Introduction to

Quadratic Graphs
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: PROPERTIES OF
LINEAR GRAPHS

WHAT ARE THE BASIC PROPERTIES OF A

LINEAR GRAPH?
So, We Know About the Main
Properties of Linear Graphs

However, not everything can be

described using a linear (straight
line) graph.
 Let’s Begin...
 There is a mythical creature called a “Walkasaurs”
 The table provided shows how “Walkasaurs” height changes with time

Time (years) Height (metres)

0 1
1 2
2 4
3 7
4
5
6
7
 Points to Ponder...
 Do you notice a pattern in the rate of growth of the
walkasaurus?
 Is the change in height each year the same?
(a constant number)
 Can you complete the table Time (years) Height (metres)
for the remaining years? 0 1
 If I draw this graph will it be 1 2
a straight line(linear) ? 2 4
 Why or why not? 3 7
4
5
6
7
 Drawing the graph
Complete the table and plot the graph.

Time (years) Height (metres)

0 1
1 2
2 4
3 7
4
5
6
7
 The Graph

45

40

35
Height (metres)

30

25

20

15

10

0
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time (years)
 Finding the Pattern
Time Height
(years) (metres) 1st change
2nd change
0 1
1
1 2 1
2
2 4 1
3
3 7 1
4
4 11

The first change is not a constant number, as is the case in a linear

graph, however the 2nd change is a constant, this is one of the
properties of a quadratic graph.
 Motor Cyclist
The image below shows a motor cycle jumping a ramp. What “shape” is the
path that the motor cycle follows?
The graph is curved, lets look at it in some more detail.. Is this the graph of a
quadratic? Your Turn..See Handout

1.7 Pg. 5
 Finding the Pattern
Distance
Height (m) 1st Note:
travelled (m) 2nd
Change The second differences
Change
0 0 (or changes) are
+ 3.6 constant, therefore the
2 3.6 – 0.8
+ 2.8 graph is Quadratic
4 6.4 – 0.8
+2
6 8.4 – 0.8
+ 1.2
8 9.6 – 0.8
+ 0.4
10 10 – 0.8
– 0.4
12 9.6 – 0.8
– 1.2
14 8.4 – 0.8
–2
16 6.4 – 0.8
– 2.8
18 3.6 – 0.8
– 3.6
20 0
 Aeroplane Lift Off
For a given wing area the lift of an aeroplane is proportional
to the square of its speed. The table below shows the lift of a
Boeing 747 jet airline at various speeds.

Speed
180 240 300 360 420 480 540 600
(km/h)

Lift
(net upward force) 11340 45360 102060 181440 283500 408240 555660 725760
(Newtons)

(a) Is the pattern of lifts quadratic? Give a reason for your answer.
(b) Sketch the graph to show how the lift increases with speed.

A Boeing 747 weighs 46000 Newtons at takeoff .

(c) Estimate how fast the plane must travel to get enough lift to take flight.
(d) Explain why bigger planes need longer runways.
Speed
180 240 300 360 420 480 540 600
(km/h)

Lift
(net upward force) 11340 45360 102060 181440 283500 408240 555660 725760
(Newtons)

1st Change 34020 56700 79380 102060 124740 147420 170100

2nd Change 22680 22680 22680 22680 22680 22680

Because the second differences are

constant, the pattern is quadratic.

Lift (N)

See Geogebra File

Speed (km/h)
 Angry Birds!!

Height 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Distance 1.5 2.375 3.1 3.675 4.1
 Angry Birds!!

Table of Values:

Height 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5

Distance 1.5 2.375 3.1 3.675 4.1 4.375

 Angry Birds!!

See Geogebra file

Table of Values:

Height 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5

Distance 1.5 2.375 3.1 3.675 4.1 4.375 4.5 4.475 4.3 3.975 3.5 2.875 2.1 1.175
 Your turn.. See handout
Growing Squares Pattern. Draw the next two patterns of growing squares.
Create a List of the Properties of Quadratic Graphs

1. They are curved.

2. The 1st change is not constant, but the 2nd change is constant

3. They can occupy all 4 quadrants of the plane

Introduction to
Cubic Graphs
 Cubic Graphs

As previously discussed, not every thing can be described by a straight line,

nor can everything be described by a “ ” or “ ” shaped curve.

Lets take a look at the shape of a roller coaster.

It looks like 2 quadratics stuck together. But does it have the properties of a
quadratic, i.e. The second differences will be constant?
 Bird Journey
See animated power point on bird graph

Initial height = 0 m
 Looking at the Data
The distance the bird travelled and its change in height relative to its
starting position is given in the table below:

Distance
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Travelled (m)
Change in
12 10 0 – 12 – 20 – 18 0
height (m)

If we were to graph this data, what shape would the graph be?
 Looking at the Change in the Data
Distance
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Travelled (m)
Change in
12 10 0 – 12 – 20 – 18 0
height (m)
First change not a
1st Change –2 – 10 – 12 –8 2 18 constant, so graph will
not be LINEAR
2nd Change –8 –2 4 10 16
3rd Change 6 6 6 6 Second change not a
constant, so graph will
not be QUADRATIC

Third change is a
constant, this means
the graph is a CUBIC
 Graph of Bird’s Journey

(2,12)
Change in height(m)
[Relative to starting position]

(3,10)

(4,0) (8,0)
H

(5,–12)

(7,–18)
(6,–20)

Distance travelled (m)

[Relative to starting position]
 Using a Cube to Investigate Cubic Functions
Vertex
For a cube with edge lengths of 1 unit,
the perimeter of the base is 4 units,
the surface area is 6 square units
Edge
And the volume is 1 cubic unit. Face

What would the values be for a block with

edge lengths of 2 units or 3 units or 34 units
or n units? 1 unit

Make tables for perimeter, for surface area and for volume as the edge
lengths of the block increase.

Examine the tables to predict the shape of the graph for each of the three
relationships.

Explain your predictions. Make the graphs for perimeter vs. edge length,
surface area vs. edge length and volume vs. edge length and compare them
with your predictions.
 Introducing Exponential Functions
RECOGNIZE AND DESCRIBE AN EXPONENTIAL PATTERN.
USE AN EXPONENTIAL PATTERN TO PREDICT A FUTURE EVENT.
COMPARE EXPONENTIAL AND LOGISTIC GROWTH.
 Recognising an Exponential Pattern

 A sequence of numbers has an exponential pattern when

each successive number increases (or decreases) by the
same percent.
 Here are some examples of exponential patterns:
 Growth of a bacteria culture
 Growth of a mouse population during a mouse plague
 Decrease in the atmospheric pressure with increasing height
 Decrease in the amount of a drug in your bloodstream
 Recognising an Exponential Pattern
Describe the pattern for the
volumes of consecutive chambers
in the shell of a chambered
nautilus.

Source: Larson Texts

Solution: It helps to organize the data in a table.

Chamber 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Volume (cm3) 0.836 0.889 0.945 1.005 1.068 1.135 1.207

Begin by checking the differences of consecutive volumes.

 Recognising an Exponential Pattern
Chamber 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Volume (cm3) 0.836 0.889 0.945 1.005 1.068 1.135 1.207

4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Begin by checking the differences of consecutive volumes to conclude

that the pattern is not linear or Quadratic.
Then find the ratios of consecutive volumes.
 Checking the Ratios
Chamber 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Volume (cm3) 0.836 0.889 0.945 1.005 1.068 1.135 1.207

0.889 0.945 1.005

 1.063  1.063  1.063
0.836 0.889 0.945
1.068 1.135 1.207
 1.063  1.063  1.063
1.005 1.068 1.135

The volume of each chamber is about 6.3% greater than the volume of the
previous chamber. So, the pattern is exponential.

Notice the difference between linear and exponential patterns. With linear
patterns, successive numbers increase or decrease by the same amount.

With exponential patterns, successive numbers increase or decrease by the

same ratio.
Your Turn: See Handout Algae Bloom
 Who Will Do Better?
You and your friend have both been offered
a job on a construction site.
Both of you will have to work 28 consecutive
days to finish the project.

Your friend is offered €25,000 per week.

(for 4 weeks)

You negotiate your contact as follows:

You can pay me 2 cent for the first day, 4 cent for the second day, 8 cent
for the third day, and so on, just double my pay each day for 28 days.
Who has negotiated the better deal?
 End of Week 1

Time (days) Money (Cents)

0 2
1 4
2 8
3 16
4 32
5 64
6 128
7 256
Total: 510 cents (€5.10)

So at the end of week 1, You have earned €5.10, but your friend has earned
€25,000. It would seem your friend has secured the better deal !
 Table for the First 10 Days
View Handout

Time (days) Money (Cents)

0 2
1 4
2 8
3 16
4 32
5 64
6 128
7 256
8 512
9 1024
10 2048
But...What Will Happen After 28 Days?

Time (days) Money (Cents)

21 4,194,304
22 8,388,608
23 16,777,216
24 33,554,432
25 67,108,864
26 134,217,728
27 268,435.456
28 536,870,912

Your final days pay will be €5,368,709.12

Not bad for one days work!
Both Graphs the Same but the Scales are Different

Tripling my pay Tripling my pay

Doubling my pay

Doubling my pay
Exponential Graphs: Equation

x
y  ab
Intervals of
time

Final Starting Growth

Amount Value Factor
 Table for the First 10 Days
View handout

Money
Time (days) Pattern
(Cents)
0 2 2 x 20 = 2 1
x
1
2
4
8
2 x 21 = 2 2
2x 22 = 23
y  ab
3 16 2 x 23 = 24 Can you identify how
4 32 2 x 24 = 2 5 the variables in the
above formula relate
to the values in the
table?

27 268,435,456 2x227 = 228

28 536,870,912 2x228 = 229
The Power of Exponential Functions
 Identifying Graphs..Your turn
Below are 4 sections of 4 different graphs, using the data provided, identify
each type of graph, and give a reason for your answer.

Graph 1 Graph 2 Graph 3 Graph 4

 Conclusion
 If a graph is Linear, the first change is constant
 If a graph is quadratic, the second change is
constant
 If a graph is a cubic, the third change is
constant
 If a graph is exponential, successive numbers
increase or decrease by the same ratio.