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1: INTRODUCTION TO QUADRATIC FUNTION

 Quadratic function was described as s polynomial function of degree 2.

 A function f is a quadratic function if and only if f(x) can be written in the form
of:

ƒ(x) = ax + bx + c
2

where a ≠ 0 and a, b and c are constant

 The graph of the quactratic function is called parabola.

 If the value of a for a quadratic function is positive, therefore the graph
(parabola) will opens upward (concave up  U) – minimum
 Meanwhile, if the value for a is negative, therefore the graph (parabola) will
opens downward (concave down - ∩) - maximum.
y y vertex (max)
y-intercept

c
x-intercept c

y-intercept x
x
x-intercept

vertex(min)

eg: y = x2 + 7x + 10 eg: y =-3 x2 + 6x + 9

- a is positive (a = 1) - a is negative (a = 1)
- concave up - concave down
- minimum vertex point - maxium vertex point

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 Example 1:
Determine whether each given functions below is a quadratic function or not. If it is,
then state the value of a, b and c and the shape of the graph (parabola) –
concave up/down?
a) g(x) = 5x2
b) f(x) = 7x-2
c) y = 2x3 + 4x2 – 2x + 5
d) f(v) = -10v2 – 6
e) f(h) = -6

3.1.1: Vertex point

 The lowest (minimum) or the highest point (maximum) of a quadratic function is
called the “vertex”.
 If the value of a is greater than 0 (positive), then the quadratic function will
have a minimum vertex point.
 Meanwhile, if the value of a is less than 0 (negative) then the quadratic function
will have a maximum vertex.

y = ax2 +bx +c ; a>0 y = -ax2 + bx + c ; a <0

Maximum vertex

Minimum vertex

 Formula used to obtain the coordinate for the vertex point (x,y) of
the function y = ƒ(x) = ax2 + bx + c is:
x-coordinate = - b y-coordinate = 4ac – b2
2a 4a
or simply replace the value of x
into the original function.

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 Example 2:
Find the vertex point for the given function, and then determine whether it is a
maximum or minimum point:
a) f(x) = x2 + x -12

b) f(x) = x2 + x

c) f(x) = -3x2 + 2x + 8

d) f(x) = 2x2 + 5x – 3

e) f(x) = x2 + 4x + 6

3.1.2: y-intercept (0, c)

 The y-intercept (0,c) is the point where the parabola pass through the y-axis (or
when x = 0 ).
 To find the value of the y-intercept, simply replace x = 0 into the function.
y/f(x) y/f(x)

x
y-intercept
y-intercept

Given the function f(x) = ax2+bx+c, then the y-intercept is c.

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 Example 3:
Find the y-intercept for the following quadratic functions:
a) f(x) = x2 + x -12

b) f(x) = x2 + x

c) f(x) = -3x2 + 2x + 8

d) f(x) = 2x2 + 5x – 3

e) f(x) = x2 + 4x + 6

3.1.3 : x-intercept

 x-intercept (root/s) is the point where the parabola pass through x-axis (or when
y=0).
 when y = 0, : ax2 + bx + c = 0
 There are 3 conditions for the root of a given quadratic function:


y y y

x
x x

 The parabola pass through 2  The parabola touch the x-axis  The parabola do not
points at the x-axis. at one point. pass/touch the x-axis.
 b2-4ac > 0  b2-4ac = 0  b2-4ac < 0

 The value/s of the x-intercept/s can be gain in 2 ways:

- quadratic formula
- factorization

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a) Quadratic Formula :

Given the quadratic equation:

ax2 + bx + c = 0,

The value for x can be determine using the formula;

x=

Attention !!! : If b2 – 4ac < 0 ; therefore the do not intercept x-axis.

