1954 AHSME Problems/Problem 42

Problem 42

Consider the graphs of $(1)\qquad y=x^2-\frac{1}{2}x+2$ and $(2)\qquad y=x^2+\frac{1}{2}x+2$ on the same set of axis. These parabolas are exactly the same shape. Then:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{the graphs coincide.}\\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{the graph of (1) is lower than the graph of (2).}\\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{the graph of (1) is to the left of the graph of (2).}\\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{the graph of (1) is to the right of the graph of (2).}\\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{the graph of (1) is higher than the graph of (2).}$

Solution 1

Let us consider the vertices of the two parabolas. The x-coordinate of parabola 1 is given by $\frac{\frac{1}{2}}{2} = \frac{1}{4}$ .

Similarly, the x-coordinate of parabola 2 is given by $\frac{\frac{-1}{2}}{2} = -\frac{1}{4}$ .

From this information, we can deduce that $\textbf{(D)}\ \text{the graph of (1) is to the right of the graph of (2).}$ , since the parabolas are the same shape.

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1954 AHSME Problems/Problem 42

Problem 42

Solution 1