College of Integrative Studies

Chapter 3
Math Preparatory Program Linear & Quadratic
Functions
Pre-Calculus
for Business

Fall 2024

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Today’s Quote:

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Learning Objectives
• Graph a Quadratic Function Using
Transformations

• Identify the Vertex and Axis of Symmetry

of a Parabola

• Graph a Quadratic Function Using Its

Vertex, Axis, and Intercepts

• Find a Quadratic Function Given Its

Vertex and One Other Point

• Find the Maximum or Minimum Value of

a Quadratic Function

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

DEFINITION
A quadratic function is a function of the form
2
f(x) = ax + bx + c
where a, b, and c are real numbers and a ≠ 0.
The domain of a quadratic function is the set of
all real numbers.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

The graphs in the figures are typical of the graphs

of all quadratic functions, which are called
parabolas.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Two conclusions can be drawn about the graph of

f(x) = ax2:
v As |a| increases, the graph is vertically stretched
(becomes “taller”), and as |a| gets closer to zero,
the graph is vertically compressed (becomes
“shorter”).

v If a > 0, the graph opens “up,” and if a < 0, the

graph opens “down.”

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

• The parabola opens

up.
• We describe this by
saying the graph is
concave up.
• Notice that the graph
has a lowest point,
where there is an
absolute minimum.
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

• The parabola opens down.

• We describe this by saying the

graph is concave down.

• Notice that the graph has a

highest point, where there is
an absolute maximum.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

• The lowest or highest point

of a parabola is called the
vertex.
• The vertical line passing
through the vertex in each
parabola is called the
axis of symmetry (usually
abbreviated to axis) of the
parabola.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Example 1:
Graph the function f(x) = 3x2 – 6x + 5. Find the vertex
and axis of symmetry.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
Recall that to complete the square, the coefficient
2
of x must equal 1. So we factor out 3 on the right-
hand side.

f ( x ) = 3x 2 - 6 x + 5
= 3( x 2 - 2 x ) + 5 Factor out 3.

= 3 ( x - 2 x + 1) + 5 - 3
2 Complete the
square.
= 3 ( x - 1) + 2
2

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
The graph of f can be obtained from the graph of
2
y = x using transformations in three stages.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
The graph of f(x) = 3x2 –
Axis of
6x + 5 is a parabola that is Symmetry
concave up and has its x=1
vertex (lowest point) at
(1, 2). Its axis of
symmetry is the line x = 1.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Example 2:
Without graphing, locate the vertex and axis
of symmetry of the parabola defined by
f (x) = –2x2 + 8x – 3. Is it concave up or concave
down?

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Solution
For this quadratic function, a = –2, b = 8, and c = –3.
The x-coordinate of the vertex is

h=- b =- 8 =2
2a 2(-2)
The y-coordinate of the vertex is

( )
k= f - b
2a
( )
= f 2 = -2(2) + 8(2) - 3 = 5
2

The vertex is located at the point (2, 5). The axis of

symmetry is the line x = 2. Because a = –2 < 0, the
parabola is concave down.
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

The x-intercepts of a Quadratic Function

• If the discriminant b2 – 4ac > 0, the graph of
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c has two distinct x-intercepts
so it crosses the x-axis in two places.
• If the discriminant b2 – 4ac = 0, the graph of
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c has one x-intercept so it
touches the x-axis at its vertex.
• If the discriminant b2 – 4ac < 0, the graph of
2
f(x) = ax + bx + c has no x-intercepts so it
does not cross or touch the x-axis.
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

The figures illustrate the possibilities for parabolas

that are concave up.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Example 3:
(a) Graph f(x) = –2x2 + 4x + 2 by determining
whether the graph is concave up or down and
by finding its vertex, axis of symmetry,
y-intercept, and x-intercepts, if any.
(b) Find the domain and range of f.
(c) Determine where f is increasing and where it is
decreasing.
(d) Determine where f(x) > 0 and where f(x) < 0.
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
(a) For f (x) = –2x2 + 4x + 2 , a = –2, b = 4, and c = 2.
Because a = –2 < 0, the parabola is concave down.
The x-coordinate of the vertex is
b 4
h=- =- =1
2a 2(-2)
The y-coordinate of the vertex is
k = f (1) = -2(1) 2
+ 4(1) + 2 = -2 + 4 + 2 = 4
The vertex is (1, 4) and the axis of symmetry is the
line x = 1.
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Solution
The y-intercept is f(0) = 2.
The x-intercepts are found by solving f(x) = 0. This
results in the equation –2x2 + 4x + 2 = 0, which we
solve by the quadratic formula:
-b ± b 2 - 4ac -4 ± 42 - 4 ( -2 )( 2 )
x= =
2a 2 ( -2 )
-4 ± 32
= = 1± 2
-4
» -0.41 and 2.41
The x-intercepts are –0.41 and 2.41.
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
Noticed we used the axis
of symmetry, x = 1, to
obtain the additional point
(2, 2).
(b) The domain of f is the
set of all real numbers.
Based on the graph, the
range of f is the interval
(–∞, 4].
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
(c) The function f is increasing on
the interval (–∞, 1] and decreasing
on the interval [1, ∞).

