Quadratics, i was good until here.

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The discussion revolves around finding a quadratic equation that fits three given points: A (0, 1), C (2, 6), and D (3, 10). The user initially struggles with setting up the equations, particularly with the first point, but eventually identifies that c = 1 from the equation a(0)^2 + b(0) + c = 1. After substituting c into the other equations, they derive a system of equations to solve for a and b. The conversation highlights the importance of correctly solving the system to obtain the quadratic model and notes that fitting a quadratic function to four points is not possible, suggesting the use of a cubic function instead. The user ultimately aims to clarify their understanding of the quadratic fitting process.
offtheleft
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im going to try to make this as short and easy to follow as possible haha

and I am just warning, this is probably so simple that i can't even grasp it because I am reading too deeply into it.

okay, I am working with these three points:
A (0, 1)<br /> C (2, 6)<br /> D (3, 10)

i worked them into three equations, the first one is killing me though!

a(0)^2 + b (0) + c = 1 this is the one I am having trouble with, i can't set it up properly because all i have is c = 1

i have for the other two:

C. . ., 4a + 2b +c = 6

D. . ., 9a + 3b + c = 10


now, in order to get my model for y = ax^2 + bx + c

how would i set this up, other than that I am doing alright..
 
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offtheleft said:
im going to try to make this as short and easy to follow as possible haha

and I am just warning, this is probably so simple that i can't even grasp it because I am reading too deeply into it.

okay, I am working with these three points:
A (0, 1)<br /> C (2, 6)<br /> D (3, 10)

i worked them into three equations, the first one is killing me though!

a(0)^2 + b (0) + c = 1 this is the one I am having trouble with, i can't set it up properly because all i have is c = 1

i have for the other two:

C. . ., 4a + 2b +c = 6

D. . ., 9a + 3b + c = 10now, in order to get my model for y = ax^2 + bx + c

how would i set this up, other than that I am doing alright..

Well from the first equation you have found that c=1, so just sub that into the following two equations and then you have a system of two equations in two variables (a and b). Why should the first one cause any trouble?
 
a(0)^2 + b (0) + c = 1&lt;br /&gt; this is the one I am having trouble with, i can&amp;#039;t set it up properly because all i have is &lt;br /&gt; c=1&lt;br /&gt; You SHOULD get a + 0 + c = 1&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Continue from there and you should have no trouble.
 
like i said, so simple that i can't eve grasp it.

thanks, ill see how it works out! :)
-------

i got:

y = \frac{1}{2}x^2 + 3x + 1
 
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symbolipoint said:
a(0)^2 + b (0) + c = 1
this is the one I am having trouble with, i can't set it up properly because all i have is
c=1
You SHOULD get a + 0 + c = 1
No, you shouldn't. 02= 0, not 1. c= 1 is correct.
 
HallsofIvy said:
No, you shouldn't. 02= 0, not 1. c= 1 is correct.

i used c = 1. I am quite confident that the answer i got(<br /> y = \frac{1}{2}x^2 + 3x + 1) is incorrect. when i plug in all the numbers, get the changes from the original y value and square it, i get all sorts of weird answers for this one. usually, its all 0's except for one value but that's not happening.
 
offtheleft said:
i used c = 1. I am quite confident that the answer i got(<br /> y = \frac{1}{2}x^2 + 3x + 1) is incorrect. when i plug in all the numbers, get the changes from the original y value and square it, i get all sorts of weird answers for this one. usually, its all 0's except for one value but that's not happening.

Perhaps you solved the system of equations incorrectly. Have a look at your working, and if you still can't figure it out, post your working here :smile:
 
danago said:
Perhaps you solved the system of equations incorrectly. Have a look at your working, and if you still can't figure it out, post your working here :smile:

okay, here's what we did in class:

four points;
A (0, 1)
B (1, 2)
C (2, 6)
D (3, 10

we went over (what I am sure everyone here, including my self, already know. its good to think about and keep fresh in my mind) how two points define a line and for a function such as a half of a parabola, (at least) three points are required.

for our first model, we chose points ABC.

