Optimization

Revision as of 11:14, 15 May 2014 by WoweeG (talk | contribs) (Formula)

The optimization of a quadratic equation is the process to find the maximum or minimum of said quadratic.

Process

It involves converting a quadratic to the standard form $a(x-h)^2+k$ by completing the square, then applying the Trivial Inequality. Then the maximum or minimum (it depends on which way the graph of the quadratic is facing) is $k$.

"Formula"

To optimize a quadratic, one might use the method described above, or one could use this other, smoother, method:

If $a>0$, then the quadratic $ax^2+bx+c=0$ reaches its minimum when $x=-\frac{b}{2a}$, while when $a<0$, the quadratic reaches its maximum when $x=-\frac{b}{2a}$.