(d) Note that f(x) > 0 where the

graph of f is above the x-axis, and
f(x) < 0 where the graph of f is
below the x-axis.
So, f(x) > 0 on the interval (–0.41,
2.41), or for –0.41 < x < 2.41, and f(x)
< 0 on (–∞, –0.41) ∪ (2.41, ∞) or for x
< –0.41, x > 2.41.
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Example 4:
(a) Graph f (x) = x2 – 4x + 4 by determining whether
the graph is concave up or down and by finding
its vertex, axis of symmetry, y-intercept, and
x-intercepts, if any.
(b) Find the domain and range of f.
(c) Determine where f is increasing and where it is
decreasing.
(d) Determine where f(x) > 0 and where f(x) < 0.
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Solution
(a) For f (x) = x2 – 4x + 4 , a = 1, b = –4, and c = 4.
Because a = 1 > 0, the parabola is concave up.
The x-coordinate of the vertex is
b -4
h=- =- =2
2a 2(1)
The y-coordinate of the vertex is
k = f (2) = (2) 2 - 4(2) + 4 = 0
The vertex is (2, 0) and the axis of symmetry is the
line x = 2.

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Solution
The y-intercept is f(0) =
4. Since the vertex (2, 0)
lies on the x-axis, the
graph touches the x-
axis at the x-intercept.
By using the axis of
symmetry and the y-
intercept at (0, 4),
we can locate the
additional point (4, 4) on
the graph.
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Solution
(b) The domain of f is
the set of all real
numbers. Based on the
graph, the range of f is
the interval [0, ∞).
(c) The function f is
decreasing on the
interval (– ∞ , 2] and
increasing on the
interval [2, ∞).

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
(d) The graph of f is
above the x-axis
everywhere except at the
vertex (2, 0).
So, f(x) > 0 on the interval
(–∞, 2) ∪ (2, ∞), or for
x < 2, x > 2, and f(x) is
never negative.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Example 5:
(a) Graph f(x) = 3x2 + x + 2 by determining whether
the graph is concave up or down and by finding
its vertex, axis of symmetry, y-intercept, and
x-intercepts, if any.
(b) Find the domain and range of f.
(c) Determine where f is increasing and where it is
decreasing.
(d) Determine where f(x) > 0 and where f(x) < 0.
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Solution
(a) For f (x) = 3x2 + x + 2 , a = 3, b = 1, and c = 2.
Because a = 3 > 0, the parabola is concave up.
The x-coordinate of the vertex is
b 1 1
h=- =- =-
2a 2(3) 6
The y-coordinate of the vertex is
2
æ 1ö æ 1ö æ 1ö 23
k = f ç - ÷ = 3ç - ÷ + ç - ÷ + 2 =
è 6ø è 6ø è 6ø 12

(1 23
The vertex is - ,
6 12
. )
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Solution
1
The axis of symmetry is the line x = - .
6
The y-intercept is f(0) = 2.
The x-intercept(s), if any, satisfy the equation
3x2 + x + 2 = 0.
The discriminant b 2
- 4 ac = 12
- 4 ( 3) ( 2 ) = -23 < 0.
This equation has no real solutions, which means
the graph has no x-intercepts.
1
Use the point (0, 2) and the axis of symmetry x = -
6
1
( )
to locate the additional point - 3 ,2 on the graph.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
(b) The domain of f is the set
of all real numbers. Based on
the graph, the range of f is
the interval éê 23 , ¥ ÷ö .
ë 12 ø

(c)The function f is decreasing

on the interval æç -¥, - 1 úù and
è 6û
increasing on the interval
é 1 ö
êë - 6 , ¥ ø÷ .

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
(d) The graph of f is always above the x-axis. So,
f(x) > 0 on the interval (–∞, ∞) or for all real numbers
x.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Example 6:
Determine whether the quadratic function
f(x) = x2 – 6x – 3 has a maximum or a minimum
value. Then find the maximum or minimum value.

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Solution
For f(x) = x2 – 6x – 3, a = 1, b = –6, and c = –3.
Because a > 0, the graph of f is concave up, which
means the vertex is a minimum point.
The minimum occurs at

x = - b = - -6 = 6 = 3
2a 2(1) 2
The minimum value of f is

( )
f - b
2a
( )
= f 3 = 3 - 6(3) - 3 = -12
2

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

If the vertex (h, k) and one additional point on the

2
graph of a quadratic function f(x) = ax + bx + c,
a ≠ 0, are known, then the vertex form of f,
f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k
can be used to obtain the quadratic function.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Example 7:
Determine the quadratic function whose vertex is
(–3, –7) and whose y-intercept is 2.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
The vertex is (–3, –7), so h = –3 and k = –7.
Substitute these values into the equation
2
f(x) = a(x – h) + k
f(x) = a(x – (–3))2 + (–7)
f(x) = a(x + 3)2 – 7
To determine the value of a, use the fact that
f(0) = 2 (the y-intercept).
2
2 = a(0 + 3) – 7
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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Solution
2 = 9a – 7
9 = 9a
a=1
The quadratic function we seek is
2 2
f(x) = (x + 3) – 7 = x + 6x +2.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Classwork:

1. Graph f(x) = –4x2 – 6x + 2 by determining whether

the graph is concave up or down and by finding its
vertex, axis of symmetry, y-intercept, and
x-intercepts, if any.

(a) Find the domain and range of f.

(b) Determine where f is increasing and where it is

decreasing.

(c) Determine where f(x) > 0 and where f(x) < 0.

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 3.3: Quadratic Functions & Their Properties

Classwork:

2. Determine whether the quadratic function

f(x) = –x2 + 6x – 1 has a maximum or a minimum
value. Then find the maximum or minimum value.

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