Example 4:
Solve the following quadratic equation (to find the value of x) :
a) x2 + x -12 = 0

Solution:

a. Determine the value of a, b and c:

a = 1, b = 1 and c = -12

b. Replace the value into the formula:

x=

 1  12  4(1)( 12)
x=
2(1)
 1  49
x=
2
1 7 1 7
x= or x=
2 2

x=3 x = -4
therefore the function intercept the x-axis at (3,0) and (-4,0)

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b) x2 + x = 0

c) 0 = -3x2 + 2x + 8

d) 2x2 + 5x = 3

a) 0 = x2 + 4x + 6

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b) Solving a quadratic equation using factorization :

Example 5:
Solve the following quadratic equation (to find the value of x ):
b) x2 + x -12 = 0

x x x x2

(x+4) (x-3)

4 -3 -12
x
x x

4x + -3x x

therefore x2 + x -12 = 0
(x+4)(x-3) = 0
x + 4 = 0 or x – 3 = 0
thus, x = -4 , x=3

c) x2 + x = 0

d) 0 = -3x2 + 2x + 8

e) 2x2 + 5x – 3 = 0

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3.2 : SKETCHING THE GRAPH OF QUADRATIC FUNCTION

 The graph of a quadratic function is in the form of parabola

 Steps to sketch the quadratic function graph;
y = ƒ(x) = ax2 + bx + c:
1. Determine shape of the graph (concavity) :
Look at the value of:
a : positive – concave up (U)
a : negative – concave down (∩)

2. Find the vertex point (x,y) using the formula :

x = -b y = 4ac – b2
2a 4a

3. Find the y-intercept : replace x = 0 into the function

 y = (a x 02) + (b x 0) + c
y=c

4. Find the x-intercept : replace y=0 into the function and find the
value of x using the quadratic formula or the factorization
method:

x=

5. Draw the axis and tick all of the points (vertex, y-intercept, x-
intercept/s)
6. Draw a curve that connects all of the point and label the
graph.

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 Example 6:
Sketch the graph for aech of the following quadratic function :

a) f(x) = x2 + x -12

b) f(x) = x2 + x

c) f(x) = -3x2 + 2x + 8

d) f(x) = 2x2 + 5x – 3

e) f(x) = x2 + 4x + 6

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3.3 FORMING A QUADRATIC FUNCTION

 To form a quadratic function, we need to know at least 3 points that resides on

the function/parabola.
 Steps:
- Substitute all three coordinates of x and y into the general form of the
quadratic equation; y = ax2 + bx + c.
- Therefore, we will have 3 equations in the mean of a, b and c.
- Solve this three equations simultaneously (using either the substitution,
elimination, or inverse matrix, Cramer’s rule method) to find the value of
a, b dan c that satisfies the three equations.
- Finally, rewrite the equation by replacing the value of a, b and c.

Example 7:
Form a quadratic equation that passes through the points (1,8), (3,20) and (-2,5)

i. Substitude all three coordinates into the gerenal form of quadratic

equation
y = ax2 + bx + c.

ii. Solve all three equations simultaneously to find the value of a, b and c:

iii. Rewrite the equation y = ax2 + bx + c by replacing the value of a, b and c

into the equation.

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Example 8:
Form a quadratic equation that passes through the points (0,12) , (-6,0) and (2,0).

3.4 APPLICATIONS - DEMAND AND SUPPLY FUNCTION,

EQUILIBRIUM
Applications of quadratic function is almost similar like application in linear function.
Many situations in economics can be described by using quadratic functions.

a) Demand and Supply Function :

 The function that relates price per unit and quantity demanded is called a
demand function. Meanwhile the function that relates price per unit and
quantity supplied is called supply function.
 For quadratic function :
i. If a is positive (a>0), :
- the function has a minimum point/vertex (U)
- supply function

Price per unit (p)

Supply Function

Quantity Supplied(q)
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 ii. If a is negative (a<0), :
- the function has a maximum point/vertex (∩),
- demand function.
Price per unit (p)
Supply Function

Quantity Demanded(q)

ATTENTION : In this course, the price per unit and the quantity is only considered in
the first quarter of the plane!!

Example 9:
The Supply function y = f(q) for a product is in a form quadratic function. Three
points that resides on the functions are (1,11), (0,6) and (2,18). Form the supply
function of the product.

