# Find the coordinates of the vertex for the parabola defined by the given quadratic function.

$\boldsymbol{ f ( x ) \ = \ 2 x^{ 2 } \ – \ 8 x \ + \ 3 }$

The aim of this question is to learn how to evaluate the vertex location of a parabola.

A U-shaped curve that follows the quadratic law (its equation is quadratic), is called a parabola. A parabola has a mirror like symmetry. The point on a parabolic curve that touches its symmetrical axis is called a vertex. Given a parabola of the form:

$f ( x ) \ = \ a x^{ 2 } \ + \ b x \ + \ c$

The x-coordinate of its vertex can be evaluated by using the following formula:

$h \ = \ \dfrac{ – b }{ 2a }$

Given that:

$f ( x ) \ = \ 2 x^{ 2 } \ – \ 8 x \ + \ 3$

Comparing with the standard form of quadratic equation, we can conclude that:

$a \ = \ 2$

$b \ = \ -8$

$c \ = \ 3$

Recall the standard formula for the x-coordinate of the vertex of a parabola:

$h \ = \ \dfrac{ – b }{ 2a }$

Substituting values:

$h \ = \ \dfrac{ – ( -8 ) }{ 2 ( 2 ) }$

$\Rightarrow h \ = \ \dfrac{ 8 }{ 4 }$

$\Rightarrow h \ = \ 2$

To find the y-coordinate, we simply evaluate the given equation of the parabola at x = 2. Recall:

$f ( x ) \ = \ 2 x^{ 2 } \ – \ 8 x \ + \ 3$

Substituting x = 2 in the above equation:

$f ( 2 ) \ = \ 2 ( 2 )^{ 2 } \ – \ 8 ( 2 ) \ + \ 3$

$\Rightarrow f ( 2 ) \ = \ 2 ( 4 ) \ – \ 8 ( 2 ) \ + \ 3$

$\Rightarrow f( 2 ) \ = \ 8 \ – \ 16 \ + \ 3$

$\Rightarrow f ( 2 ) \ = \ -5$

Hence, the vertex is located at (2, -5).

## Numerical Result

The vertex is located at (2, -5).

## Example

Given the following equation of a parabola, find the location of its vertex.

$\boldsymbol{ f ( x ) \ = \ x^{ 2 } \ – \ 2 x \ + \ 1 }$

For the x-coordinate of the vertex:

$h \ = \ \dfrac{ – ( -2 ) }{ 2 ( 1 ) }$

$\Rightarrow h \ = \ \dfrac{ 2 }{ 2 }$

$\Rightarrow h \ = \ 1$

To find the y-coordinate, we simply evaluate the given equation of the parabola at x = 1. Recall:

$f ( 2 ) \ = \ ( 1 )^{ 2 } \ – \ 2 ( 1 ) \ + \ 1$

$\Rightarrow f( 2 ) \ = \ 1 \ – \ 2 \ + \ 1$

$\Rightarrow f ( 2 ) \ = \ 0$

Hence, the vertex is located at (1, 0).