Why is the y intercept for this equation positive? Rational function (

Shea Stuart

Shea Stuart

Answered question

2022-07-05

Why is the y intercept for this equation positive?
Rational function
( x + 1 ) ( 3 x + 2 ) ( x + 1 ) 2
I have found that the two asymptotes are: y = 3 and x = 1 and there are no turning points for this function.
To find the x intercept:
0 = ( x + 1 ) ( 3 x + 2 ) ( x + 1 ) 2
Hence
3 x 2 x 2 = 0
x 1 = 1       x 2 = 2 3
Simularly to find the y intercept I did the following:
( 0 + 1 ) ( 3 ( 0 ) + 2 ) ( 0 + 1 ) 2
y = 2
However plotting this into a graphing software shows that the y intercept is y = 2 and x intercept is only x = 2 3 and not x = 1.
Why are the intercepts incorrect?

Answer & Explanation

Jenna Farmer

Jenna Farmer

Beginner2022-07-06Added 17 answers

(1) ( x + 1 ) ( 3 x + 2 ) ( x + 1 ) 2 = 3 x + 2 x + 1
and that therefore the only zero of your function is located at 2 3 . On the other hand, if x = 0, then ( 1 ) is equal to 2.
Also, using your approach, there is no need to solve a quadratic equation using the quadratic formula, since ( 3 x + 2 ) ( x + 1 ) = 0 if and only if x = 2 3 or x = 1. And 1 does not belong to the domain of your function.

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