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Example 10:
A market research done by manufacturers of a product comes out with a supply
function in a form of quadratic. The manufacturers were asked on the amount
(quantity) of products they will produced at a certain price per unit. The result of
the research found that, at the price of RM6, RM30 and RM48, the manufacturers
will produce 4, 8 and 10 units of the product.

a) Form a quadratic supply function based on the informations given.

b) If 20 units of the product were produced, how much is the price per unit?

c) If the price per unit of the product is set to RM70, how many of the product
should be produce?

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b) Equilibrium point:
 The equilibrium point is the point where the supply and demand function
intersect to each other.
 Here, the quantity demanded = quantity supplied at the same price per unit.
 The equilibrium point can be obtain by solving both function simultasneuosly:
- Substitution Method
- Elimination Method
- Matrix (Inverse or Cramer’s Rule)

Price per unit (p) Supply

Equilibrium
b Point (a,b)

Demand

a Quantity Demanded/Supplied(q)

Attention !! The equilibrium point is only considered in the first quarter ofthe plane!

Contoh 11:
Given two quadratic function :
p = f(q) = -q2 -4q +12
p= g(q) = q + 6

a) Determine which one is the demand/supply function.

b) Find the equilibrium point of the two function.

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 3.5 TOTAL REVENUE, TOTAL COST, PROFIT AND BREAK-EVENT POINT (BEP)

a) Total Revenue :
 Total revenue is define by the product between price per unit and quantity of
the products sold.

Total Revenue (TR) = Price per unit x Quantity of product Sold

= pxq

 Let say the price per unit (p) is determine by the demand (in linear form).

p = -mq + c ----------------demand function

where p is the price per unit (RM)when q units of the product were
demanded

 Here, the Total Revenue is in quadratic form because:

Total Revenue = p x q
Where;
P = -mq+c (demand)

Therefore,
Total Revenue = (-mq + c) q = -mq2 + cq
0

Now, the total revenue is in a form of quadratic!! y = ax2 + bx + c

 Thus, the Total Revenue :

- The Total Revenue function always starts at the origin (0,0).
- As the a is negative, therefore the Total Revenue function will have a
maximum point (concave down).
- The maximum point (vertex) here represent the quantity that maximize the
total revenue (on x-axis) and the maximum revenue (on y-axis) for the
product.

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 Total Revenue(RM)

Max. Total Revenue=

Quantity (units)
Quantity that will maximizeTR=

Example 12:
The demand function for a product is given by p = 1200 – 3q where p is the price per
unit(RM) and q is the quantity demanded.

a) Determine the Total Revenue function for the product.

b) How many product should be produce in order to maximize the total revenue?

c) How much is the maximum total revenue?

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b) Total Cost

 Total Cost – is the sum of fixed cost and variable cost.

Total Cost = Fixed Cost + Variable Cost
REMEBER!! What is Fixed Cost and what is Varible cost from the previous chapter??

- However, in this chapter, the total cost function is in the form of quadratic
- C(q) = aq2 + bq + c where;

Fixed Cost

Variable cost

Example 13:
The Total Cost to produce 10 units of pencils is RM380. Meanwhile the Total Cost to
produce 20 units of the pencils is RM1060. However, if no pencils are produce, the
business still needs to pay RM100 for the Total Cost :

Find:
a)Total Cost Function.

b)How much is the Fixed Cost?

c) The amount of product (quantity) to be produce when the total cost is RM 740.

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c. Profit / Loss
 Obtain by substracting the Total Cost from the Total Revenue :

Profit / Loss = Total Revenue – Total Cost

- Profit : Total Revenue > Total Cost
- Lost : Total Revenue < Total Cost

d.Break-Event Point
 Break-event point is thepoint where the Total Cost and Total Revenue intersect.
 Here, the Total Cost = Total Revenue, there are no profit or loss.
Total Revenue = Total Cost
OR
Profit/Loss = 0
ATTENTION!! : BEP is only considered in the first quarter of the plane.

Example 14:

The total revenue for a product is given by the function R(q) = 2.5q, and the Total Cost
function is C(q) = 100 + 2q – 0.01q2

Determine a) Profit Function

b) Profit gain if 100 units of the product were sold

c) Break Event Point

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