IB MATHEMATICS APPLICATIONS AND

INTERPRETATION
Quadratic models

STUDENT WORKBOOK

Contents
4.1 Quadratic regression using the TI-Nspire graphing calculator .................................................. 2
4.2 Linear regression using the TI-Nspire graphing calculator ........................................................ 4
4.3 Quadratic models ....................................................................................................................... 5
4.3.1 Features of a quadratic function ........................................................................................ 5
4.3.2 Sketching quadratic graphs ................................................................................................ 7
4.4 Problems involving quadratics ................................................................................................... 9
4.5 Quadratic functions in intercept form ..................................................................................... 15

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4.1 QUADRATIC REGRESSION USING THE TI-NSPIRE GRAPHING CALCULATOR
Regression means using the relationship between variables to find the best-fitting model to use in
making predictions. So, essentially, if you have been given a table of data, using technology (for
example TI-Nspire), you can figure out what kind of equation would best fit the data.
Example:
The table shows the population of a bacteria culture from day 5 to day 30. Use a graphing calculator
to find the best-fitting quadratic model.

Day 5 10 15 20 25 30
Population 60 135 240 370 500 740

Step 1: Enter the data into a spreadsheet

Home>>#1 New Document>>Press Enter>>#4 Add Lists
& Spreadsheet>> Enter the data into column A and
column B. Name the lists.

Step 2: Make a scatter plot

Insert a new page by pressing the Control Key (ctrl) and
the Doc Key>>Select #5 Add Data & Statistics and then
press Enter.
On the resulting scatter graph, click on the x and y axis
and add the required labels.

Step 3: Find the quadratic regression equation

For regression line press Menu>>#4 Analyze>>#6
Regression>>#4 Show Quadratic.
This will give you the regression line with the equation:
𝑦 = 0.661𝑥 2 + 3.30𝑥 + 32.5

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a) Use your regression equation (found on the previous page) to predict what the population of
bacteria would be on Day 23. Show your working out.

b) Use your regression equation to predict what the population of bacteria would be on Day 50.
Show your working out.

c) Why is your answer for part (a) more reliable than your answer for part (b)?

d) Use your regression equation to predict on what day the population of bacteria would exceed
900. You might like to use Menu → Algebra → nSolve OR Polynomial Tools on your TI-Nspire to
solve for x (the day).

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4.2 LINEAR MODELS - REGRESSION USING THE TI-NSPIRE GRAPHING CALCULATOR
In this section, we will do a linear regression (finding the best-fitting linear model which can be
expressed in the form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐).
Example:
The sales of an online clothes store, 𝑆 thousand dollars, 𝑥 weeks after it was launched are shown in
the table.

𝑥, weeks 2 5 8 11 14 17
𝑆, thousands of dollars 1.2 2.6 3.9 5.3 6.6 8

a) Plot the graph of this data on your GDC.

b) Choose an appropriate model for the sales of the company. Justify your decision.

c) Find an equation for the model. Plot the model on the GDC. Comment on your model.

d) Hence estimate:
i) the sales of the online clothing store 6 weeks after it was launched.

ii) the sales of the online clothing store 14 weeks after it was launched.

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4.3 QUADRATIC MODELS
A function of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 is called a quadratic function.
The highest power of 𝑥 is 2 and 𝑎 ≠ 0, because when 𝑎 = 0, we would have a linear function.
So, how does a quadratic function look like?
The graph of a quadratic function is called a parabola and has a curved shape.
You can draw the graph of a quadratic function using your graphing calculator. For example:

The graph of 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 The graph of 𝒚 = −𝒙𝟐

• When 𝑎 > 0, the parabola opens up. When 𝑎 < 0, the parabola opens down.

4.3.1 FEATURES OF A QUADRATIC FUNCTION

• The vertex is the point on the
parabola where the curve changes
direction.
To find the 𝑥-coordinate of the vertex
can be found using the formula:
−𝑏
𝑥=
2𝑎

• A quadratic a curve with a vertex of

coordinates (ℎ, 𝑘), can be expressed
as:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘

• If the parabola opens up, then the vertex will be the minimum point.
• If the parabola opens down, then the vertex will be the maximum point.
• Notice that the parabola is symmetrical to itself (it is seen as two halves). The imaginary line that
divides the parabola into two symmetrical halves is called the axis of symmetry.

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a) If you know the 𝑥-intercepts (also called the zeros), how can you find the equation of the axis of
symmetry?

b) If you know the value of 𝑎 and 𝑏, how could you find the equation of the axis of symmetry?

c) Why is a quadratic graph considered to be a ‘function’?

d) Does the inverse function exist for quadratic functions? Give a reason.

e) Generally, what is the domain and range of a quadratic function?

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4.3.2 SKETCHING QUADRATIC GRAPHS
If you’re asked to just ‘sketch’ a quadratic graph, graph the quadratic on the TI-Nspire and then find
the coordinates of the vertex, the y-intercept and the x-intercepts (the zeros) and then plot these
points and draw a curve through them.

Example 1:
Plot the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) for the following functions on your graphing calculator, and then sketch
them. On each sketch, mark the coordinates of the vertex and the points where the graph intercepts
the exes, and state the domain and range of the function.
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 4 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = −10𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 + 15

Example 2:

Consider the graph given by the equation 𝑦 = 1.2𝑥 2 − 2.3𝑥 − 9.

a) Find the coordinates where the graph crosses the 𝑥 axis.

b) Find the coordinates of the intercept of the 𝑦 axis.

c) Find the equation of symmetry of the curve.

