16Hit1600
Advanced MathEasyGreatest value of a downward parabola

Advanced Math practice question

The function p is defined by p(x) = −x². What is the greatest value that p(x) can take?

Answer: 0

x² is at least 0, so −x² is at most 0, reached at x = 0.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 1
p(x) is never positive.
If you answered -1
−1 is p(1) or p(−1), not the maximum.
If you answered -0.5
p(x) is 0 at x = 0, which is greater than −0.5.

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