29/04/2018 Studyit: Quadratic equations and graphing parabolas

Home > Subjects > Mathematics > Level 1 > 1.3 Tables, equations and graphs
(AS91028) > Subject content > Quadratic equations and graphing parabolas
Subject Mathematics AS 91028 Level 1 Credits 4 External

Mathematics 1.3 Investigate relationships between

tables, equations and graphs
Quadratic equations and graphing parabolas

Graphing parabolas by plotting points

If an accurate graph is required plot points by drawing up a table of values.
To do this:

Use the values on the horizontal axis for the first row.
Substitute in these numbers into the equation to work out the
other coordinate.
Plot the points and join them together with a smooth curve.
Draw a rounded turning point.

Example

Draw the graph of y = x(x – 4) from x = 0 to x = 4

First draw up a table for each of the x values and work out the y-value for
each by substituting the number for x in the equation.

x 0 1 2 3 4
y 0 -3 -4 -3 0

Plot these points and join with a smooth curve.

Round the turning point.

For more information see:

Graphing Quadratic Equations I (http://www.purplemath.com/modules/grphquad.htm)

Graphing parabolas by using transformations

The basic parabola y = x2 can be transformed in the following ways:

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29/04/2018 Studyit: Quadratic equations and graphing parabolas

y = x2 + 2 moves y = x2 up 2 units
y = x2 – 2 moves y = x2 down 2 units
y = (x – 2)2 moves y = x2 to the right 2 units
y = (x + 2)2 moves y = x2 to the left 2 units
y = - x2 reflects y = x2 in the x-axis (it’s upside down)

For more information on transforming graphs see:

Function transformations I (http://www.purplemath.com/modules/fcntrans.htm)
Graphs of quadratic functions
(http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/col_algebra/col_alg_tut34_quadfun.htm)
Slider graph (http://math.hws.edu/javamath/basic_applets/SliderGraph.html)
(Java™ required)

Graphing parabolas by using intercepts

To find where the graph cuts the x-axis, put y = 0 in the equation.
To find the y-intercepts, put x = 0 in the equation.
The axis of symmetry is halfway between the x-intercepts. Write
an equation x = ? , The ? is where the line cuts the x-axis.
The vertex has the same x-coordinate as the axis of symmetry.
To find the y-intercept of the vertex, put the x-coordinate into the
equation and calculate y .

For more information on using intercepts, see:

Curved graphs
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/maths/algebra/graphsrev5.shtml)
Slider graph (http://math.hws.edu/javamath/basic_applets/SliderGraph.html)
(Java™ required)
Parabolas in vertex form
(https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Algebra1/Quadratics/QDVertexForm.html)
Graphing quadratics: vertex form
(https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/quadratics/vertex-form-alg1/v/graphing-
a-parabola-in-vertex-form)

Quadratic equations, with a coefficient of x2 other than ±1

In the equation y = kx2 , the number k in front of the x2 means that the
shape of the parabola changes.

If the number is greater than one, e.g. y = 3x2 , the parabola will be steeper.

If the number is less than one, e.g. y = x2 , the parabola will be flatter.

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29/04/2018 Studyit: Quadratic equations and graphing parabolas

For more information on quadratics with a coefficient of x2 other than ±1,

see:
The meaning of the leading coefficient
(http://www.purplemath.com/modules/grphquad2.htm)

Graphing Quadratic Equations (http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation-

graphing.html)

Slider graph (http://math.hws.edu/javamath/basic_applets/SliderGraph.html) (Java™

required)

Writing equations
For excellence, assessment may involve writing equation(s) from a graph to
solve a problem in context. For writing quadratic equations, a combination of
two different types of transformations only is expected, eg y = 2x2 + 3 , or y
= (x–2)2 + 1 .
If you are given a graph and asked to find its equation you firstly need to look
at the coordinates of the vertex. If the vertex is at point (1,2) then you know
that the graph of y = ax2 (equation 1) has been translated 1 unit horizontally
and 2 units vertically.

Therefore the equation is:

(y-2) = a(x-1)2 (equation 2).
All you need to do now is work out the value of ‘a’. Do that by choosing some
other point on the parabola (not the vertex) and substitute its coordinates
into equation 2. You can then work out the value of ‘a’ and complete your
equation.

Graphing Quadratic Equations (http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation-

graphing.html)

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