The following picture shows a saguaro cactus, a type of desert plant. Instead of leaves, this cactus has sharp needles. o How do sharp needles help a cactus survive in a desert? A. They protect it from animals that want to eat it.

B. They attract Insects and birds that pollinate It

C. Thev help it get sunlight when it is dim or shadv.​

1. f(x)=x²+10x+16

use the formula to find the vertex = (-b/2a, f(-b/2a)) , here in the above equation a=1(as, a> 0 the parabola is open upward), b=10. by putting the values.

-b/2a = -10/2(1) = -5

f(-b/2a)= f(-5)= (-5)²+10(-5)+16= -9

so, vertex = (-5, -9)

now, find y- intercept put x=0 in the above equation. f(0)= 0+0+16, we get point (0,16).

now find x-intercept put y=0 in the above equation. 0= x²+10x+16

x²+10x+16=0 ⇒x²+8x+2x+16=0 ⇒x(x+8)+2(x+8)=0 ⇒(x+8)(x+2)=0 ⇒x=-8 , x=-2

from vertex, y-intercept and x-intercept you can easily plot the graph of given parabolic equation. the graph is attached below.

2. f(x)=−(x−3)(x+1)

by multiplying the factors, the general form is f(x)= -x²+2x+3.

use the formula to find the vertex = (-b/2a, f(-b/2a)) , here in the above equation a=-1(as, a< 0 the parabola is open downward), b=2. by putting the values.

-b/2a = -2/2(-1) = 1

f(-b/2a)= f(1)=-(1)²+2(1)+3= 4

so, vertex = (1, 4)

now, find y- intercept put x=0 in the above equation. f(0)= 0+0+3, we get point (0, 3).

now find x-intercept put y=0 in the above equation. 0= -x²+2x+3.

-x²+2x+3=0 the factor form is already given in the question so, ⇒-(x-3)(x+1)=0 ⇒x=3 , x=-1

from vertex, y-intercept and x-intercept you can easily plot the graph of given parabolic equation. the graph is attached below.

3. f(x)= −x²+4

use the formula to find the vertex = (-b/2a, f(-b/2a)) , here in the above equation a=-1(as, a< 0 the parabola is open downward), b=0. by putting the values.

-b/2a = -0/2(-1) = 0

f(-b/2a)= f(0)= −(0)²+4 =4

so, vertex = (0, 4)

now, find y- intercept put x=0 in the above equation. f(0)= −(0)²+4, we get point (0, 4).

now find x-intercept put y=0 in the above equation. 0= −x²+4

−x²+4=0 ⇒-(x²-4)=0 ⇒ -(x-2)(x+2)=0 ⇒x=2 , x=-2

from vertex, y-intercept and x-intercept you can easily plot the graph of given parabolic equation. the graph is attached below.

4. f(x)=2x²+16x+30

use the formula to find the vertex = (-b/2a, f(-b/2a)) , here in the above equation a=2(as, a> 0 the parabola is open upward), b=16. by putting the values.

-b/2a = -16/2(2) = -4

f(-b/2a)= f(-4)= 2(-4)²+16(-4)+30 = -2

so, vertex = (-4, -2)

now, find y- intercept put x=0 in the above equation. f(0)= 0+0+30, we get point (0, 30).

now find x-intercept put y=0 in the above equation. 0=2x²+16x+30

2x²+16x+30=0 ⇒2(x²+8x+15)=0 ⇒x²+8x+15=0 ⇒x²+5x+3x+15=0 ⇒x(x+5)+3(x+5)=0 ⇒(x+5)(x+3)=0 ⇒x=-5 , x= -3

from vertex, y-intercept and x-intercept you can easily plot the graph of given parabolic equation. the graph is attached below.

5. y=(x+2)²+4

the general form of parabola is y=a(x-h)²+k , where vertex = (h,k)

if a> 0 parabola is opened upward.

if a< 0 parabola is opened downward.

compare the given equation with general form of parabola.

-h=2 ⇒h=-2

k=4

so, vertex= (-2, 4)

as, a=1 which is greater than 0 so parabola is opened upward and the graph has minimum.

hope this : )

answer: i think it's a

step-by-step explanation: