Parabolic Transformations

A parabola is a symmetrical open plane curve which graphically represents a quadratic

function. A quadratic function has the form ax^2+bx+c, with a, b, and c being the
coefficients of the function. Today we are going to discover what the function is of each
coefficient. We are also going to explore how changes in the coefficients of a quadratic
function affect its graph.

This will take you step by step on how to build the parabolic transformer.

1. Make a line segment. Highlight it, Edit, Copy, and Paste it twice. So you should have
three line segments.
2. Construct a point somewhere on one of the segments.
3. Label the two endpoints A and B, and the point on the segment C.
4. Click in order points A and C. Go to Measure. Click Distance.
5. Click in order point A and B. Go to Measure. Click Distance.
6. Deselect all. Go to Number. Click Calculate.
7. In the calculator type (AC/AB)*20-10. This gives you value of a.
8. Click on points A and B. Go to Display. Click Hide labels.
9. Change the label on C to a, and the label on your calculation of a to a.
10. Move the slider back and forth to make sure its parameter is (-10,10)
11. Repeat steps 1 through 9 for values of b and c.

Once you have your sliders, it’s time to make the graph.

12. Go to Graph. Click Define Coordinate System.

13. Go to Graph. Plot New Function.
14. Type in: a*x^2+b*x+c. [For a, b, and c you are going to click on the values that you
calculated earlier.] Click OK.
15. Move the sliders back and forth. How do changes in a transform the graph? b? c?

Making the transformer.

16. Click on the points a, b, and c on your sliders.

17. Go to Edit. Put your cursor over Action Buttons. Click Animation.
18. Change all the options to “slow” speed.
19. Click OK.
20. Change the label of the button to Transformer: highlight button, go to Display, click
Label Action Button, type in Transformer, and click OK.
21. Click the button and watch the graph transform.

Explore More:

22. Change the speed of the sliders. What difference do you notice in the coefficients? Is
it easier to see the change in a slower speed or higher speed?

M. Mylod
23. Move the points on the sliders around so they are all starting from a staggered
position. How does the change in the graph contrast to the change in the graph
when the coefficients all start at 10?
24. Approximate the area under the curve between two fixed limits:
a. Pick your limits on the graph (e.g x=-3 to x=3) and put points on the graph at
those values.
b. Click on the shape icon and make a shape on the graph starting at your left
limit. You want to put points along the graph making sure to follow the graph
as closely as you can. You will probably have to put points very close together
towards the minimum of the graph to maintain a “U” shape. When you have
made your shape, make sure to end the shape where you started.
c. Click the colored area of your shape. Go to Measure. Click on Area.
d. Click the Transformer button. How do the transformations affect the
approximated area? Where is the area the greatest? Where is the area the
least?

M. Mylod