NOTES ON FINDING THE EQUATION OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS

GIVEN THE TABLES OF VALUES, GRAPH AND ZEROS

DISCUSSION EXAMPLE
I. TABLE OF VALUES General Form:
FORMULA: General Form 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
GIVEN: Table of Values Given:
x x 0 1 2
y y -2 0 4

STEPS:
1. Substitute 3 ordered (0, -2)
pairs to the general (1) −𝟐 = 𝒂(𝟎)𝟐 + 𝒃(𝟎) + 𝒄
formula to come up −𝟐 = 𝒄
with three equations.
(1, 0)
(2) 𝟎 = 𝒂(𝟏)𝟐 + 𝒃(𝟏) + 𝒄
𝟎= 𝒂+𝒃+𝒄

(2, 4)
(3) 𝟒 = 𝒂(𝟐)𝟐 + 𝒃(𝟐) + 𝒄
𝟒 = 𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 + 𝒄

2. Solve for the values of Substitute the value of c to equations (2) and (3) then simplify
a, b and c. c = -2
(2) 0 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 − 2 → 𝟐= 𝒂+𝒃
(3) 4 = 4𝑎 + 2𝑏 − 2 → 𝟔 = 𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃

From the resulting equations, target to eliminate one variable

by adding or subtracting the equations. Manipulate one of the
equations by multiplying a number to make the numerical
coefficients of the variables equal.

(2 = 𝑎 + 𝑏)𝟐 → 4 = 2𝑎 + 2𝑏
6 = 4𝑎 + 2𝑏 → 6 = 4𝑎 + 2𝑏
−2 = −2𝑎
𝟏=𝒂

Substitute values of a and c to (2).

𝒄 = −𝟐
𝒂=𝟏
𝟎= 𝒂+𝒃+𝒄
0 = 1+𝑏−2
0 = −1 + 𝑏
𝟏=𝒃

3. Write the equation of Substitute the values of a, b and c into the general form.
the quadratic function. 𝑎 = 1 ; 𝑏 = 1 ; 𝑐 = −2
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
𝑦 = (1)𝑥 2 + (1)𝑥 + (−2)
𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 − 𝟐
 DISCUSSION EXAMPLE
II. GRAPH Vertex Form:
FORMULA: Vertex Form 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌
𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘
GIVEN: Graph Given:
From the Graph, take:
a. VERTEX: (h, k)
b. POINT: (x, y)

STEPS:
1. Identify the VERTEX of Vertex: (𝟏, −𝟐)
the graph and one Point: (𝟎, 𝟐)
POINT on the graph.
2. Solve for a. Identify h, k, x and Substitute h, k, x and y into the vertex
y: form then solve for a:
h=1 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘
k = -2 𝟐 = 𝑎(𝟎 − 𝟏)2 − 𝟐
x=0 2= 𝑎−2
y=2 𝟒=𝒂

3. Write the equation of Identify a, h and Substitute a, h and k, into the vertex form
the quadratic function. k: then simplify:
a=4 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘
h=1 𝑦 = 𝟒(𝑥 − 𝟏)2 − 𝟐
k = -2 𝑦 = 4(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1) − 2
𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 4 − 2
𝒚 = 𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟐
 DISCUSSION EXAMPLE
III. ZEROS Formula:
A. RATIONAL ZEROS 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒓𝟏 )(𝒙 − 𝒓𝟐 )
FORMULA:
𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑟1 )(𝑥 − 𝑟2 ) Given:
GIVEN: a. Zeros
a. Zeros 𝒓𝟏 = −𝟑
𝒓𝟏 𝒓𝟐 = 𝟐
𝒓𝟐 b. Point
b. Point (-1, -12)
(x, y)

STEPS:
1. Identify r1, r2, x and y Identify r1, r2, x and y from the given:
from the given 𝒓𝟏 = −𝟑
𝒓𝟐 = 𝟐
𝒙 = −𝟏
𝒚 = −𝟏𝟐

2. Solve for a. Substitute r1, r2, x and y into the formula then simplify:
𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒓𝟏 )(𝒙 − 𝒓𝟐 )
−𝟏𝟐 = 𝒂(−𝟏 − −𝟑)(−𝟏 − 𝟐)
−12 = 𝑎(−1 + 3)(−1 − 2)
−12 = 𝑎(2)(−3)
−12 = −6𝑎
𝟐=𝒂

3. Write the equations of
the quadratic function
Identify a, r1 and Substitute a, r1 and r2, into the formula
r2,: then simplify:
𝒂=𝟐 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒓𝟏 )(𝒙 − 𝒓𝟐 )
𝒓𝟏 = −𝟑 𝑦 = 𝟐(𝑥 − −𝟑)(𝑥 − 𝟐)
𝒓𝟐 = 𝟐 𝑦 = 2(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 2)
𝑦 = 2(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6)
𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏𝟐

B. IRRATIONAL ZEROS Given:

GIVEN: 1 ± √3
a. Zeros 𝑥=
2
𝒙
STEPS:
1. Remove the denominator by multiplying the 1 ± √3
whole equation by the denominator (𝑥 = )2
2
2𝑥 = 1 ± √3
2. Transpose terms so that only the irrational term
is on the right and the other terms are on the
2𝑥 − 1 = ±√3
left

3. Remove the Radical symbol by squaring both (2𝑥 − 1)2 = (±√3)

2

sides of the equation then simplify. 4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 = 3

4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 − 3 = 𝑦
4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 2 = 𝑦

4. Write the equation of the quadratic function. 𝒚 = 𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟐