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Matrices

This document explains how to use matrices to find the equation of a quadratic model by solving a system of three equations. It outlines the process of setting up two matrices from the coefficients and constants of the equations, and provides instructions for using a graphing calculator to find the solutions. The document encourages practicing this method with specific problems from a worksheet packet.

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meitimothy07
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6 views3 pages

Matrices

This document explains how to use matrices to find the equation of a quadratic model by solving a system of three equations. It outlines the process of setting up two matrices from the coefficients and constants of the equations, and provides instructions for using a graphing calculator to find the solutions. The document encourages practicing this method with specific problems from a worksheet packet.

Uploaded by

meitimothy07
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using Matrices to Find the Equation of a Quadratic Model

Remember from your last notes that you need 3 points to get the equation of a
quadratic function. As you work through the “Quadratic Models” Worksheet Packet, you
will set up the 3-equation system just like you did on the last homework assignment.
However, I want to give you a quicker way to solve the system than using elimination.

This method uses matrices and your graphing calculator. Below is a brief introduction
on matrices and how we can use them to solve these 3 variable systems. I am just
going to show you how to get the solutions to the 3-equation system. If you want to
read more about why the following works, you can read Section 3.8 in your
textbook.

First, What is a matrix? (the plural is matrices)

We are going to turn our 3 equation systems into 2 matrices. Below is a sample system
similar to the ones you set up on the last assignment.

One matrix will have all the coefficients from the left side of the equations, and the other
matrix will have all the constants from the right side of the equations.

A= B=

3x3 3x1
We then need to get these 2 matrices into the calculator.
The following are instructions for the TI-83 / TI-84.
I will show you how to use the TI-inspire in class.

Now, we need to tell the calculator to multiply the “inverse of Matrix A” times “Matrix B”.
7, 1.5, and 20 are the solutions to the 3-equation system.
Try this method with pg.313 (35) from the last assignment.
( – 1, 9) , (1, 1), (3, 17)

⎡1 −1 1⎤ ⎡9 ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
A = ⎢1 1 1⎥ B =⎢1 ⎥
⎢⎣9 3 1⎥⎦ ⎢⎣17 ⎥⎦

⎡3⎤
€ € ⎢ ⎥
Solution from your calculator should be = ⎢−4 ⎥ giving us the equation:
⎢⎣ 2 ⎥⎦

€
You can use this method on the “Quadratic Models” worksheet packet. Make sure you
find the three points first before doing the rest.

Good Luck!

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