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Week IV

Quadratic functions are defined as functions that can be expressed in the form of a parabola, characterized by properties such as a vertex, axis of symmetry, and specific ranges depending on the coefficients. The document illustrates the process of completing the square to derive the vertex form and discusses applications like maximizing revenue and break-even analysis for a digital camera company. Key findings include the maximum revenue occurring at specific production levels and the corresponding wholesale price.

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Ma Rie
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4 views

Week IV

Quadratic functions are defined as functions that can be expressed in the form of a parabola, characterized by properties such as a vertex, axis of symmetry, and specific ranges depending on the coefficients. The document illustrates the process of completing the square to derive the vertex form and discusses applications like maximizing revenue and break-even analysis for a digital camera company. Key findings include the maximum revenue occurring at specific production levels and the corresponding wholesale price.

Uploaded by

Ma Rie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Quadratic Functions

Definition (Quadratic Functions). If a, b, and c are real numbers with , then the function

is a quadratic function and its graph is a parabola.

Properties of Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs

Many useful properties of the quadratic function can be uncovered by transforming

in the vertex form


.

The process of completing the square is central to the transformation. Let us illustrate the
process through a specific example and then generalize the results.

Consider the quadratic function given by


.
We use completing the square to transform this function into vertex form:

Therefore,
.
If , then is the maximum value of for all x. Furthermore, if we choose any
two x values that are the same distance from 4, we will obtain the same function value.
Therefore, the vertical line is a line of symmetry.
It is easy to see that as x moves from left to right, is increasing on , and
decreasing on , and that can assume no value greater than 8. Thus, the range of f is
.
In general, the graph of a quadratic function is a parabola with line of symmetry parallel
to the vertical axis. The lowest or highest point on the parabola, whichever exists, is called the
vertex. The maximum or minimum value of a quadratic function always occurs at the vertex of
the parabola. The line of symmetry through the vertex is called the axis of the parabola. In the
example above, is the axis of the parabola and is the vertex.

S u m m a r y (Properties of Quadratic Functions and Their Graphs).

Given a quadratic function and the vertex form obtained by completing square

,
we summarize general properties as follows:
1. The graph of f is a parabola (which opens upward for a>0, and opens downward for a<0);
2. Vertex: (h, k) (parabola increases on one side of the vertex and decreases on the other);
3. Axis (of symmetry): x = h (parallel to y axis);

1
4. is the minimum if and the maximum if ;
5. Domain: All real numbers. Range: if or if ;
6. The graph of f is the graph of translated horizontally h units and vertically k
units.

Applications

Example (Maximum Revenue). The financial department in the company that produces a
digital camera arrived at the following price-demand function and the corresponding revenue
function:
, (Price-demand function)
, (Revenue function)
where is the wholesale price per camera at which x million cameras can be sold and
is the corresponding revenue (in millions of dollars). Both functions have domain .
(A) Find the value of x to the nearest thousand cameras that will generate the maximum
revenue. What is the maximum revenue to the nearest thousand dollars? Solve the
problem algebraically by completing the square.
(B) What is the wholesale price per camera (to the nearest dollar) that generates the
maximum revenue?

Solution. (A) Algebraic solution:

The maximum revenue of 449.352 million dollars ($ 449 352 000) occurs when x = 9.480
million cameras (9 480 000 cameras).

(B) Finding the wholesale price per camera: Use the price-demand function for an output of
9.480 million cameras:
,
per camera.

Example (Break-Even Analysis). The company’s, that produces a digital camera, revenue and
cost functions are:
, (Revenue function)
. (Cost function)
Both have domain . Break-even points are the production levels at which
. Find the break-even points algebraically to the nearest thousand cameras.

Solution. Find x such that :

x = 2.490 and 12.530.


The company breaks even at x = 2.490 million cameras (2 490 000 cameras) and at x = 12.530
million cameras (12 530 000 cameras).

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