Drawing Graphs of

Quadratic Functions

Topic 2.3.E

1
Topic
The main features of a quadratic are:
2.3.E

1. Where the graph crosses the y-axis. (At (0, c) as when x = 0, y =

c).
2. Where the graph crosses the x-axis. (Factorise or use the quadratic
formula to solve f(x) = 0.)
3. Where the graph turns. You can use differentiation, or completing
the square (the quadratic formula), to find that:

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Topic
The main features of a quadratic are:
2.3.E

Graphically, we see that this means:

Once you know this information you can sketch any quadratic function.
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Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E

Find the Roots of the Corresponding Equations

In general, a good way to graph the function

y = ax2 + bx + c is to find:

(i) the x-intercepts (if there are any)

— this involves solving a quadratic equation,

(ii) the y-intercept — this involves setting x = 0,

(iii) the vertex.

4
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Example 1

Sketch the graphs of y = x2 – 3x + 2 and y = –2x2 + 6x – 4.

Solution
y
(i) To find the x-intercepts of the 6
graph of y = x2 – 3x + 2, you need
4
to solve: x2 – 3x + 2 = 0
2
This quadratic factors to give:
0 x
(x – 1)(x – 2) = 0 –2 0 2 4
–2
Using the zero property, x = 1 or x = 2.
–4
So the x-intercepts are (1, 0) and (2, 0).
–6
5
Solution
Solution
continues…
follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Example 1

Sketch the graphs of y = x2 – 3x + 2 and y = –2x2 + 6x – 4.

Solution (continued)
y
(ii) To find the y-intercept, put x = 0 6
into y = x2 – 3x + 2. This gives y = 2,
4
so the y-intercept is at (0, 2).
2
(iii) The x-coordinate of the vertex
is always halfway between the –2
0
0 2 4
x
x-intercepts. –2
So the x-coordinate of the vertex –4
1+2 3
is given by: x = = –6
2 2 6
Solution continues…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Example 1

Sketch the graphs of y = x2 – 3x + 2 and y = –2x2 + 6x – 4.

Solution (continued)
y
And the y-coordinate of the vertex is: y = x2 – 3x + 2
6

3 2 3 1 4
– 3× +2=–
2 2 4 2
3 1
So the vertex is at , – . –2
0
0 2 4
x
2 4
–2
Also, the parabola’s line of symmetry
passes through the vertex. –4
3
So, the line of symmetry is the line x = . –6
2 Solution continues…
7
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Example 1

Sketch the graphs of y = x2 – 3x + 2 and y = –2x2 + 6x – 4.

Solution (continued)
y
The next function is the same as in the y = x2 – 3x + 2
6
previous example, only multiplied by –2.
4
The coefficient of x2 is negative this 2
time, so the graph is concave down.
0 x
–2 0 2 4
–2

–4

–6
8
Solution continues…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Example 1

Sketch the graphs of y = x2 – 3x + 2 and y = –2x2 + 6x – 4.

Solution (continued)
y
(i) To find the x-intercepts of the graph y = x2 – 3x + 2
6
of y = –2x2 + 6x – 4, you need to solve:
4
–2x2 + 6x – 4 = 0
2
This quadratic factors to give:
–2(x – 1)(x – 2) = 0. –2
0
0 2 4
x

Using the zero property, x = 1 or x = 2. –2

This means the x-intercepts are at: –4

(1, 0) and (2, 0).
–6
9
Solution continues…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Example 1

Sketch the graphs of y = x2 – 3x + 2 and y = –2x2 + 6x – 4.

Solution (continued)
y
(ii) Put x = 0 into y = –2x + 6x – 4
2 y = x2 – 3x + 2
6
to find the y-intercept.
4
The y-intercept is (0, –4). 2

0 x
–2 0 2 4
–2

–4

–6
10
Solution continues…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Example 1

Sketch the graphs of y = x2 – 3x + 2 and y = –2x2 + 6x – 4.

Solution (continued)
3 y
y = x2 – 3x + 2
(iii) The vertex is at x = . 6
2
4
So the y-coordinate of the vertex is at:
2
3 2 3 1
–2 × + 6× –4=
2 2 2 –2
0
0 2 4
x

3 1 –2
The coordinates of the vertex are , ,
2 2 –4
3
and, the line of symmetry is the line x = .
2 y =–6–2x2 + 6x – 4 11
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Guided Practice
Exercises 1–4 are about the quadratic y = x2 – 1.
1. Find the x–intercepts (if there are any).
Let y = 0 and factor: 0 = (x – 1)(x + 1) so x = 1 or x = –1.
So, the x-intercepts are (1, 0) and (–1, 0).

