Grade 10

IB-HL MATHEMATICS

Unit - 3
- QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS -

Üsküdar American Academy

Mathematics Department
GRADE 10 IB HL

Objectives:
By the end of this chapter you should be familiar with...

• solving quadratic equations and inequalities by different methods

• applying the quadratic formula and the discriminant of a quadratic equation

• quadratic functions, and different forms in which to express them

• finding characteristics of a parabola: axis of symmetry, x-intercepts and vertex

• the sum and product of the roots of a quadratic equation

• partial fractions

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GRADE 10 IB HL

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

A quadratic equation in the variable x is an equation equivalent to the equation

ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b and c are real or complex numbers and a ̸= 0

4 Methods to solve a Quadratic Equation:

(1) by factorisation

(2) by completing the square

(3) by using a quadratic formula

(4) by using graphs

(1) BY FACTORISATION:

EXAMPLE: Solve for k:

(a) 3k 2 + 72 = 33k

(b) 3k 2 + k = 0

(2) BY COMPLETING THE SQUARE:

EXAMPLE: Solve for x:

(a) x2 + 14x − 38 = 0

(b) 4x2 − 2x − 5 = 0

(c) x2 + 6x − 59 = 0

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GRADE 10 IB HL

(3) BY USING QUADRATIC FORMULA:

The solutions of the quadratic equation in the standard form ax2 + bx + c = 0 with
a ̸= 0 are given in the formula

√
−b ∓ b2 − 4ac
x=
2a
PROOF:

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GRADE 10 IB HL

ax2 + bx + c = 0 with a ̸= 0
√
−b ∓ b2 − 4ac
x=
2a
2
△ = b − 4ac is called discriminant(delta).

If △ = b2 − 4ac > 0 , then f has two distinct real zeros, and the graph of f intersects
the x − axis twice.

If △ = b2 − 4ac = 0, then f has one real zero (double root), and the graph of f
intersects the x − axis once (i.e. it is tangent to the x − axis).

If △ = b2 − 4ac < 0, then f has two imaginary zeros (not real), and the graph of f
does not intersect the x − axis.

EXAMPLES:

1. Use the quadratic formula to find the zeros of the function:

(a) f (x) = x2 − 4x − 1

(b) f (x) = 2x2 − x − 2

(c) f (x) = 3x2 + x − 1

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GRADE 10 IB HL

2. Given that the quadratic equation (2k − 1)x2 + 3x − 4 = 0 has two distinct real
roots, find the possible values of of k.

3. Given that 4x2 − (k − 1)x + 9 = 0 has two equal roots,find the possible values
of of k.

4. Find the range of values of k in order for the equation 2x2 + (3 − k)x + k + 3 = 0
to have two imaginary solutions.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

5. For what values of k does the function 5x2 − kx + 2 = 0 have two distinct real
zeros ?

6. Consider the quadratic equation (1 + 2k)x2 − 10x + k − 2 = 0, k ∈ R.

Find the set of values of k for which the equation has real roots.

7. Given the quadratic equation f (x) = 3kx2 − (k + 3)x + k − 2, find the range
of values of k for which f has no real zeros.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

8. (IB QUESTION)Consider the equation yx2 + (y − 1)x + (y − 1) = 0.

(a) Find the set of values of y for which this equation has real roots.

Consider the equation yx2 + (y − 1)x + (y − 1) = 0.

x+1
(b) Hence, determine the range of the function f : R → R f : x → .
x2 +x+1

(c) Explain why f has no inverse.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EQUATIONS THAT LEAD TO QUADRATIC EQUATIONS:

EXAMPLES:

1. Find the solution set of

2x 3−x 10
+ 2 = 2
6x2 + 7x − 3 3x + 11x − 4 2x + 11x + 12

2. Find the solution set of 3x4 − 10x2 − 8 = 0.

3. Find the solution set of (x2 − x)2 + 3(x2 − x) = 0

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GRADE 10 IB HL

√ √
4. Find the solution set of 2x + 3 − x + 1 = 1.

√
3 √
5. Find the solution set of 2 x2 + 3 x − 6 = 0

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GRADE 10 IB HL

The Relationship Between the Roots and the Coefficients of a Quadratic

Equation:
√
b2 − 4ac
−b +
x1 =
2a
√
−b − b2 − 4ac
x2 =
2a
b
S=sum of the root: s = x1 + x2 = −
a
c
P=product of the roots: x1 · x2 =
a

PROOF:

EXAMPLES:

1. Given the equation 2x2 − 9x − 5 = 0

a)Find the sum of the roots.

b)Find the product of the roots.

