,-64. What is the value of r ?

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Explanation

The correct answer is -12. It’s given that function f is a quadratic function where f(-20)=0 and f(-4)=0. It follows that the graph of y=f(x) in the xy-plane passes through the points (-20,0) and (-4,0). When the graph of a quadratic function contains two points (a,0) and (b,0), the x-coordinate of the vertex of the graph is the average of a and b. Therefore, the x-coordinate of the vertex of the graph of y=f(x) is -20+-42, or -12. It's given that the graph of y=f(x) in the xy-plane has a vertex at (r,-64). It follows that the value of r is -12.