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What is a quadratic function?
Linear functions are those in the form y = mx + b, where the
highest power of x is 1.
A quadratic function has x2 as its highest power of x.
They can therefore all be written in the form:
y = ax2 + bx + c (where a ≠ 0)
So, what do the graphs of these functions look like?
We can draw the graph of a quadratic function by making
a table of values then plotting the points.
Plot the graph of y = x2 – 4x + 2 for –1 ≤ x ≤ 5.
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Plotting graphs of quadratic functions
Draw a table of values for y = x2 – 4x + 2 for –1 ≤ x ≤ 5.
x –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
y = x2 – 4x + 2 7 2 –1 –2 –1 2 7
y
y = (–1)2 – 4(–1) + 2 6
=1+4+2=7 5
4
The pairs of coordinates 3
2
in the table can now be 1
plotted and joined with
–1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
a smooth curve. –1
Examine the graph and discuss its shape.
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Graph characteristics
The shape of this curve is y
called a parabola. 6
5
It is characteristic of a
4
quadratic function.
3
2
Parabolas are symmetrical
about a vertical axis. 1
–1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
This particular parabola is –1
a U-shape.
Parabolas all have a turning point called the vertex.
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Characteristics of parabolas
y Things to observe from the graph of
a quadratic function:
y-intercept
When the coefficient of x2 is positive,
the vertex is a minimum point and
the graph is -shaped.
x
When the coefficient of x2 is negative,
the vertex is a maximum point and
vertex
the graph is -shaped.
The constant term determines the y-intercept of the curve.
What are the coordinates of the y-intercept
of the quadratic y = ax2 + bx + c?
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The y-intercept
The function y = ax2 + bx + c crosses the y-axis at (0, c).
At what point does the curve of the
function y = x2 + 6x cross the y-axis?
This function has no constant value (i.e. c = 0), so it will cross
the x-axis at (0, 0), which is the origin.
We can also find where the function crosses the y-axis by
substituting x = 0 into the function.
y = x2 + 6x
y = (0)2 + 6(0)
y=0
So the function crosses the y-axis at the point (0, 0).
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The zeros of a quadratic function
Observations:
When a quadratic function is in factored form, the values
inside the parentheses relate to where it crosses the x-axis.
These points are called the zeros of the function.
The value in front of the parentheses stretches the curve
vertically but the zeros remain the same.
In general:
When a quadratic function is written in the form
y = a(x – p)(x – q), it will intersect the x-axis at
the points (p, 0) and (q, 0).
p and q are the zeros of the quadratic function.
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The zeros of a quadratic function
This is the graph of the
function y = x2 – 2x – 3.
What is the factored form of
this function?
Use the fact that the function
crosses the x-axis when y = 0
to write a mathematical proof
of how a function’s factored
form tells us its zeros.
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Finding the zeros of a quadratic
When a quadratic function factors, we can use its factored form
to find where it crosses the x-axis. Here’s how:
The function y = x2 – 2x – 3 crosses the x-axis when y = 0.
set equal to zero: x2 – 2x – 3 = 0
factor: (x + 1)(x – 3) = 0
If the product of two terms is 0, one of the terms must be zero.
This means that either (x + 1) = 0 or (x – 3) = 0:
x+1=0 or x–3=0
subtract 1: x = –1 add 3: x=3
So the function crosses the x-axis at (–1, 0) and (3, 0).
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Finding the zeros of a quadratic
When we solve a quadratic equation for y = 0, we are in fact
finding the values of its zeros.
What are the zeros of the quadratic
function y = 3x2 + 4x – 4?
This function can be solved by factoring:
y = (3x – 2)(x + 2)
substitute y = 0: 0 = (3x – 2)(x + 2)
Zero-Product Property: 3x – 2 = 0 or x + 2 = 0
Therefore, the zeros are 2 and –2.
3
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The vertex of a quadratic
y The function y = x2 – 2x – 3
has zeros x = –1 and x = 3.
Where will its vertex be?
(–1, 0) (3, 0)
0
A parabola is symmetrical, so
x
the x-coordinate of the vertex is
half-way between the zeros.
Here, it is between –1 and 3:
(1, –4)
–1 + 3
x= =1
2
Substitute x = 1 back into the function: y = (1)2 – 2(1) – 3
y = –4
So the coordinates of the vertex are (1, –4).
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Vertex form observations
The quadratic function y = ax2 + bx + c can be written in
vertex form (or completed square form) as a(x – h)2 + k.
Observations:
● The coordinates of the vertex are (h, k).
● The axis of symmetry has the equation x = h.
● If a > 0 (h, k) will be the minimum point.
● If a < 0 (h, k) will be the maximum point.
When a function does not factor, we write it in vertex form to
find the coordinates of the vertex.
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The flight path of a ball
Mr. Jackson's physics class runs an experiment where they
launch a ball from a catapult across level ground.
In class, the students learn
that the height of the ball in
feet at any time during its
flight can be calculated
from the quadratic equation
h = –16t2 + 50t + 2.
1) How high is the ball from the ground when
it is launched?
2) After how long does the ball hit the ground?
3) Find the ball’s maximum height.
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The flight path of a ball
The path of the ball is a parabola, so we can use our
knowledge of quadratics to answer the questions.
1) How high is the ball off the ground when it is launched?
When the ball is launched, the time is t = 0.
Substitute t = 0 into the quadratic equation h = –16t2 + 50t + 2:
h = –16(0)2 + 50(0) + 2
h = 2 ft
This can be seen by
graphing the function:
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The flight path of a ball
2) After how long does the ball hit the ground?
When the ball hits the ground, h = 0 ft: 0 = –16t2 + 50t + 2.
Find the roots using the quadratic formula:
–b ± b2 – 4ac –50 ± 502 – 4(–16)(2)
t= =
2a 2(–16)
–50 ± 2628
=
–32
–50 + 2628 –50 – 2628
t= = –0.04 s and t = = 3.16 s
–32 –32
The ball hits the ground after 3.16 seconds.
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The flight path of a ball
3) Find the ball’s maximum height.
The greatest height of the ball occurs at the vertex.
h = –16t2 + 50t + 2
factor: h = –16(t2 – 3.125t – 0.125)
complete the square: h = –16[(t – 1.5625)2 – (1.5625)2 – 0.125]
distributive property: h = (t – 1.5625)2 + 16(1.5625)2 + 16(0.125)
simplify: h = (t – 1.5625)2 + 41.0625
The vertex is at (1.5625, 41.0625) so the ball’s maximum
height is approximately 41.1 ft.
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