To write a verbal description from a given table, you would use the distinctive critical attributes in your description:
x |
y |
Critical attribute |
-2 |
10 |
|
-1 |
0 |
x-intercept |
0 |
-6 |
y-intercept |
1 |
-8 |
Vertex (minimum) |
2 |
-6 |
Symmetric point |
3 |
0 |
x-intercept |
4 |
10 |
A. The quadratic function has zeros (x-intercepts) at -1 and 3, and a minimum.
OR
B. The quadratic function has a y-intercept at (0, -6) and x-intercepts at (-1, 0) and (3, 0)
Answer A would give enough information to allow you to derive an equation or build a table that would come close to the exact graph.
Answer B gives enough information to write an exact equation such as we did in the exercise above. It takes three points to specify a parabola, so using the vertex and the x-intercepts or any other three points will give a specific equation.
Can you write a different verbal description of the given table? Go to your notes and write your response there.