How do I create a quadratic equation that passes through the points (-1,2),(1,7),(4,5)?

y = a x ^ 2 + b x + c

In this case:

For x = - 1 , y = 2

2 = a ( - 1 ) ^ 2 + b ( - 1 ) + c

a - b + c = 2

For x = 1 , y = 7

7 = a ( 1 ) ^ 2 + b 1 + c

a + b + c = 7

For x = 4 , y = 5

5 = a ( 4 ) ^ 2 + b 4 + c

16 a + 4 b + c = 5

So you must solve system of 3 equations :

a - b + c = 2

a + b + c = 7

16 a + 4 b + c = 5

The exact solutions are :

a = - 19 / 30

b = 5 / 2

and

c = 77 / 15

y = ( - 19 / 30 ) x ^ 2 + ( 5 / 2 )x + 77 / 15

To create a quadratic equation that passes through the given points (-1,2), (1,7), and (4,5), you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Start with the general form of a quadratic equation:
y = ax^2 + bx + c

Step 2: Substitute each of the given points into the equation to create a system of equations. Using (-1,2) gives:
2 = a(-1)^2 + b(-1) + c
which simplifies to:
2 = a - b + c (Equation 1)

Using (1,7) gives:
7 = a(1)^2 + b(1) + c
which simplifies to:
7 = a + b + c (Equation 2)

Using (4,5) gives:
5 = a(4)^2 + b(4) + c
which simplifies to:
5 = 16a + 4b + c (Equation 3)

Step 3: Solve this system of equations to find the values of a, b, and c.

First, subtract Equation 1 from Equation 2 to eliminate c:
7 - 2 = a + b + c - (a - b + c)
5 = 2b (Equation 4)

Next, subtract Equation 1 from Equation 3 to eliminate c:
5 - 2 = 16a + 4b + c - (a - b + c)
3 = 15a + 5b (Equation 5)

Step 4: Solve Equation 4 for b:
5 = 2b
b = 2.5

Step 5: Substitute the value of b into Equation 5 to solve for a:
3 = 15a + 5(2.5)
3 = 15a + 12.5
-9.5 = 15a
a = -9.5/15
a = -0.6333

Step 6: Substitute the values of a and b into Equation 1 to solve for c:
2 = (-0.6333) - 2.5 + c
2 = -3.1333 + c
c = 2 + 3.1333
c = 5.1333

Step 7: Substitute the values of a, b, and c into the general quadratic equation form to get the final equation:
y = (-0.6333)x^2 + (2.5)x + 5.1333

So, the quadratic equation that passes through the given points is y = (-0.6333)x^2 + (2.5)x + 5.1333.