2. For what values of k will the sum of the roots of 2x2 − k 2 x + 2kx + 24 = 0 be
12?

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GRADE 10 IB HL

3. For what values of k will the product of the roots of x2 − kx + k 2 − 1 = 0 be 3?

4. If the roots of the equation 2x2 − 3x − 1 = 0 are x1 and x2 , calculate:

(a) x1 +x2

(b) x1 · x2

(c) x21 · x22

1 1
(d) +
x1 x2

1 1
(e) 2
+ 2
x1 x2

5. If the roots of x2 − (n − 1)x + n + 1 = 0 are x1 and x2 , and x21 + x22 = −4, then
find the possible values of n.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

x1 x2
6. If the roots of 2x2 − (2n + 1)x + 1 = 0 are x1 and x2 , and + = 6, then
x2 x1
find the possible values of n.

7. In the quadratic equation 7x2 − 8x + p = 0, p ∈ Q, one root is three times the

other root. Find the value of p.

8. The equation x2 − 5x − 7 = 0 has roots α and β. The equation x2 + px + q = 0

has roots and α + 1 and β + 1 Find the value of p and the value of q.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

HOMEWORK:

1. Given that the roots of the equation x2 − 4x + 2 = 0 are α and β, find the
values of the following expressions.
(a) α2 + β 2

1 1
(b) 2
+ 2
α β

2. Find the sum and product of the roots for each quadratic equation.
(a) 4x2 − 6 = 0

2
(b) 3x − =1
x

(c) m(m − 2) = 4(m + 1)

3. The equation x2 − 4kx + 4 = 0 has two distinct real solutions. Find the set of
all possible values of k.

4. Find all possible values of m so that the graph of the quadratic function
g : x → mx2 + 6x + m does not touch the x − axis.

5. The quadratic equation x2 − 2kx + (k − 1) = 0 has roots x1 and x2 such that

x21 + x22 = 4. Without solving the equation, find the possible values of the real
number k.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

WRITING THE QUADRATIC EQUATION WHEN ITS ROOTS ARE

GIVEN:

x2 − Sx + P = 0, x1 and x2 are roots where

S = sum of the roots (x1 +x2 ) and
P = Product of the roots (x1 · x2 )

EXAMPLE: Write the quadratic equation whose roots are 6 and -2.

1 √ 1 √
EXAMPLE: Write the quadratic equation whose roots are − i 5 and + i 5
2 2

EXAMPLE: If the roots of 3x2 − 2x − 2 = 0 are r1 and r2 , write the quadratic

equation with roots r1 + 1 and r2 + 1.

EXAMPLE: If the roots of 3x2 − 5x + 7 = 0 are r1 and r2 , write the quadratic

equation with roots 2r1 − 1 and 2r2 − 1.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE: If the roots of 2x2 + 6x − 5 = 0 are r1 and r2 , write the quadratic

equation with roots

(a) 2r1 , 2r2

1 1
(b) ,
r1 + 1 r2 + 1

(c) r13 , r23

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GRADE 10 IB HL

(4)QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS (GRAPHS)

If a, b and c are real numbers, and a ̸= 0, the function f (x) = ax2 + bx + c is a

quadratic function. The graph of f is the graph of the equation y = ax2 + bx + c
and is called a parabola.

Each parabola is symmetric about a vertical line called its axis of symmetry.
The axis of symmetry passes through a point on the parabola called the vertex
of the parabola, as shown in the Figures above.If the leading coefficient, a, of the
quadratic function is positive, then the parabola opens upward (concave up) and the
y-coordinate of the vertex will be a minimum value for the function. If the leading
coefficient is negative, then the parabola opens downward (concave down) and the
y-coordinate of the vertex will be a maximum value for the function.

STANDARD FORM : y = ax2 + bx + c

PROOF: The Vertex of the Parabola is.............

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GRADE 10 IB HL

VERTEX FORM

y = a(x − h)2 + k ; V (h, k)

b 4ac − b2
h=− (axis of symmetry), k= (max. or min. value)
2a 4a

EXAMPLE:Find the equation of the axis of symmetry and the coordinates of the
vertex of the graph of f (x) = x2 − 4x + 18 by rewriting the function in the form
f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k.

EXAMPLE: For the function f (x) = 4x2 − 8x + 1

(a) Find the axis of symmetry and the coordinates of the vertex of the graph of f .

(b) Indicate the transformations that can be applied to y = x2 to obtain the graph
of f .

