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Quadratic Functions

This document discusses key characteristics of quadratic functions including that they are symmetrical and have the form y=ax^2+bx+c. The document explains how to find the vertex, y-intercept, and zeros of a quadratic function. It also provides an example of using a quadratic equation to model the path of a ball launched from a catapult.

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Abby Lumanglas
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414 views

Quadratic Functions

This document discusses key characteristics of quadratic functions including that they are symmetrical and have the form y=ax^2+bx+c. The document explains how to find the vertex, y-intercept, and zeros of a quadratic function. It also provides an example of using a quadratic equation to model the path of a ball launched from a catapult.

Uploaded by

Abby Lumanglas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

1 of 23 © Boardworks 2012

What is a quadratic function?

Linear functions are those in the form y = mx + b, where the


highest power of x is 1.

A quadratic function has x2 as its highest power of x.


They can therefore all be written in the form:
y = ax2 + bx + c (where a ≠ 0)

So, what do the graphs of these functions look like?


We can draw the graph of a quadratic function by making
a table of values then plotting the points.

Plot the graph of y = x2 – 4x + 2 for –1 ≤ x ≤ 5.

2 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
Plotting graphs of quadratic functions

Draw a table of values for y = x2 – 4x + 2 for –1 ≤ x ≤ 5.

x –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
y = x2 – 4x + 2 7 2 –1 –2 –1 2 7

y
y = (–1)2 – 4(–1) + 2 6
=1+4+2=7 5
4

The pairs of coordinates 3


2
in the table can now be 1
plotted and joined with
–1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
a smooth curve. –1

Examine the graph and discuss its shape.


3 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
Graph characteristics

The shape of this curve is y


called a parabola. 6

5
It is characteristic of a
4
quadratic function.
3

2
Parabolas are symmetrical
about a vertical axis. 1

–1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
This particular parabola is –1

a U-shape.

Parabolas all have a turning point called the vertex.

4 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
Characteristics of parabolas
y Things to observe from the graph of
a quadratic function:
y-intercept
When the coefficient of x2 is positive,
the vertex is a minimum point and
the graph is -shaped.
x
When the coefficient of x2 is negative,
the vertex is a maximum point and
vertex
the graph is -shaped.

The constant term determines the y-intercept of the curve.

What are the coordinates of the y-intercept


of the quadratic y = ax2 + bx + c?
5 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The y-intercept

The function y = ax2 + bx + c crosses the y-axis at (0, c).

At what point does the curve of the


function y = x2 + 6x cross the y-axis?

This function has no constant value (i.e. c = 0), so it will cross


the x-axis at (0, 0), which is the origin.
We can also find where the function crosses the y-axis by
substituting x = 0 into the function.
y = x2 + 6x
y = (0)2 + 6(0)
y=0
So the function crosses the y-axis at the point (0, 0).
6 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The zeros of a quadratic function

Observations:
When a quadratic function is in factored form, the values
inside the parentheses relate to where it crosses the x-axis.

These points are called the zeros of the function.

The value in front of the parentheses stretches the curve


vertically but the zeros remain the same.
In general:
When a quadratic function is written in the form
y = a(x – p)(x – q), it will intersect the x-axis at
the points (p, 0) and (q, 0).
p and q are the zeros of the quadratic function.

7 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The zeros of a quadratic function

This is the graph of the


function y = x2 – 2x – 3.

What is the factored form of


this function?

Use the fact that the function


crosses the x-axis when y = 0
to write a mathematical proof
of how a function’s factored
form tells us its zeros.

8 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
Finding the zeros of a quadratic

When a quadratic function factors, we can use its factored form


to find where it crosses the x-axis. Here’s how:

The function y = x2 – 2x – 3 crosses the x-axis when y = 0.


set equal to zero: x2 – 2x – 3 = 0
factor: (x + 1)(x – 3) = 0
If the product of two terms is 0, one of the terms must be zero.
This means that either (x + 1) = 0 or (x – 3) = 0:
x+1=0 or x–3=0
subtract 1: x = –1 add 3: x=3
So the function crosses the x-axis at (–1, 0) and (3, 0).

9 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
Finding the zeros of a quadratic

When we solve a quadratic equation for y = 0, we are in fact


finding the values of its zeros.

What are the zeros of the quadratic


function y = 3x2 + 4x – 4?
This function can be solved by factoring:
y = (3x – 2)(x + 2)
substitute y = 0: 0 = (3x – 2)(x + 2)
Zero-Product Property: 3x – 2 = 0 or x + 2 = 0

Therefore, the zeros are 2 and –2.


3

10 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The vertex of a quadratic

y The function y = x2 – 2x – 3
has zeros x = –1 and x = 3.
Where will its vertex be?
(–1, 0) (3, 0)
0
A parabola is symmetrical, so
x
the x-coordinate of the vertex is
half-way between the zeros.
Here, it is between –1 and 3:
(1, –4)
–1 + 3
x= =1
2
Substitute x = 1 back into the function: y = (1)2 – 2(1) – 3
y = –4
So the coordinates of the vertex are (1, –4).
11 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
Vertex form observations

The quadratic function y = ax2 + bx + c can be written in


vertex form (or completed square form) as a(x – h)2 + k.

Observations:

● The coordinates of the vertex are (h, k).


● The axis of symmetry has the equation x = h.

● If a > 0 (h, k) will be the minimum point.


● If a < 0 (h, k) will be the maximum point.

When a function does not factor, we write it in vertex form to


find the coordinates of the vertex.

12 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The flight path of a ball

Mr. Jackson's physics class runs an experiment where they


launch a ball from a catapult across level ground.

In class, the students learn


that the height of the ball in
feet at any time during its
flight can be calculated
from the quadratic equation
h = –16t2 + 50t + 2.

1) How high is the ball from the ground when


it is launched?
2) After how long does the ball hit the ground?
3) Find the ball’s maximum height.

13 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The flight path of a ball

The path of the ball is a parabola, so we can use our


knowledge of quadratics to answer the questions.

1) How high is the ball off the ground when it is launched?

When the ball is launched, the time is t = 0.


Substitute t = 0 into the quadratic equation h = –16t2 + 50t + 2:
h = –16(0)2 + 50(0) + 2
h = 2 ft

This can be seen by


graphing the function:

14 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The flight path of a ball

2) After how long does the ball hit the ground?

When the ball hits the ground, h = 0 ft: 0 = –16t2 + 50t + 2.


Find the roots using the quadratic formula:
–b ± b2 – 4ac –50 ± 502 – 4(–16)(2)
t= =
2a 2(–16)
–50 ± 2628
=
–32
–50 + 2628 –50 – 2628
t= = –0.04 s and t = = 3.16 s
–32 –32

The ball hits the ground after 3.16 seconds.

15 of 23 © Boardworks 2012
The flight path of a ball

3) Find the ball’s maximum height.

The greatest height of the ball occurs at the vertex.


h = –16t2 + 50t + 2
factor: h = –16(t2 – 3.125t – 0.125)
complete the square: h = –16[(t – 1.5625)2 – (1.5625)2 – 0.125]
distributive property: h = (t – 1.5625)2 + 16(1.5625)2 + 16(0.125)
simplify: h = (t – 1.5625)2 + 41.0625

The vertex is at (1.5625, 41.0625) so the ball’s maximum


height is approximately 41.1 ft.

16 of 23 © Boardworks 2012

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