A line y=cy = c reflects the quadratic y=x2−4x+7y = x^2 - 4x + 7 to yield y=−x2+4x+1y = -x^2 + 4x + 1. Find cc and the vertex of the new parabola.

Answer: The value of cc is 44 and the vertex of the new parabola is (2,5)(2, 5).

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Find the vertex of the original parabola

To find the vertex of a parabola in the form y=ax2+bx+dy = ax^2 + bx + d, we use the formula for the xx -coordinate of the vertex, xv=−b2ax_v = -\frac{b}{2a}. For the given parabola y=x2−4x+7y = x^2 - 4x + 7, we have a=1a = 1 and b=−4b = -4.

Step 2: Calculate the vertex of the original parabola

Substitute a=1a = 1 and b=−4b = -4 into the formula to get xv=−−42(1)=2x_v = -\frac{-4}{2(1)} = 2. Then, substitute xv=2x_v = 2 back into the original equation to find the yy -coordinate of the vertex: yv=(2)2−4(2)+7=4−8+7=3y_v = (2)^2 - 4(2) + 7 = 4 - 8 + 7 = 3. So, the vertex of the original parabola is (2,3)(2, 3).

Step 3: Find the vertex of the new parabola

Similarly, for the new parabola y=−x2+4x+1y = -x^2 + 4x + 1, we have a=−1a = -1 and b=4b = 4. The xx -coordinate of its vertex is xv′=−42(−1)=2x_v' = -\frac{4}{2(-1)} = 2. Substituting xv′=2x_v' = 2 into the new equation gives yv′=−(2)2+4(2)+1=−4+8+1=5y_v' = -(2)^2 + 4(2) + 1 = -4 + 8 + 1 = 5. So, the vertex of the new parabola is (2,5)(2, 5).

Step 4: Determine the line of reflection

When a parabola is reflected across a horizontal line y=cy = c, the xx -coordinate of its vertex remains the same, while the yy -coordinate changes. The line of reflection y=cy = c is exactly halfway between the yy -coordinates of the original vertex and the new vertex. Therefore, cc is the midpoint of the yy -coordinates of the two vertices.

Step 5: Calculate the value of c

Using the yy -coordinates of the original vertex (2,3)(2, 3) and the new vertex (2,5)(2, 5), we calculate c=3+52=82=4c = \frac{3 + 5}{2} = \frac{8}{2} = 4.

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