Algebra 2 Test on Quadratic Functions

1. A problem involving intersection between a parabola and a line.

Consider the functions and . The graphs of these functions are
shown below and one of the points of intersection is shown:

(i) Use your calculator to obtain the coordinates of the other point of
intersection. (4 marks)
Using the calculator:

Then, in 2nd, CALC; 5: intersect and using window [-5, 5] ; [-10, 10] the graph
obtain is:

The coordinates of the other point of intersection are (3; 3).

(ii) Demonstrate how one would find the coordinates of the points of
intersection using algebraic methods. (6 marks)
2
−x + 3 x +3=2 x −3
2
−x + 3 x −2 x +3+3=0
2
−x + x+ 6=0
−1 ± √ 12−4 (−1 ) ( 6 )
x=
2 (−1 )
−1 ± √ 1+24
x=
−2
−1 ± √ 25
x=
−2
 −1 ±5
x=
−2
4 −6
x= ⋁ x=
−2 −2
x=−2 ⋁ x=3

Then if we plugin x=3 in one of the initial equations:

y=2× 3−3
¿3
Therefore, the coordinates for the intersection point are (3, 3).

2. A Tangent Line Problem.

Consider the parabola defined by .

(i) Explain why the graph of this function contains the point with coordinates( 3 , 9 ) .
(1 mark)
Because if we plugin the coordinates of the point in the equation we’ll get a true
condition.
2
9=3

9=9 True condition.

(ii) Explain why any line that contains the point (3 , 9) can be expressed as

. (1 mark)
Because y− y 0=m ( x−x 0 ) ⇔ y=m ( x−x 0 ) + y 0 represents the point slope form
which gives us the equation of any line with slope m and point with coordinates (
x 0 , y 0 ¿ in this case (3, 9). Then, the equation is y=m ( x−3 ) + 9.

(iii) If we want to find the intersection of the parabola defined by and the line

defined by , what equation would we solve? (1 mark)

We would solve the equation x 2=m ( x−3 ) +9

(iv) Is the equation that you obtained in (iii) quadratic? (1 mark)

2
x =m ( x−3 ) +9
2
x =mx−3 m+ 9
2
x −mx+ 3 m−9=0
Yes is quadratic.

(v) Why would we want the quadratic equation to have only one root? (1 mark)
Because it’s a tangent line problem. The parabola and line given will only intersect in
one point. Then the quadratic equation will have only one root.
 (vi) What condition determines if a quadratic equation has only one root? (1 mark)
The discriminant needs to be zero ( Δ=0 ¿ . You know that the Δ=b 2−4 ac .

(vii) Hence, find the value of for which is tangent to .

(4 marks)
In this case,
a=1
b = -m
c = 3m – 9
Then,
(−m )2−4 ( 1 ) ( 3 m−9 )=0
2
m −4 ( 3 m−9 ) =0
2
m −12 m+ 36=0
2 2
m −12 m+ 6 =0
( m−6 )2=0
m−6=0
m=6

3. An Optimization Problem: A farmer has 80 m of fencing and wants to create an enclosure

for animals that will be rectangular with three sections. One side will be next to a wall and
will not need fencing. See below:

We will denote the horizontal length of the enclosure with and the vertical height of the
enclosure with and the area of the enclosure with .
Complete the table below (4 marks):

20 15 300
60 5 300
40 10 400

Develop a mathematical function for the Area in terms of x. (3 marks)

P: perimeter of the enclosure (not considering the wall)
P=80
 x +4 y=80
4 y=80−x
80−x
y=
4
x
y=20−
4
Then, the function for the area can be given by:
A ( x )=x × y
x
¿ x (20− )
4
1 2
¿ 20 x− x
4
1 2
¿− x +20 x
4

Use this function to identify the dimensions the farmer should use to maximize the area of
the enclosure. (3 marks)
The maximum area equals to the y – coordinate of the vertex because A(x) is a quadratic
function concave-down.

−b
We will find first the x- coordinate for the vertex using .
2a
−20 −20
x= = =40
−1 −1
2( )
4 2
1 2
A(40)¿− ×40 +20 × 40
4
¿−400+ 800
¿ 400 Maximum area
Then, looking at the previous table we know that the dimensions should be x= 40 and

y= 10.

