MATH 202

MODERN ALGEBRA AND

TRIGONOMETRY QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
QUADRATIC FUNCTION

Definition: A quadratic function is a function of the

form f(x) = ax2 + bx + c where a, b, and c are real
numbers and a ≠ 0.

Example: y = x2 – 6x + 5

Note: The graph of a quadratic function is called a

parabola.
 RLayones
QUADRATIC FUNCTION
Domain :(-∞, +∞) Range
Graph y = x – 6x + 5 y
2

:[-4, + ∞)
x
y
RLayones

x
QUADRATIC FUNCTION

Definition: The lowest point on a parabola that opens

upward or the highest point on a parabola that opens
downward is called the vertex.

Notes:
▪ The y-coordinate of the vertex is the minimum value of
the function if the parabola opens upward.
▪ The y-coordinate of the vertex is the maximum value of
the function if the parabola opens downward.

RLayones
QUADRATIC FUNCTION
 Domain :(-∞, + ∞)
Graph y = x – 6x + 5 y
2

Range :[-4, + ∞)
x Vertex :(3,-4)
y Minimum Value of
f(x):-4RLayones
x
QUADRATIC FUNCTION
Express the general form of the quadratic function into
the standard form of the parabola:
2
f(x) ax bx c
bx ⇒ generalform
=++ f(x) a x
 ⎜ ⎟ ⇒ factor out a
⎝⎛ 2 c ⎠⎞

=++a
a
⎛ 2
⎞
2
bx
f(x) a x
2
⇒
b
adding and subtracting
c
b
=+++−2
⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
a
4a
 a
4a
22
b /4a to complete thesquare
⎡
−
2
⎜
b ⎝⎛
⎤2 4ac b
⎞ 2a
f(x) a x
⇒ factoring
=+2
⎟+
4a
⎠
 ⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦
STANDARD FORM :
2
f(x) a(x - h) k
=+
and k f(h) f( b 2−
2a where h = − = = − =
4ac b)
2ab
4a
RLayones
QUADRATIC FUNCTION
STANDARD FORM :
2
f(x) a(x - h) k
=+
 and k f(h) f( b 2−
2a where h = − = = − =
4ac b)
2ab
4a
Note :
2
b
4ac b

> <−
⎜⎛
⎝ *−
⎞
f
⎟=
 is a minimumif a 0 and a maximumif a0.
4a 2a
⎠
is the axis of symmetry.
2ab
*The verticalline x = −

RLayones
QUADRATIC FUNCTION

The graph of the quadratic function f(x) = ax2 + bx + c or

f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k a ≠ 0
(1) Is a parabola opening upward if a > 0 and downwardif
 = = = band k f(h) f -
a<0. 2a 2ab
(2) Has a vertex (h, k), where ⎟ ⎞⎜
h- ⎠ ⎝⎛
. b
2a (3) Has an axis of symmetry which is the
verticalline x=-2
(4) Is narrower than the graph of f(x) x , if | a | 1
=>
2
and is wider than the graph of f(x) x , if 0 | a | 1.
=<≤
(5) Has(-∞, + ∞) asits domain.
b
⎜⎛
⎝−
⎞
 (6) Has[f
⎟ +∞ >
, ) asits range if a 0 and
2a
⎠
b
⎜
⎝⎛
⎞
( ,f
−∞ −
⎟<
] asits range if a 0.
2a ⎠
RLayones
QUADRATIC FUNCTION
Express f(x) = -2x2 + 4x + 5 in the standard form of parabola
and then graph.
⎜ ⎟ y a(x h) k2 = − +
Let y = f(x): ⎝⎛ 5 ⎠⎞

2
x
Given : a = -2, h =1, k =7
y-2x2
=−−2
⎜
⎝⎛
⎟
5 ⎠⎞

2
x
y-2x21
 = − + − −1
The graph opens downward.
2
⎢ 7
⎣⎡
⎥
2
=x−+
( ) ⎦⎤
Vertex :(h,k) =(1, 7)AOS: x
2
y-21=−− =1 MaximumValue
:f(1)=7Domain :(-∞,+∞)
x
Range :(-∞, 7] RLayones
2
y - 2( 1) 7
QUADRATIC FUNCTION
Express f(x) = -2x2 + 4x + 5 in the standard form of parabola
and then graph.
STANDARD FORM :
2
f(x) a(x - h) k
=+
k f(h) f( b 2− 4acb)
and 2a where h = − = = − = 2ab
2
h=−==
Given :f(x) -2x 4x 5 = + +
1
4a 2(-2)
Given :
a -2, b 4, c 5 a = -2, h =1, k =7The graph
- opens downward. Vertex :(h,
= = = 2ab
k) = (1, 7)
4
22
 4ac b
−
4( 2)(5) 4
−−
k AOS: x =1
= =7
=
4a
4( 2)
−
Maximum Value :f(1) = 7
f(x) - 2( 1) 7
2
=x−+ Range :(-∞, 7]
Domain :(-∞,+∞) RLayones
QUADRATIC FUNCTION
Express f(x) = -2x2 + 4x + 5 in the standard form of parabola
and then graph.
y
Given : a = -2, h =1, k = 7
The graph opens downward.
Vertex :(h,k) = (1, 7)
AOS: x =1
Maximum Value :f(1) = 7
Domain :(-∞,+∞)
Range :(-∞, 7]
x

To graph, find a few points on either side of the vertex.

 RLayones
x -1 0 1 2 3
y -1 5 7 5 -1
QUADRATIC FUNCTION

➢ The y-intercept for the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c is the point

that has zero as its x-coordinate. Its y-intercept is c. ➢To find
the x-intercepts, let y = 0 and solve ax2 + bx + c = 0. A
parabola may have 0, 1, or 2 x-intercepts, depending on the
number of solutions to this equation.

Example: Find the intercepts of y = -2x2 + 4x + 5.

Find the y-intercept: let x = 0, y = 5

Find the x-intercept: let y = 0, -2x2 + 4x + 5 = 0 2x2
– 4x – 5 = 0
 2 14
+
2 14
x2 =−−
x1 =
= 0.87
2
2.87
2
= RLayones

EXAMPLE value. Since a > 0, the graph opens

Given: f(x) = x2– x – 2 Let y = upward.
is the minimum value of
f(x) thefunction. 9 Hence,-
Find the vertex: 4 Graph:
Find the maximum/minimum 12
41
 y x2 = − x + − −4
2
⎟ ⎞ ⎜ ⎛ + ⎞ ⎜ ⎛ = 9-
⎠ ⎝ ⎟ ⎠ ⎝ 4 21 x
yx-

⎟⎞⎜⎛− 9, 1 let y 0 : x x 2 0 2 = − − = (x -
⎠ ⎝ 4 2 Vertex : Find the 2)(x +1) = 0 x = 2 or x = -1 ⇒ x
let x = 0 : y = -2 -int = 2, -1
intercepts: ⇒
y -int = - 2
x -1 0 1/2 1 2
,) 9
y 0 -2 -9/4 -2 0 Domain:(-∞, +∞) 4 Range :[-
+∞

y
EXERCISES:

Find the vertex and intercepts for each quadratic function.

Find the minimum/maximum value of the function. State the
domain and range.

1) f(x) = x2 – 4
2) f(x) = – x2 – 4x – 3