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d) Find the point of intersection of this curve with the curve given by the equation 𝑦 = −4𝑥 3 .

Recall that the general form of a quadratic equation is:

𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄
Whereby: a = the coefficient of the term in 𝑥 2 .
b = the coefficient of the term in 𝑥.
c = the constant term (no letter in it).

Example 3:

Given a general quadratic function of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, write down the values of a, b
and c for each of the following functions.

a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 4 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥 2 + 2 − 𝑥 c) 𝑓(𝑥) = 7 + 𝑥 2

Example 4:
The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 passes through the points (0, 3) and (-2, -1). Given that the equation
of symmetry of the graph is 𝑥 = 1, find the values of a, b and c.

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4.4 PROBLEMS INVOLVING QUADRATICS
Example 1:
A rectangular alpaca fence has a perimeter of 60m.
a) The width of the fence is 𝑥 cm. Find an expression, in terms of 𝑥, for the length of the fence.

b) Find an equation for the area of the fence, 𝐴 cm2, in terms of 𝑥.

c) Plot the graph which shows how 𝐴 varies with 𝑥 on your TI-Nspire. Use a suitable domain and
range for your WINDOW settings. Hence, sketch the graph below.

d) Find the 𝑥-intercepts (the zeros) of the graph in part c.

e) State what these two values of 𝑥 represent.

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f) Hence, find the equation of the graph’s line of symmetry, and state what this tells you in the
context of the problem.

Example 2:
The first four terms of an arithmetic sequence are 5, 8, 11 and 14.
3𝑛2 7𝑛
a) Show that the sum to 𝑛 terms can be written as + .
2 2

b) If the sum to 𝑛 terms is 343, write a quadratic equation to represent this information. Rearrange
to equal 0 and plot a graph of this equation on your GDC. Hence, sketch the graph below, showing
the coordinates of the vertex and axes intercepts.

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c) Find the positive 𝑥-intercept.

d) State what information the positive 𝑥-intercept tells you about the sequence.

Example 3:
Glaze produces and sells donuts. The weekly cost, in dollars, for producing 𝑥 donuts is given by the
relation 𝐶(𝑥) = 0.05𝑥 2 + 100. The weekly income, in dollars, from selling 𝑥 donuts is given by the
relation 𝑆(𝑥) = −0.1𝑥 2 + 20𝑥.
a) Show that the weekly profit can be written as 𝑃(𝑥) = −0.15𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 − 100.

b) Plot the graph of this equation and sketch it below, showing the coordinates of the vertex and the
axes intercepts.

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c) State what the 𝑥-intercepts represent in the context of the question.

d) Find the equation of the axis of symmetry of the graph, and state what this tells you in the
context of the question.

Example 4:
For 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5, find the following:
a) the vertex

b) the equation of the axis of symmetry

Example 5:
Chloe is playing softball. She hits the ball and the height of the ball is modelled by the formula
𝑦 = −0.02𝑥 2 + 0.63𝑥 + 1.1 where 𝑦 is the height of the ball, in metres.
a) Find the maximum height that the ball reaches.

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b) Find the positive value for 𝑥 when the graph crosses the 𝑥-axis and explain what this value
represents.

c) Find the 𝑦-intercept and explain what this represents.

d) Write down the equation of the axis of symmetry.

Example 5:
Lila throws a ball up in the air for Loki to try to catch. The height of the ball above ground can be
modelled by:

𝑓(𝑡) = 1.35 + 6.8𝑡 − 1.73𝑡 2

where 𝑡 is the time, in seconds, that has passed since Lila threw the ball, and 𝑓(𝑡) is the height of the
ball, in metres.
a) Sketch the graph of the function

𝑦-intercept is:

𝑥-intercepts are:

Coordinates of the vertex are:

Axis of symmetry equation is:

b) How high up off the ground was the ball when it was released from Lila’s hand?

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c) Find the maximum height that the ball reaches.

d) If Lila’s efforts are in vain, and Loki just sits there and ignores the ball, determine how long it takes
for the ball to land on the ground.

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4.5 QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS IN INTERCEPT FORM
Another form of a quadratic function is called intercept form.
This form of the function is 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑝)(𝑥 − 𝑞). The points 𝑥 = 𝑝 and 𝑥 = 𝑞 are the 𝑥-
intercepts.

Example 5:
Given the equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) for each of the following functions:
a) Find the intercept with the y-axis.
b) Find the intercepts with the x-axis.
c) Find the coordinates of the vertex.
d) Find the equation of the axis of symmetry.
e) Sketch the graph of the function on paper, showing clearly the 𝑥 and 𝑦 intercepts and the
coordinates of the maximum or minimum point.

i) 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 9)(𝑥 − 2) ii) 𝑓(𝑥) = −2(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3)

𝑦-intercept is: 𝑦-intercept is:

𝑥-intercepts are: 𝑥-intercepts are:

Coordinates of the vertex are: Coordinates of the vertex are:

Axis of symmetry equation is: Axis of symmetry equation is:

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If you are given a graph of a quadratic function, you can easily work out it’s equation by using three
distinct points on the graph, and entering these x and y values into a spreadsheet on your TI-Nspire
and doing a quadratic regression.

Example 6:
Find the equations of the following graphs:
a) b)

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