We simply need to know whether the parabola is convex (hill shaped) or concave (u shaped) i.e. whether a < 0 or a > 0 (this will be the case if and only if a <0)

If it is hill shaped, y decreases as the distance from x to 1 (the x-coordinate of the vertex) increases.
Since the y coordinate corresponding to x= -4 is less than the y coordinate corresponding to x= - 3, this is indeed the case

SUFF

Using algebra,

f(x) = a(x+1)(x -3) for some real number a

f(-4) = a(-3)(-7)= 21a
f( -3) = a(-2)(-5) = 10a

21a < 10a implies than a < 0 and thus f(5) = a(6)(3) < 0

Thus f(5) is definitely not positive SUFF

Drawing graphs of yes and no cases makes this much simpler, by the way!

kevincanspain wrote:We simply need to know whether the parabola is convex (hill shaped) or concave (u shaped) i.e. whether a < 0 or a > 0 (this will be the case if and only if a <0)

If it is hill shaped, y decreases as the distance from x to 1 (the x-coordinate of the vertex) increases.
Since the y coordinate corresponding to x= -4 is less than the y coordinate corresponding to x= - 3, this is indeed the case

SUFF

Using algebra,

f(x) = a(x+1)(x -3) for some real number a

f(-4) = a(-3)(-7)= 21a
f( -3) = a(-2)(-5) = 10a

21a < 10a implies than a < 0 and thus f(5) = a(6)(3) < 0

Thus f(5) is definitely not positive SUFF

i couldnt understand the funda behind the hill shaped and and u shaped curve..whats the reasoning behind it..is there a theorem related to tit

Compare the graphs of y=x^2 and y=-x^2