i have three equations:

c =1
1a + 1b + c = 2
4a + 2b + c = 6

with that info, i don't know how i got from there to here(our first model):

\hat{y}_{1} = \frac{3}{2}x^2 - \frac{1}{2}x + 1

plug in all the numbers to get the residual (the problem i had last time, but now i can do it in my sleep).

heres what I am about to do, hopefully i can elaborate enough.

im going to plug in the numbers from all four points, not just the three that i am using for this model.
point A

\hat{y}_{1} = \frac{3}{2}(0)^2 - \frac{1}{2}(0) + 1 = 1

(y - \hat{y}_{1})^2 = 0 (the residual)

(0 - 0)^2 = 0



point B

\hat{y}_{1} = \frac{3}{2}(1)^2 - \frac{1}{2}(1) + 1 = 2

(y - \hat{y}_{1})^2 = 0 (the residual)

(2 - 2)^2 = 0



im posting this now and will continue immediately. this is just to be sure nothing happens and i have to redo the whole thing.
 
point C

\hat{y}_{1} = \frac{3}{2}(2)^2 - \frac{1}{2}(2) + 1 = 6

(y - \hat{y}_{1})^2 = 0

(0 - 0)^2 = 0



heres where it finally changes!


\hat{y}_{1} = \frac{3}{2}(3)^2 - \frac{1}{2}(3) + 1 = 13

(y - \hat{y}_{1})^2 = 9

(10 - 13)^2 = 0


so for model ABC

\hat{y}_{1} = \frac{3}{2}x^2 - \frac{1}{2}x + 1

\sum(y - \hat{y}_{1})^2 = 9

the sum of our residual is nine
 
  • #10
the second model is with points ABD

heres how it looks: \hat{y}_{2} = x^2 + 1

(this was done is class as well)

plug in the numbers

everything is 0 except for point C which will look like this:

heres how it looks: \hat{y}_{2} = 2^2 + 1 = 5

(6 - 5)^2 = 1

so,

\sum(y_{1} - \hat{y}_{2})^2 = 1
 
  • #11
our third model, well, fourth, the third one is the one i am trying to figure out:

ill keep it short, i demonstrated how everything was done in the first long post. :)

this is done with points BCD

the model looks like this: \hat{y}_{4} = 4x^2 - 2

all but the first point were 0's. ill plug in the number

\hat{y}_{4} = 4(o)^2 - 2 = -2

(1 - 2)^2 = 1

so for: \hat{y}_{4} = 4x^2 - 2; \sum(y - \hat{y}_{4})^2 = 1
 
  • #12
In your original post you said the points were A(0,1), B(2, 6), C(3, 10)
Writing y= ax2+ bx+ c, those give a02[/sub]+ b0+ c= 1 or c= 1, 4a+ 2b+ c= 6, and 9a+ 3b+ c= 10. Since c= 1, the last two are 4a+ 2b+ 1= c or 4a+ 2b= 5 and 9a+ 3b+ 1= 10 or 9a+ 3b= 9. If you multiply the first of those equations by 3 you get 12a+ 6b= 15 and if you multiply the second by 2 you get 18a+ 6b= 18. Subtracting the first from the second, 6a= 3 so a= 1/2. Then 4a+ 2b= 5 becomes 2+ 2b= 5 so 2b= 3 and b= 3/2, not b= 3.

The equation if y= (1/2)x2+ (3/2)x+ 1.

But later you give A(0, 1), B(1, 2), C(2, 6), D(3, 10). The equation y= (1/2)x2+ (3/2)x+ 1 gives y(0)= (1/2)(0)+ (3/2)(0)+ 1= 1, y(1)= (1/2)(1)+ (3/2)(1)+ 1= 3, y(2)= (1/2)4+ (3/2)2+ 1= 6, and y(3)= (1/2)9+ (3/2)3+ 1= 10. That is correct for all except B(1,2) which was NOT in the original problem. You can, in general, fit a parabola through 3 given points but not 4. There is no quadratic function whose graph will pass through all 4 points.

If you have 4 points, you should try a cubic formula: y= ax3+ bx2+ cx+ d so that the 4 points will give 4 equations for the 4 coefficients.
 
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