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Up and Down or
Down and Up
Exploring Quadratic Functions

Warm Up Learning Goals

Consider ​f (x) 5 x 1 3x 1 4​.
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• Write quadratic functions to model contexts.
Evaluate the function for each • Graph quadratic functions using technology.
given value. • Interpret the key features of quadratic functions in
terms of a context.
1. f(1) • Identify the domain and range of quadratic functions
and their contexts.
2. f(21)
Key Terms
3. f(2) • parabola
• vertical motion model
4. f(22) • roots

You have used linear functions to model situations with constant change, and you have used
exponential functions to model growth and decay situations. What type of real-world situations
can be modeled by quadratic functions?

LESSON 1: Up and Down or Down and Up • 1

 AC T I V I T Y
Writing and Interpreting a
1.2 Quadratic Function

Suppose that there is a monthly meeting at CIA headquarters for all

employees. How many handshakes will it take for every employee at the
meeting to shake the hand of every other employee at the meeting once?

1. Use the figures shown to determine the number of handshakes

that will occur between 2 employees, 3 employees, and
4 employees.

2 employees 3 employees 4 employees

2. Draw figures to represent the number of handshakes that

occur between 5 employees, 6 employees, and 7 employees,
and determine the number of handshakes that will occur in
each situation.

Ask
yourself:
Can you tell what 3. Enter your results in the table.
shape the graph
will be?
Number of
2 3 4 5 6 7 n
Employees

Number of
Handshakes

4. Write a function to represent the number of handshakes given

any number of employees. Enter your function in the table.

6 • TOPIC 1: Introduction to Quadratic Functions

5. Use technology to graph the function you wrote in Question 4.
Sketch the graph and label the axes.

Handshake Problem
y

Ask
yourself:
What do all the
points on this graph
represent?
x

6. How is the orientation of this parabola different from the

parabola for the area of the dog enclosure? How is this
difference reflected in their corresponding equations?

7. Determine the minimum of your function. Then, describe what

the x- and y-coordinates of this minimum represent in this
problem situation.

8. Identify the domain and range of the problem situation and of

the function.

LESSON 1: Up and Down or Down and Up • 7

 AC T I V I T Y
Using a Quadratic Function to
1.3 Model Vertical Motion

You can model the motion of a pumpkin released from a catapult using a
vertical motion model. A vertical motion model is a quadratic equation
that models the height of an object at a given time. The equation is of the
form shown.
​y 5 216t2 1 v0t 1 h0 ​

In this equation, y represents the height of the object in feet, t represents

the time in seconds that the object has been moving, v0 represents the
initial vertical velocity (speed) of the object in feet per second, and h0
represents the initial height of the object in feet.

1. What characteristics of this situation indicate that it can be

modeled by a quadratic function?

Suppose that a catapult hurls a pumpkin from a height of 68 feet at an

initial vertical velocity of 128 feet per second.

2. Write a function for the height of the pumpkin, h(t), in terms of

time, t.

3. Does the function you wrote have a minimum or maximum?

How can you tell from the form of the function?

8 • TOPIC 1: Introduction to Quadratic Functions

4. Use technology to graph the function. Sketch your graph and
label the axes.

Punkin’ Chunkin’
y

Ask
yourself:
What do all the
points on this
graph represent?

5. Use technology to determine the maximum or minimum and

label it on the graph. Explain what it means in terms of the
problem situation.

6. Determine the y-intercept and label it on the graph. Explain

what it means in terms of the problem situation.

LESSON 1: Up and Down or Down and Up • 9

 7. Use a horizontal line to determine when the pumpkin
reaches each height after being catapulted. Label the points
on the graph.

a. 128 feet

b. 260 feet

c. 55 feet

8. Explain why the x- and y-coordinates of the points where the

graph and each horizontal line intersects are solutions.

9. When does the catapulted pumpkin hit the ground? Label this
point on the graph. Explain how you determined your answer.

Remember:

The zeros of a The time when the pumpkin hits the ground is one of the x-intercepts, (x, 0).
function are the When an equation is used to model a situation, the x-coordinate of the
x-values when the
x-intercept is referred to as a root. The root of an equation indicates where
function equals 0.
the graph of the equation crosses the x-axis.

10 • TOPIC 1: Introduction to Quadratic Functions