Step by step
The question
Question: what is the smallest value of h on this graph of h?
smallest value of h = ?
1 Look at the graph
The graph shows h.
x goes across.
The height of the graph is h(x): we read it on the y axis.
x: across
h(x): the height, up
2 Find the lowest point
The values of h are the heights.
The smallest value is the lowest point.
smallest value of h → the bottom of the graph
Careful!
The value of h is a height.
We answer with it, not with the x.
Careful: the value is the height, h(x), not the x
The bottom of the graph is the point (2, 0).
The graph never goes lower.
So the smallest value of h is 0.
It is at x = 2.
smallest value = 0
3 Check
Let's check with the dots.
Their heights are 6, 2, 0, 2 and 6.
None is smaller than 0.
So the answer is right!
heights of the dots: 6, 2, 0, 2, 6 smallest: 0
Let's look back.
First: look at the graph.
Then: find the lowest point.
Last: check.
Answer
smallest value = 0