Graph y=-1/2x^2-1. identify the vertex of the graph. tell whether it is a minimum or maximum. (to clarify, 1/2 is a fraction *x^2)

1. (-1,0); minimum
,0); maximum
3.(0,1); maximum
4.(0,-1); minimum

is a quadratic function, so its graph is a parabola.

Notice that the coefficient of x is 0, this always means that the axis of symmetry is the y-axis.

That is, the vertex of the parabola is in the y-axis, so the x-coordinate of the vertex is 0.

for x=0, y=-1. So the vertex is (0, -1)

The coefficient of  is negative. This means that the parabola opens downwards, so the vertex is a maximum.

(0, -1) , maximum (none of the choices)