Guided Notes 
Chapter 4 
Quadratic Functions and Equations 
 

 
 
Unit Essential Questions 
What are the advantages of a quadratic function in vertex form? 
 
How is any quadratic function related to the parent quadratic function  
y = x2? 
 
How are the real solutions of a quadratic equation related to the graph 
of the related quadratic function? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Section 4.1: Quadratic Functions and Transformations  
Students will be able to identify and graph quadratic functions 
Warm Up 
Evaluate each function for x = -3 and 3. 
1. ƒ (x) = x 2. ƒ (x) = x2  3. ƒ (x) = –x  4. ƒ (x) = –x2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
___________________________ - a function that can be written in the standard form 

f(x)=ax²+bx+c, where a ≠ 0 

_______________________ - the graph of a quadratic function 

Vertex form of a  Quadratic Function 

y = a ( x – h )2 + k 
 
 
1.   
 
2.   
 
3.   
 
4. 
 
5.   
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Examples  
1. Graph the function f(x) = x2 – 5. How is the graph a translation of the graph of the parent 
function f(x) = x2? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Graph the function f(x) = -3x2. How is the graph a translation of the graph of the parent 
function f(x) = x2? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. For f(x) = 3(x – 4)2 – 2, what are the vertex, the axis of symmetry, the maximum or 
minimum value, and the domain and the range? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. For f(x) = -2(x + 3)2 + 1, what are the vertex, the axis of symmetry, the maximum or 
minimum value, and the domain and the range? 
 
 
 
 
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Section 4.2 Part 1: Standard Form of a Quadratic Function  
Students will be able to graph quadratic functions written in standard form 
Warm Up 
 
Find the slope and y-intercept of the graph of each function. 
1. y = 3x + 3  2. y = –2x – 1 3. 3x + 2y = 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
Steps to Graph Quadratic Equations in Standard Form: 
1.   
 
2.   
 
3.   
 
4.   
 
5. 
 
6.   
 
 
Examples 
1. Graph x2 – 4x - 4 using a table of values.   
Find the axis of symmetry, vertex, and the maximum or minimum value. (Use a dotted line to 
graph the axis of symmetry)   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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2. Solve the system by substitution. Graph x2 – 6x + 5 using a table of values.   

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Section 4.2 Part 2: Standard Form of a Quadratic Function  
Students will be able to write quadratic functions in standard form 
Warm Up 
 
Find the vertex of the graph of each function. 
1. y = | x |+ 5 2. y = | x + 7 |- 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
Vertex Form of a  Quadratic Function 
 
y = a ( x – h )2 + k 
 
Steps to Graph Quadratic Equations in Vertex Form: 
1.   
 
2.   
 
3. 
 
 
 
 
Examples  
1. Write y = –x2 + 4x – 5 in vertex form. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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2. Write y = 2x2 + 12x + 7 in vertex form. 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.4 Part 1: Factoring Quadratic Expressions  
Students will be able to factor using greatest common factor 
Warm Up 
Multiply 
1. 3(x – 2) 2. x(x - 9)  3. (x + 5)(x – 9)  4. x2(x2 - 4x + 5) 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
_______________ - rewriting an expression as the product of its factors. (un-distributing) 

________________________ – the largest quantity that is a factor of all the integers or 

polynomials involved. 

 
Examples  
1. Find the GCF of each list of numbers. 
a. 12 and 8  b. 7 and 20 
 
 
2. Find the GCF of each list of terms. 
a. x3 and x7 b. 6x5 and 4x3 
 
 
 
3. Factor. 
a. 15x2 + 100 b. 8m2 + 4m     c. 3x2 + 6x 
 
 
 
 
4. Factor out the GCF in each of the following polynomials. 
a. 6x3 – 9x2 + 12x  b. 14x3y + 7x2y – 7xy  
 
 
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5. Factor out the GCF in each of the following polynomials. 
 
a. 6(x + 2) – y(x + 2)  b. xy(y + 1) – (y + 1)  
 
 
 
 
Section 4.4 Part 2: Factoring Quadratic Expressions  
Students will be able to factor using grouping 
Warm Up  
Factor out the GCF. 
1. x(x + 2) – 3(x + 2)  2. x2(x – 1) + (x – 1)  3. 4x(y + 12) + (y + 12) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
____________________________ – factor a polynomial by grouping the terms of the 
polynomial and looking for common factors. 
 
 
Factoring by  Grouping (4 terms) 
 
ax + ay + bx + by = a(x  + y) + b(x + y) = (a + 
b)(x + y) 
 
 
 
 
Examples 
1. Factor x3 + 2x2 – 3x – 6. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Factor x3 + 4x + x2 + 4.  
 
 

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3. Factor 2x3 – x2 – 10x + 5.  
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.4 Part 3: Factoring Quadratic Expressions  
Students will be able to factor a trinomial with leading coefficient = 1 
Warm Up 
Multiply. 
1. (x + 2)(x – 5) 2. (y – 7)(x – 1)  3. (x + y)(2x – y) 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
Factoring Trinomials with Leading Coefficient = 1 
1.   
 
