Scribd
Upload
16 views2 pages

Quadratic Functions and Concavity

Reviewer for Grade 9

Uploaded by

05sheenameiroquios
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views2 pages

Quadratic Functions and Concavity

Reviewer for Grade 9

Uploaded by

05sheenameiroquios
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Quadratic Functions and Concavity

What does it mean for a graph to be concave up or concave down? Let’s investigate.
Take, for example, the function 𝒚𝒚 = 𝟐𝟐𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑 + 𝟏𝟏. The “a” value is greater than zero.

We can start thinking about the graph at the vertical intercept of (0,1).

The graph, initially, behaves like the linear function 𝑦𝑦 = 3𝑥𝑥 + 1;


that is, the function initially increases at a rate of 3 output
quantities for every change of 1 in the input
quantity. This is what we mean when we explain
the “b” value as the initial rate of change.

This constant rate of change does not persist, however. The output values are
increasing at an increasing rate. Note that in the viewing window shown, the graph gets
“steeper” and “steeper” as the input quantity increases from zero.
These changes are increasing at a rate of 2 times the “a” value. In this example the “a”
value is 2, so 2*2=4. That initial rate of change is increasing at a rate of 4 per each
increase of 1 in the input quantity. You can see this in the following table as the 2nd
difference (Δ(Δy)).

X Y Notice the a value in the equation


-1 0 Δy
Δ (Δy) 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥 + 1.
0 1 1
4
1 6 5 A is positive 2. The 2nd difference in
4
2 15 9 the table is 4. Therefore, a is half of
4
3 28 13 the change in the rate of change.

For an increase of 1 in the For an increase of 1 in the For an increase of 1 in


input, the output increased input, the output increased the input, the output
by 5. by 9. increased by 13.

If the input quantity is decreased by 1, the rate of change is decreased by 2, and -2*2 = - 4. That is, we
will see a decrease in the initial rate of change of 3 as the input quantity decreases. Imagine this
continuing….eventually, the rate of change will be zero…then the rate of change will be negative. We
see this negative rate of change to the left of the vertex. We see the rate of change of zero at the vertex,
then the rate ever increasing after that! And that my friends, is how the parabola becomes concave up
.

© Chandler-Gilbert Community College


Now let’s explore a graph that is concave down. The function 𝒚𝒚 = −𝟐𝟐𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑 + 𝟏𝟏 has an “a” value
that is less than zero. On the left side of the graph, the outputs are increasing, but by less and less each
time. Notice the vertical intercept is at (0,1). The rate of change (or slope) at that point is positive. That
makes sense since the “b” value is 3. This initial rate of change does not stay constant, as previously
discussed. The rate of change is getting smaller. We can say the function is changing at a decreasing
rate. If we find the change in the rates of change, we will get a 2nd difference that is negative.
X Y
Δy Δ (Δy)
-1 -4
5 -4
0 1
1 -4
1 2
-3 -4
2 -1
-7
3 -8

On the left side of this


graph, the outputs are
increasing, but by less and
less each time.

Notice the graph is getting If we continue this pattern,


less and less “steep.” eventually the rate of change will be
zero, as shown here at the vertex.

This is also referred to as the


“turning point” because after this
the graph will start to decrease,
producing negative rates of change.

As those changes decrease, they will


become more and more negative.
The result will be a graph that is
decreasing by more and more,
making the graph “steeper and
steeper.”
The vertical intercept is at (0,1). The
rate of change (or slope) at that point
is positive. This makes sense since the
“b” value is 3.

Being concave up does not mean the graph increases, and being concave down does not mean the
graph decreases. As shown with quadratic functions, there can be both increasing and decreasing
portions for each concavity.
The concavity speaks more in depth about how the graph is changing. Concave up means the graph is
changing at a rate that is going up. We usually say the function is increasing/decreasing “at an increasing
rate.” Concave down means the graph is changing at a rate that is going down, usually explained as the
function is increasing/decreasing “at a decreasing rate.” The important thing to note about concavity is
that individual rates of change are different and the emphasis is on how those rates of change are
changing.
© Chandler-Gilbert Community College

You might also like