(c) Find the minimum or the maximum value.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE: For the function f (x) = −3x2 + 6x − 2

(a) Find the axis of symmetry and the coordinates of the vertex of the graph of f .

(b) Write the function in the form y = a(x − h)2 + k.

(c) Hence, state the range of the function.

(d) Indicate the transformations that can be applied to y = x2 to obtain the graph
of f .

(e) Restrict the domain to find f −1 (x).

(f) Find f −1 (x) in this domain.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

INTERCEPT(ROOT) FORM
y = a(x − p)(x − q), given roots(x-intercepts) p and q.

EXAMPLE: The graph of a quadratic function intersects the x–axis at the points
(−6, 0) and (−2, 0) and also passes through the point (2, 16).

(a) Write the function in the form y = a(x − p)(x − q)

(b) Find the coordinates of the vertex of the parabola.

(c) Write the function in the form f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE: Find the standard form of the quadratic function whose graph has
vertex (–3, 4) and passes through the point (–4, –7).

EXAMPLE:Find the equation of the axis of symmetry and the coordinates of the
vertex of the graph of f (x) = x2 − 8x + 18 by rewriting the function in the form of
f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k.

EXAMPLE: If the axis of symmetry f (x) = 3x2 − 2(5m + 3)x − 7 is x = 6.

Find m.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE: If f (x) = 3x2 + bx + 10 and the graph y = f (x) has a line of symmetry
when x = 3

(a) find b.

(b) If f (x) = f (d − x) for all x, find the value of d.

(c) g(x) = f (x + p) + q and g(x) is an even function which passes through the origin.
Find p and q.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE DEFINITE FUNCTIONS:

A quadratic expression which always takes positive values is called positive definite,
while one which always takes negative values is called negative definite

EXAMPLE: Find the range of values of m such that for all x, m(x + 1) ≤ x2 .

EXAMPLE: Find the range of values of k such that 3x2 − 12x + k > 0 for all real
values of x.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE: Given f (x) = x2 + x(2 − k) + k 2 , find the range of values of k for

which f (x) > 0 for all real values of x.

INTERSECTION OF GRAPHS:

EXAMPLE: Consider the curves C1 , C2 with equations

C1 : y = x2 + kx + k where k < 0 is a constant
C2 : y = −x2 + 2x − 4.

Both curves pass through the point P and the tangent at P to one of the curves is
also a tangent at P to the other curve.
a) Find the value of k.

b) Find the coordinates of P .

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GRADE 10 IB HL

1
EXAMPLE (IB QUESTION): Let f (x) = m− where x ̸= 0. The line y = x−m
x
intersects the graph of f in two distinct points.Find possible values of m.

EXAMPLE: A circle has equation x2 +(y −2)2 = 1. The line with equation y = kx,
where k ∈ R is a tangent to the circle. Find all possible values of k.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE (IB QUESTION MAY 2021 PAPER 1 SL):

Let f (x) = mx2 − 2mx, where x ∈ R and m ∈ R. The line y = mx − 9 meets the
graph of f at exactly one point.
(a) Show that m = 4.

The function f can be expressed in the form f (x) = 4(x − p)(x − q), where p, q ∈ R.
(b) Find the value of p and the value of q.

The function f can be expressed in the form f (x) = 4(x − h)2 + k, where h, k ∈ R.
(c) Find the value of h and the value of k.

(d) Hence find the values of x where the graph of f is both negative and increasing.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE: A farmer wishes to build a rectangular enclosure next to his house.

He has 40m of fencing with which he can do this. He only needs to build three sides
of the enclosure as shown in the diagram below.

Let the width of the enclosure be x and the height be y.

x2
(a) Show that the area A of the enclosure is equal to − + 20x.
2

(b) Determine the values of x and y of the enclosure with the largest area.

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GRADE 10 IB HL

EXAMPLE: A calculator company’s profits in euros are modelled by the function

f (x) = −20x2 + 1400x − 12000 where x is the selling price per calculator. Find
the selling price that generates the maximum profits and find the maximum profits.
Justify your answer.

EXAMPLE (IB QUESTION):

x2
Consider the graphs of y = and y = m(x + 3), m ∈ R
x−3

Find the set of values for m such that the two graphs have no intersection points.

***Wazir, I. and Garry, T. , Higher Level Mathematics Analysis and Approaches for
the IB Diploma, Publisher: Pearson ISBN:9780435193423
***National Library of Australia Card Number & ISBN 978-1-925489-59-0 Haese &
Harris Publications 2019

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