Quadratic Functions

A Quadratic Function is an equation that has the form

y  ax 2  bx  c

The graph of a Quadratic Equation is a u-shaped curve called a Parabola.

The Vertex is the highest or lowest point of the parabola.

The Vertex is also called the Turning Point.

If a is positive, the parabola opens upward,

and the vertex is the minimum point. Maybe we
should look at
some diagrams.

If a is negative, the parabola opens downward,

and the vertex is the maximum point.
 Objective:

Solves problems involving quadratic

functions.
M9AL-Ii-j-2
Maximum and Minimum Points

y  2x  4x
2 y  2x 2  4x

a is positive, therefore the a is negative, therefore the

parabola opens upward, and parabola opens downward, and
the vertex is the minimum the vertex is the maximum
point. point.
(-1, 2) 
Vertex
Turning Point

Vertex
Turning Point  (1, -2)
 Axis of Symmetry

The Axis of Symmetry of a parabola is the line that splits

the parabola in half lengthwise. The Axis of Symmetry
always goes through the Vertex of the parabola.

Let’s look at some graphs.

y  2x 2  4x

y  2x 2  4x
Axis of
Symmetry

Axis of x = -1
Symmetry x=1
Finding the Axis of Symmetry
You can find the Axis of Symmetry of any b
x 
quadratic equation by using the formula 2a
Let’s take a look at those equations again.

f (x )  2x 2  4x To find the f (x )  2x 2  4x

coordinates of
a = 2, b = -4, c = 0 the vertex, plug a = -2, b = -4, c = 0
the value of x
into the original b ( 4)
b ( 4) function . 
 2a 2( 2)
2a 2(2)
x 1 x  1
f (1)  2(1)2  4(1)  2 f ( 1)  2( 1)2  4( 1)  2
vertex (1, -2) vertex (-1, 2)
Graphing a Quadratic Equation Using a
Table of Values
b
Graph y  x  4x  6 in the interval 1  x  5
2
x 
2a

x y ( 4)
x 
-1 -1 Axis of 2(1)
 Symmetry 
0 -6 4
1 -9 x=2 x 
2
2 -10
x 2
3 -9
4 -6  
5 -1

 
That was easy Vertex  (2, -10)
Graphing
Examples

x y
Solving Quadratic Equations

When you solve a quadratic equation, the x values that you

calculate are referred to as the roots of the equation.

When a quadratic function is in the form of y  ax  bx  c , the

2

roots can be found by setting the equation equal to zero and solving.

When a quadratic equation is factorable,

then it can be solved algebraically.

Sometimes, the roots of the equation

are referred to as the solution set.

This is actually pretty easy.

Let’s look at some examples.
 Factoring and Solving
Quadratic Function
Find the solution set of the following quadratic functions.

28  x 2  3x Rewrite the equation in x 2  40  13x

ax2 + bx + c = 0 format.

x  3x  28  0
2
Rewrite the equation so
x 2  13x  40  0
that a is positive.
x  3x  28  0
2 x 2  13x  40  0
Factor the equation.
(x  7 )(x  4)  0 (x  8)(x  5)  0
Set each factor equal to x 8  0 x 5  0
x 7  0 x 4  0 zero and solve.
x  7 x  4 x 8 x 5

x  { 7, 4} Write the solution set. x  {5, 8}

 More Factoring Examples
For what values of x is the Solve the following equation for x
following fraction undefined?
x x 3
x 1
2

2 x 5
x 2  x  12
Cross-multiply.
If the denominator was equal to zero,
the fraction would be undefined.
x 2  5x  2x  6
Rewrite the equation in
x  x  12  0
2
ax2 + bx + c = 0 format.

(x  3)(x  4)  0 x 2  7x  6  0
Factor the equation.
x  3 or x  4 (x  6)(x  1)  0
The fraction would x  6 or x  1
be undefined at
x  { 3, 4} x  {1, 6}
 Solving Quadratic Equations by Graphing
Find the roots of the following quadratic function.

x 2  10  3x 1) Enter the equation in Y1 .

Let’s solve by factoring first.

