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Quadratic Functions: A A Shape Parameter

The document discusses quadratic functions of the form f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c. It explains that the vertex formula can be used to write any quadratic function in the form f(x) = a(x - h)^2 + k, where h and k are the x- and y-coordinates of the vertex. The shape of the graph depends on the sign of a, with a > 0 producing an upward opening parabola and a < 0 producing a downward opening parabola. The vertex is the point where the parabola turns, and is either a minimum or maximum depending on the sign of a.

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Ana Dela Fuente
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79 views8 pages

Quadratic Functions: A A Shape Parameter

The document discusses quadratic functions of the form f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c. It explains that the vertex formula can be used to write any quadratic function in the form f(x) = a(x - h)^2 + k, where h and k are the x- and y-coordinates of the vertex. The shape of the graph depends on the sign of a, with a > 0 producing an upward opening parabola and a < 0 producing a downward opening parabola. The vertex is the point where the parabola turns, and is either a minimum or maximum depending on the sign of a.

Uploaded by

Ana Dela Fuente
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS

PROTOTYPE:
f (x) = ax2 + bx + c. (1)
The leading coefficient a 6= 0 is called the shape parameter.

SHAPE-VERTEX FORMULA
One can write any quadratic function (1) as

f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k, (Shape-Vertex Formula)


b b2
where h = − and k = f (h) = c − .
2a 4a
EXAMPLE 1. f (x) = 2x2 − 8x + 5.
To derive the Shape-Vertex Formula for f (x) we first identify the coeffi-
cients:
a = 2, b = −8, c = −1.
With these identifications we have:
b (−8) 8
h=− =− = = 2;
2a 2 · (2) 4
k = f (h) = f (2) = 2(2)2 − 8(2) + 5 = −3,

so the Shape-Vertex Formula for f (x) is:

f (x) =2(x − 2)2 −3

1
FACTS ABOUT THE GRAPH:

A. The graph has same shape as the graph of ax2 , but shifted. The shift-
ing is determined by the numbers h and k that appear in the Shape-Vertex
Formula.

We illustrate this fact with Example 1


above. In that example we started with
the function f (x) = 2x2 − 8x + 5, and we
found the Shape-Vertex Formula to be

f (x) = 2(x − 2)2 −3.

By the above Fact, we then know that the


graph of f (x) is the same as the graph of
y = 2x2 , but shifted 2 units to the right,
and 3 units down.
The graph of f (x) is shown in red, while
the graph of y = 2x2 is shown in blue. 2

–3

2
B. The shape of the graph of f (x) = ax2 + bx + c is called a parabola.
The parabola opens upward or downward, depending on the sign of the leading
coefficient a, as shown below.
V

V
a>0 a<0

THE VERTEX. The “tip” of the parabola, marked by V in the above


pictures, is called the vertex. Its coordinates are the numbers (h, k), given in
the Shape-Vertex Formula. The vertical line through the vertex is an axis of
symmetry for the parabola.

The vertex is a “turning point” (a point where the graph changes direction).
Moreover:
• if a > 0, then the vertex is a minimum point;
• if a < 0, then the vertex is a maximum point.
The intervals of monotonicity (where the function is increasing or decreas-
ing) are (−∞, h) and (h, ∞).

3
GRAPHING AND ANALYZING THE FUNCTION

Use the following steps when dealing with a quadratic function

f (x) = ax2 + bx + c.

Step 1. Find the y-intercept f (0).

Step 2. Find the x-intercept(s), by solving the equation

f (x) = 0.

Step 3. Find the coordinates of the vertex:


b b2
xV = h = − ; yV = k = f (h) = c − .
2a 4a

Step 4. Draw the graph. (Use the information from Steps 1-3.)

Step 5. Analyze the graph and extract information about the function.
- specify whether the vertex is a maximum or a minimum point;
- indicate the intervals where the function is increasing or decreasing.

4
EXAMPLE. Graph and analyze f (x) = −x2 − 2x + 3.

Solution: Step 1. The y-intercept is y = f (0) = −(0)2 − 2(0) + 3 = 3.

Step 2. The x-intercept(s) are found by solving the equation:


−x2 − 2x + 3 = 0.
Using the Quadratic Formula, the solutions are
√ p
−b ± b2 − 4ac −(−2) ± (−2)2 − 4 · (−1) · (3) 2 ± 4
x= = = ,
2a 2 · (−1) −2
so there are two x-intercepts: x1 = −3 and x2 = 1.

Step 3. We find the numbers h, k: 4


b (−2) 3
h=− =− = −1,
2a 2 · (−1)
k = f (h) = f (−1) =
= −(−1)2 − 2(−1) + 3 = 4,
–3 –1 1
so the vertex is the point (−1, 4).

Step 4. The graph is shown on the


right.

Step 5. The vertex (−1, 4) is a maximimum point.


The function f (x) is:
• increasing on (−∞, −1);
• decreasing on (−1, ∞).

5
FINDING THE FUNCTION, GIVEN THE VERTEX

When the vertex of the graph is given, we proceed as follows.

Step 1. Replace h, k in the Shape-Vertex Forumula

f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k,

so that we get a “preliminary” form of the function:

y = a(x − #)2 + #.

(Here it is understood that # mean concrete numbers.

Step 2. Replace x and y by the coordinates of the other point given, so


that now we would get something like:

# = a(#)2 + #.

Think of the above as an equation with a as the unknown, ans solve for a.

Step 3. Replace a in the “preliminary” equation.

6
EXAMPLE. Find the quadratic function whose graph has vertex (−1, 2)
and passes through the point (1, 10).

Solution: Here the vertex gives h = −1 and k = 2.

Step 1. The preliminary equation is


¡ ¢2
y = a x − (−1) + (2),

which is the same as


y = a(x + 1)2 + 2.

Step 2. We replace x = 1 and y = 10, and we get

10 = a(1 + 1)2 + 2,

which leads to the equation


10 = 4a + 2.
We obviously get a = 2.

Step 3. The function is then given by


f (x) = 2(x + 1)2 + 2

7
APPLIED PROBLEMS.

The meaning of the vertex, as the maximum or minimum point for the
quadratic function, is often used to solve optimization problems.

EXAMPLE. The daily cost C of producing lamps at the ABC COmpany


is given by
C = 900 − 20x + .2x2 ,
where x is the number of units produced. How many lamps should be produced
in order to yield the minimum possible cost?

Solution: What we are dealing with here is a quadratic function

f (x) = 0.2x2 − 20x + 900,

whose coefficients are a = 0.2(> 0), b = −20 and c = 900. What we need to
find is the value of x, for which f (x) takes the minimum value. Since a > 0,
we know that f (x) has a minimum point at the vertex. So what we need to
find is precisely the x-coordinate of the vertex, that is the h-number. So the
answer is
b −20 20
x=h=− =− = = 50.
2a 2(0.2) 0.5

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