4. A Fallings Objects Problem:

When we have objects that have been thrown straight up into the air, we can model their
motion with a quadratic function if we ignore air resistance. The function is

where is in meters and is in seconds, is the gravitational field

constant and we will use it as 10 meters per second per second. The two parameters and
represent the initial velocity and the initial height respectively. Thus that function will
tell us how high the object is at any moment. The velocity of the object at any time is
modeled by the function .
So we have an object that is thrown into the air and the model for it is
.

(i) What is the initial velocity of the object? (1 mark)

v ( t )=−10 t+ 50

The initial velocity is v(0).

v ( 0 )=−10 ×0+50
−1
¿ 50 m s
The initial velocity is 50 m/s.

(ii) What is its initial height? (1 mark)

The initial height is given by h(0).
2
h ( 0 )=−5 ×0 +50 × 0+ 120
¿ 120 meters
The initial height is 120 meters.

(iii) How high will the object be at 2 seconds? (1 mark)

2
h ( 2 )=−5× 2 + 50× 2+120
¿ 200 meters
The object will be 200 meters high.

(iv) What will its velocity be at 2 seconds? (1 mark)

v ( 2 )=−10× 2+50 ¿ 30 m s
−1

The velocity will be 30 m/s.

(v) How long will the object be in the air? (2 marks)

h ( t )=0
2
−5 t +50 t +120=0
−5 ( t 2−10 t+25−25 ) +120=0
2
−5 ( t −5 ) +125+120=0
2
−5 ( t −5 ) =−245
2
(t −5) =49
t−5=± √ 49
t=5 ±7
t=12 ⋁ t=−2 As time cannot be negative t= 12 seconds.
The object will be in the air 12 seconds.

(vi) What will be the object´s speed as it strikes the ground? (2 marks)
The object strikes the ground when t=12 sec.
Then the speed is given by v(12).
v ( 12 )=−10× 12+ 50 ¿−70 m s−1
The speed will be -70 m/s (negative because in this instant the object is falling
down).
 (vii) What will be the maximum height of the object and when will it reach its maximum
height? (2 marks)
The maximum height of the object equals to the y-coordinate for the vertex. And
when will it occur (the maximum height) is the x-coordinate for the vertex.
−b
Then, to find the x-coordinate we use .
2a
−50 50
x= = =5 sec
2(−50) 10

2
h ( 5 )=−5× 5 +50 ×5+120
¿ 245 meters
After 5 seconds the object gets the maximum height of 245 meters.

5. Developing Quadratic Functions from given graphs.

Part A.

The parabola below has x-intercepts at (-2,0) and (4,0). Its y-intercept is (0,16).

We have learned that quadratic functions usually come in three forms:

(a) (b) (c)

Which form should be our starting point for trying to find the function for the graph above?

Use it to obtain the correct function.

Finally leave your final answer in the form . (5 marks)

We have both x-intercepts, then option b) is a good choice!

y=a(x−(−2 ))(x−4)

y=a(x +2)(x−4 )
Substituting point (0, 16) in the equation:

16=a(0+2)(0−4)
16=a(2)(−4)
16=−8 a
a=−2
Then,
y=−2(x+ 2)(x−4)
2
y=−2(x −4 x +2 x−8)
2
y=−2(x −2 x −8)
2
y=−2 x +4 x +16

Part B.

The parabola that you see below has a vertex at (2,5) and also contains the point with
coordinates at (4,17).

Which form should be our starting point for trying to find the function for the graph above?

Use it to obtain the correct function.

Finally leave your final answer in the form . (5 marks)

As we have the vertex a good choice is option c).

Then,
2
y=a(x−2) +5
Substituting point (4, 17) in the equation:
2
17=a(4−2) +5
17=4 a+5
17−5=4 a
4 a=12
a=3

Then y=3 (x−2)2+5

¿ 3 ( x 2−4 x+ 4 ) + 5
2
¿ 3 x −12 x +12+5
2
¿ 3 x −12 x +17 .

Therefore, y=3 x 2−12 x+ 17.