2) View the graph by pressing GRAPH

x 2  3x  10  0 3) Press 2nd CALC 2 (zero)

(x  5)(x  2)  0
x  { 5, 2}
Now let’s solve by graphing.
4) Move the curser slightly to the left
of the vertex and press ENTER
5) Move the curser slightly to the right
of the vertex and press ENTER
6) Press ENTER

The calculator calculates the 1st root.

Repeat steps 3 – 6 to calculate the 2nd root.

 More Solving Quadratic
Equations by Graphing
Approximate the roots of the
1) Enter the equation in Y1 .
following quadratic function
to the nearest hundredth. 2) View the graph by pressing GRAPH
x 2  2  3x 3) Press 2nd CALC 2 (zero)
Set equation equal to zero. 4) Move the curser slightly to the left
x 2  3x  2  0 of the vertex and press ENTER

This equation is unfactorable, so

5) Move the curser slightly to the right
we have to use our calculator. of the vertex and press ENTER
6) Press ENTER
The calculator calculates the 1st root.
x  .5615528
Repeat steps 3 – 6 to calculate the 2nd root.
x  3.5615528
Round off your answer. x  { 0.56, 3.56}
 Solving Quadratic Equations
with no Middle Term
2x 2  50  0 Let’s check with our
calculator to make sure
Since there is no middle term,
the roots are correct.
this equation is unfactorable.

2x 2  50 Approximate the roots of the

following quadratic function
x 2  25 to the nearest hundredth.
x 2  25 3x 2  60  0
x  5 or x  5 3x 2  60
x 2  20
x  { 5}
x 2  20
x  4.47 or x  4.47
That was easy x  { 4.47 }
Linear Quadratic Systems
Algebraically x y 1 Graphically

x y 1 y  x 2  4x  3 Y1 = 1x
y 1x Y2 = x 2  4x  3
y  x 2  4x  3 View the graph by pressing GRAPH

x 2  4x  3  1  x Press 2nd CALC 5 (intersect)

x 2  5x  4  0 Press ENTER ENTER ENTER

x 2  5x  4  0 The calculator calculates the

first point of intersection.
(x  4)(x  1)  0
x  4 x 1 (1, 0)
y  1  4 y  1 1 Repeat the same process . Be sure
to move the curser closer to the
y  3 y  0 second point before pressing enter.
(4, 3) (1, 0) (4, 3)
Projectile Motion
A ball is thrown in the air so that its height, h, in feet after t seconds
is given by the equation h  144t  16t 2
a. Find the number of seconds b. After how many seconds will
that the ball is in the air the ball hit the ground?
when it reaches a height of
128 feet. h  144t  16t 2
144t  16t 2  0
h  144t  16t 2

16t 2  144t  0
128  144t  16t 2

16t 2  144t  0
16t 2  144t  128  0 Maybe we should
check this on our t (16t  144)  0
t 2  9t  8  0 calculator. t  0 16t  144
(t  8)(t  1)  0
t 9
t 8 t 1
The ball reaches 128 feet at The ball hits the ground
1 second and at 8 seconds. after 9 seconds.
 More Projectile Motion

A model rocket is launched from ground level. At t seconds after it is

launched, it is h meters above the ground, where h (t )  4.9t 2  68.6t

What is the maximum height, to the nearest meter,

attained by the model rocket?
I know how to do this.

We need to find the maximum height. So, first we’ll find the axis of
symmetry, then use that x-value to find the corresponding y-value.

b 68.6
x   7 h (7 )  4.9(7 )2  68.6(7)
2a 2( 4.9)
h (7)  240.1  480.2
The maximum height is h (7)  240.1
approximately 240 meters.
 Maximizing the Area of a Rectangle
Stanley has 30 yards of fencing that he wishes to use to enclose a
rectangular garden. If all the fencing is used, what is the
maximum area of the garden that can be enclosed?
x
Let x represent the length
15 - x and let w represent the width.

Let A(x) represent the area of the rectangle.

Since all the fencing
must be used, the A(x )  (x )(15  x ) A(7.5)  (7.5)2  15(7.5)
perimeter of the
garden will be 30 A(x )  15x  x 2 A(7.5)  56.25  112.5
yards, and we can use A(x )  x 2  15x A(7.5)  56.25
the following equation.
2x  2w  30 The maximum value occurs at
b 15
x  w  15 x    7.5 The maximum area is
2a 2( 1) 56.25 yards2.
w  15  x
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