2. Find the y–intercepts (if there are any).

When x = 0, y = 0 – 1 = – 1. y
So, the y-intercept is (0, –1). 6
4
3. Find the vertex. 2
x-coordinate: [1 + (–1)] ÷ 2 = 0.
y-coordinate: y = 0 – 1 = –1. 0 x
So, the vertex is at (0, –1). –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
–2
4. Using the vertex, x-intercepts, –4
and y-intercepts, graph the quadratic. 12
–6
Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Guided Practice
Exercises 5–8 are about the quadratic y = (x – 1)2 – 4.
5. Find the x–intercepts (if there are any).
Rearrange to form a standard quadratic: y = x2 – 2x – 3
Let y = 0 and factor: 0 = (x – 3)(x + 1) so x = 3 or x = –1.
So, the x-intercepts are (3, 0) and (–1, 0).
6. Find the y–intercepts (if there are any).
When x = 0, y = (0 – 1)2 – 4 = 1 – 4 = –3. y
So, the y-intercept is (0, –3). 6
4
7. Find the vertex. 2
x-coordinate: [3 + (–1)] ÷ 2 = 1.
y-coordinate: y = (1 – 1)2 – 4 = –4. 0 x
–6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
So, the vertex is at (1, –4). –2
8. Using the vertex, x-intercepts, –4
and y-intercepts, graph the quadratic. 13
–6
Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Independent Practice
For each of the quadratics in Exercises 1–2, follow these steps:
i) Find the x–intercepts (if any),
ii) Find the y–intercepts (if any),
iii) Find the vertex,
iv) Using the vertex, x-intercepts,
and y-intercepts, graph the quadratic.
y
2
1 6
1. y = x2 – 2x
x-intercepts: (0, 0) and (2, 0) 4
y-intercept: (0, 0) 2
vertex: (1, –1)
2. y = x2 + 2x – 3 0 x
–6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
x-intercepts: (–3, 0) and (1, 0) –2
y-intercept: (0, –3)
–4
vertex: (–1, –4)
14
–6
Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Independent Practice
For each of the quadratics in Exercises 3–4, follow these steps:
i) Find the x–intercepts (if any),
ii) Find the y–intercepts (if any),
iii) Find the vertex,
iv) Using the vertex, x-intercepts,
and y-intercepts, graph the quadratic.y
4
3 6
3. y = –4x2 – 4x + 3
3 1 4
x-intercepts: (– , 0) and ( , 0)
2 2
1 2
y-intercept: (0, 3), vertex: (– , 4)
2 0 x
4. y = x2 – 4 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
x-intercepts: (–2, 0) and (2, 0) –2
y-intercept: (0, –4)
–4
vertex: (0, –4)
15
–6
Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Independent Practice
For each of the quadratics in Exercises 5–6, follow these steps:
i) Find the x–intercepts (if any),
ii) Find the y–intercepts (if any),
iii) Find the vertex,
iv) Using the vertex, x-intercepts,
and y-intercepts, graph the quadratic.y
6
5 10
5. y = x2 + 4x + 4
x-intercept: (–2, 0) 8
y-intercept: (0, 4)
6
vertex: (–2, 0)
6. y = –x2 + 4x + 5 4
x-intercepts: (5, 0) and (–1, 0) 2
y-intercept: (0, 5)
x
vertex: (2, 9) –6 –4 –2 0 0 2 4 6
16
–2
Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Independent Practice
For the quadratics in Exercises 7, follow these steps:
i) Find the x–intercepts (if any),
ii) Find the y–intercepts (if any),
iii) Find the vertex,
iv) Using the vertex, x-intercepts,
and y-intercepts, graph the quadratic.y
7 6
7. y = –9x2 – 6x + 3
1 4
x-intercepts: (–1 , 0) and ( , 0)
3 2
1
y-intercept: (0, 3), vertex: (– , 4)
3 0 x
–6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
–2
–4
17
–6
Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Independent Practice
Describe the characteristics of quadratic graphs of the
form y = ax2 + bx + c that have the following features,
or say if they are not possible.
8. No x-intercepts
The graph is either concave up with the vertex above the
x–axis, or concave down with the vertex below the x–axis.
9. One x-intercept
The vertex is the x–intercept.

10. Two x-intercepts

The graph is either concave up with the vertex below the x–axis,
or concave down with the vertex above the x–axis.
11. Three x-intercepts
Not possible.
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Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
2.3.E
Independent Practice
Describe the characteristics of quadratic graphs of the
form y = ax2 + bx + c that have the following features,
or say if they are not possible.
12. No y-intercepts
Not possible.

13. One y-intercept

All quadratic equations of the form y = ax2 + bx + c
will have one y–intercept.
14. Two y-intercepts
Not possible.

15. Three y-intercepts

Not possible.
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Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
7.4.2
Independent Practice
16. Which quadratic equation has the following features?
Vertex (3, –4), x-intercepts (1, 0), (5, 0), and y-intercept (0, 5)
y = (x – 3)2 – 4 or y = x2 – 6x + 5

17. Which quadratic equation has the following features?

Vertex (0, 16), x-intercepts (4, 0), (–4, 0), and y-intercept (0, 16)
y = –x2 + 16

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Solution follows…
Topic
Drawing Graphs of Quadratic Functions
7.4.2

Round Up
A quadratic function has the general form y = ax2 + bx + c
(where a  0).
When you draw the graph of a quadratic, the value of a
determines whether the parabola is concave up (u-shaped)
or concave down (n-shaped), and how steep it is.
Changing the value of c moves the graph in the
direction of the y-axis.
Note that if a = 0, the function becomes y = bx + c, which
is a linear function whose graph is a straight line.

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