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Quadratic Equations

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5 views4 pages

Quadratic Equations

Uploaded by

raghav.anushka2002
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Quadratic Functions

Objective :
1. Identify and convert between the three forms of quadratic functions.
2. Understand the graphical representation
3. Understand the practical applications through quadratic modeling.

Class 1:

Definition : A quadratic function is a function that can be expressed in the form: f(x) = a x2 + b x + c
where x is the variable
and a,b,c ∈ ℝ. This is called the standard form.

Examples :
1. f(x) = x2 + 2 x + 3
2. f(x) = 0.1 x2 - 6
3. f(x) = 2 x2 + 3 x  0

Homework : Identify the value of a,b and c in the quadratic functions mentioned below, where a ,b
and c are coefficients are used in the standard form f(x) = a x2 + b x + c.
1. f(x) = - 3 x2 + 15 x - 8
2. f(x) = 2 x2 - 0.12 x

Finding roots of a quadratic function


The roots or zeros of the quadratic function are the values of x for which f(x) = 0.
Graphically they the values of x , where the graph intersects the x- axis

The two common ways of finding roots are :


1. Middle Term Splitting
Example : 6 x2 + 11 x + 3
(2x+3)(6 x2 + 9 x)
(2x+3) (3x+1)
2. Quadratic Formula
-b± b2 -4 a c
where a, b and c are the coefficients as used in the standard form
2a
2

Please note ( with examples in Desmos) : A quadratic equation can have at most 2 roots.
Examples : 2 roots :f(x) = x2 - 5 x + 6
1 root: This is the case of repeated roots
f(x) = x2 - 4 x + 4
0 roots: In this case we talk about functions with complex roots ,and no real
roots.
f(x) = x2 + 2 x + 5
The Discriminant (b2 - 4 a c ) tells us about the nature of roots :
if b2 - 4 a c >0 then we have distinct real roots
if b2 - 4 a c =0 then repeated roots
if b2 - 4 a c <0 then no real roots

Understanding the Graph


To graph a quadratic function we find values of f(x) for different values of x.

Example: 6 x2 + 11 x + 3
Out[20]//TableForm=
x f (x)
0 1
1 4
2 9
-1 0

But this is not the right way, also it is not possible to plot all the points like this. Because for any two
points we choose we can find a point between them thus making it an infinite process.

Thus it is better to look at some of the characteristics of the graph to better understand its shape
and nature.

1. Roots of the functions gives the x intercepts


2. The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola. If the leading coefficient a>0 then an upward one,
if a<0 then downward. If a=0 then it is no longer a quadratic function.

Factored Form
What is a factor? A factor of a polynomial f(x) is another polynomial g(x) of degree less than that of
f(x) such that g(x) divides f(x).
Factor Theorem: If x=a if a root of a polynomial then (x-a) will be a factor.
3

The factored form of a quadratic function a(x-p)(x-q)=0, where p and q are the x-intercepts and a ∈ ℝ
is the leading coefficient.

Example with Graph : 3(x-2)(x+1)


The x intercepts will be x= -1 and x=2.

Notice an interesting behaviour of functions :


Consider the standard form f(x)= 3 x2 - 3 x - 6 then the factor form is 3(x-2)(x+1)
The x-intercepts are x= -1 and x=2.

Now consider g(x) = 300 x2 - 300 x - 600


The x-intercepts are again x= -1 and x=2.

Question : Change the below given quadratic function from standard form to factored form

f ( x)  x2 - 5 x + 6
1. we find the roots , they are x=3 and x=2
2. Hence (x-3)(x-2) are the factors and a=1(coefficient of x^2)
3. Thus the factored form is 1(x-3)(x-2)

Question : Change the below given quadratic function from factored form to standard form
f(x) = (x-3)(x-2)
Multiply the terms to get the standard form
f ( x)  x2 - 5 x + 6

Class 2 : Vertex Form


What is the vertex? Vertex represents the highest or lowest point (maxima or minima) on the
parabola, depending on whether it opens downwards or upwards respectively.

The vertex form of a Quadratic function is a(x-h)^2+k=0 , where a,h,k ∈ ℝ and (h,k) are the coordi-
nates of the vertex of the parabola.

Example with graph : f(x) = 2 ( x - 1)2 - 3


Here we can see : This is a upward parabola ( as 2 is the leading coefficient) and (1,-3) are the coordi-
nates of vertex.

Note: There is only one vertex possible for a Quadratic Function


Vertex is a point of maxima/minima and is attained at a critical point
4

The standard form : f(x) = a2 + b x + c .


f'(x) = 2a+b ( thus linear )
Putting f'(x) = 0 , we get only 1 critical point.

To confirm that maxima/minima is attained on the critical point we use the second deriva-
tive test.
f''(x) =2a

Hence we get maxima when a<0 and minima when a>0

Question: Change the below given quadratic function from standard form to vertex form
f(x) = 2 x2 - 4 x + 1
We use completing the square method
Vertex Form is : f(x) = 2  x2 - 2 + 1and the vertex is (2,1)

Question : Change the below given quadratic function from vertex form to standard form
f(x) = 2  x2 - 2 + 1
We simple multiply the terms to get f(x) = 2 x2 - 4 x + 1

Thus the three forms are interchangeable and each form gives us different insights into the
quadratic equation: the standard form shows the general shape, the vertex form provides the vertex
, and the factored form shows the x-intercepts.

Note with examples in Desmos, no matter which form we use to plot , the graph remains the same.

Applications of Quadratic Functions


Area Problems: Finding the maximum area of a rectangular field given a fixed perimeter involves
quadratic functions.

Sample Problem : Suppose you have a rectangular garden with a fixed perimeter of 100 meters. To
find the dimensions that maximize the area, you can use a quadratic equation.

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