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Algebra 1

9.11.3 Comparing Maximums between Quadratics

Algebra 19.11.3 Comparing Maximums between Quadratics

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Activity

A function AA, defined by p(60075p)p(60075p), describes the revenue collected from the sales of tickets for Performance A, a musical.

The graph represents a function BB that models the revenue collected from the sales of tickets for Performance B, a Shakespearean comedy.

A parabola on a coordinate grid representing function B. The x-axis represents the ticket price in dollars and the y-axis represents the revenue in dollars. The x-axis scale is 1 and extends from 0 to 8. The y-axis scale is 100 and extends from 0 to 1,400.

In both functions, pp represents the price of one ticket, and both revenues and prices are measured in dollars.

1.

Without creating a graph of AA, determine which performance gives the greater maximum revenue when tickets are pp dollars each. Explain or show your reasoning.

Video: Comparing Maximums between Quadratics

Watch the following video to learn more about comparing maximums between quadratics.

Self Check

A function, defined by p(60060p)p(60060p), describes the revenue collected from the sales of tickets for a concert where pp is the price of one ticket. Find the maximum revenue, in dollars.

Additional Resources

Finding Maximum Revenue

The revenue brought in by a newspaper is modeled by R=p(2500p+159,000)R=p(2500p+159,000). Find the maximum revenue whereRR is revenue and pp is price per newspaper subscription.

Step 1 - Find the horizontal intercepts or xx-intercepts (where p=0p=0).

First intercept -

This occurs atp=0p=0 or (0,0)(0,0).

Second intercept -

2500p+159,000=02500p=159,000p=63.62500p+159,000=02500p=159,000p=63.6

Step 2 - Find the xx-coordinate of the vertex halfway through the horizontal intercepts.

The vertex (of a graph) will occur halfway between p=0p=0 and p=63.6p=63.6. This occurs when p=31.8p=31.8.

Step 3 - Write in the function in standard form and substitute p=31.8p=31.8.

R=2500p2+159,000pR=2500p2+159,000p

R=2500(31.8)2+159,000(31.8)R=2500(31.8)2+159,000(31.8)

The maximum revenue is at $2,528,100 with a $31.80 subscription.

A parabola on a coordinate grid. The vertex (31.80, 2,528.1) has been labeled on the parabola. The x-axis represents the price, p, in dollars and the y-axis represents the revenue in thousands of dollars. The x-axis scale is 1 and extends from 0 to 8. The y-axis scale is 500 and extends from 0 to 3,000.

Try it

Try It: Finding Maximum Revenue

Suppose that the price per unit in dollars of a cell phone production is modeled by p=$450.0125xp=$450.0125x, where xx is in thousands of phones produced, and the revenue represented by thousands of dollars is R=x·pR=x·p. Find the production level that will maximize revenue and the maximum revenue.

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