2. 
 
3. 
 
 
 
 
Examples 
1. Factor 
a. x2 + 10x + 24 b. x2 – 4x – 12  c. x² – 14x + 33 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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2. Factor 
a. 2x2 + 6x –56. b. -t² + 6t – 5  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.4 Part 4: Factoring Quadratic Expressions  
Students will be able to factor a trinomial with leading coefficient ≠ 1 
Warm Up 
 
Write 2 different expressions that have a factor of (x + 6). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 

Steps for Factoring with a Leading Coefficient ≠ 1 

1.   
 
2.   
 
3.   
 
 
Examples 
1. Factor: 5x2 - 13x + 6 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
2. Factor: 2x2 + 9x – 5 
 
 

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3. Factor: 5x² + 28x + 32 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Section 4.4 Part 5: Factoring Quadratic Expressions  
Students will be able to factor special quadratic expressions 
Warm Up 
Multiply 
1. (2x – 7)(2x – 7)  2. (4x + 3)(4x – 3) 
 
   
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
Special Cases 
Perfect Square  Trinomial 
a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a +  b)(a + b) = (a + b)2 
Or 
a - 2ab + b2 = (a – b)(a 
2
– b) = (a - b)2 
 
Difference of Two  Square 
a – b2 = (a + b)(a – b) 
2

 
 
 
Examples 
1. Factor: x2 + 10x + 25  
 
 
 
 
2. Factor x2 - 18x + 81 
 
 

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3. Factor: x² – 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Factor 25x² – 121 
 
 
Section 4.5: Quadratic Equations  
Students will be able to solve a quadratic equation by factoring 
Warm Up 
Factor. 
1. x2 + 5x – 14 2. 4x2 – 12x  3. 9x2 – 16 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
Standard Form  of a Quadratic 
Equation 
 
ax² + bx + c = 0 
 
 
 
Zero-Product  Property 
 
If ab = 0, then a  = 0 or b = 0. 
 
 
 
____________________ - a solution of a quadratic equation. The x-intercepts of the parabola. 
 
Examples 
1. Solve by factoring x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 
 
 
 

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2. Solve by factoring 3x2 – 20x – 7 = 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Solve by factoring x2 – 18 = 3x 
 

 
 
 
Section 4.6 Part 1: Completing the Square  
Students will be able to solve perfect square trinomial equations 
Warm Up 
Simplify: 
1. (2x – 1)(2x – 1) 2. (x + 4)(x + 4) – 3  
 
   
 
 
 
Examples 
1. Solve by finding the square roots. 
a. 3x2 - 5 = 7 b. 4x2 + 10 = 46 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
__________________________________- the product you obtain when you square a binomial.   
 
Examples 
 
2. What are the solutions to x2 + 4x + 4 = 25? 
 

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3. What are to solutions of x2 – 14x + 49 = 81? 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.6 Part 2: Completing the Square  
Students will be able to solve equations by completing the square 
Warm Up 
Solve:  
1. 2x2 = 72 2. 6x2 = 54 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
___________________________________ - the process of finding the last term of a 
perfect square trinomial.  
x² + bx + (b/2)² = (x + (b/2))² 
 
Examples 
1. Find the missing value to complete the square. 
  
a. x2 + 20x  b. x2 + 18x   
 
 
Key Concepts 
Step to solving by completing the square 

1.   
 
2. 
 

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 3. 
 
4. 
 
5.  
 
Examples 
2. Solve x2 + 6x - 12 = 0. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Solve 2x2 + 8x – 2 = 0. 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.7: The Quadratic Formula  
Students will be able to solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula 
Warm Up 
Write each quadratic in standard form. 
1. y = 8 – 10x2  
2. y = (x + 2)2 – 1 

 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
The Quadratic Formula 

 
 
Examples 
1. Use the Quadratic Formula to solve 3x2 + 23x + 40 = 0.  
 
 

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2. Solve 3x2 + 2x = 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.8 Part 1: Complex Numbers  
Students will be able to perform operations with complex numbers 
Warm Up 
Simplify. 

 
 
 
 
 
Key Concepts 
 
____________ - the imaginary number that is defined as the number whose square is -1.  

_________ = -1 

 
Examples 
1. Simplify. 

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2. Simplify (3 + 6i) – (4 – 8i). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Find each product. 
a) (3i)(8i) b) (3 – 7i )(2 – 4i ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 4.8 Part 2: Complex Numbers  
Students will be able to find complex number solutions of quadratic equations 
Warm Up 
 
Solve 2x2 – 32 = 0 
 
 
 
 
 
Examples 
1. Solve 9x2 + 54 = 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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2. Solve x2 + 5 = 4x 
 
 
 

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