Digital Lesson
Graphing Quadratic
Functions
Let a, b, and c be real numbers a 0. The function
f (x) = ax2 + bx + c
is called a quadratic function.
The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola.
Every parabola is symmetrical about a line called the axis
(of symmetry).
y
The intersection point of the
parabola and the axis is
called the vertex of the f (x) = ax2 + bx + c
parabola. vertex
x
axis
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The leading coefficient of ax2 + bx + c is a. y
a>0
When the leading coefficient f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
opens
is positive, the parabola
upward
opens upward and the x
vertex is a minimum. vertex
minimum
y
x
When the leading vertex
maximum f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
coefficient is negative,
the parabola opens downward a<0
and the vertex is a maximum. opens
downward
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The simplest quadratic functions are of the form
f (x) = ax2 (a 0)
These are most easily graphed by comparing them with the
graph of y = x2.
Example: Compare the graphs of
1
y x 2, f ( x) x 2 and g ( x) 2 x 2
2
y x2
y
1 2 5 g ( x) 2 x 2
f ( x) x
2
x
-5 5
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Example: Graph f (x) = (x – 3)2 + 2 and find the vertex and axis.
f (x) = (x – 3)2 + 2 is the same shape as the graph of
g (x) = (x – 3)2 shifted upwards two units.
g (x) = (x – 3)2 is the same shape as y = x2 shifted to the right
three units.
y
f (x) = (x – 3)2 + 2
y = x2 g (x) = (x – 3)2
4
(3, 2)
vertex
x
-4 4
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The standard form for the equation of a quadratic function is:
f (x) = a(x – h)2 + k (a 0)
The graph is a parabola opening upward if a 0 and opening
downward if a 0. The axis is x = h, and the vertex is (h, k).
Example: Graph the parabola f (x) = 2x2 + 4x – 1 and find the axis
and vertex. y
2 f (x) = 2x + 4x – 1
f (x) = 2x2 + 4x – 1 original equation
f (x) = 2( x2 + 2x) – 1 factor out 2
f (x) = 2( x2 + 2x + 1) – 1 – 2 complete the square x
f (x) = 2( x + 1)2 – 3 standard form
a > 0 parabola opens upward like y = 2x2.
h = –1, k = –3 axis x = –1, vertex (–1, –3). x = –1 (–1, –3)
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Example: Graph and find the vertex and x-intercepts
of f (x) = –x2 + 6x + 7.
f (x) = – x2 + 6x + 7 original equation
y
(3, 16)
f (x) = – ( x2 – 6x) + 7 factor out –1
f (x) = – ( x2 – 6x + 9) + 7 + 9 complete the square
f (x) = – ( x – 3)2 + 16 standard form
a < 0 parabola opens downward.
h = 3, k = 16 axis x = 3, vertex (3, 16). 4
Find the x-intercepts by solving (–1, 0) (7, 0) x
–x2 + 6x + 7 = 0.
(–x + 7 )( x + 1) = 0 factor 4
x = 7, x = –1 x=3
f(x) = –x2 + 6x + 7
x-intercepts (7, 0), (–1, 0)
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Example: Find an equation for the parabola with vertex (2, –1)
passing through the point (0, 1).
y
y = f(x)
(0, 1)
x
(2, –1)
f (x) = a(x – h)2 + k standard form
f (x) = a(x – 2)2 + (–1) vertex (2, –1) = (h, k)
Since (0, 1) is a point on the parabola: f (0) = a(0 – 2)2 – 1
1
1 = 4a –1 and a
1 1 2 2
f ( x) ( x 2) 1 f ( x) x 2 x 1
2
2 2
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Vertex of a Parabola
The vertex of the graph of f (x) = ax2 + bx + c (a 0)
b b
is , f
2a 2a
Example: Find the vertex of the graph of f (x) = x2 – 10x + 22.
f (x) = x2 – 10x + 22 original equation
a = 1, b = –10, c = 22
b 10
At the vertex, x 5
2a 2(1)
b
f f (5) 5 10(5) 22 3
2
2a
So, the vertex is (5, -3).
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Example: A basketball is thrown from the free throw line from a
height of six feet. What is the maximum height of the ball if the
path of the ball is: 1 2
y x 2 x 6.
9
The path is a parabola opening downward.
The maximum height occurs at the vertex.
1 2 1
y x 2x 6 a , b 2
9 9
b
At the vertex, x 9.
2a
b
f f 9 15
2a
So, the vertex is (9, 15).
The maximum height of the ball is 15 feet.
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Example: A fence is to be built to form a
rectangular corral along the side of a barn
barn
65 feet long. If 120 feet of fencing are
available, what are the dimensions of the x corral x
corral of maximum area?
120 – 2x
Let x represent the width of the corral and 120 – 2x the length.
Area = A(x) = (120 – 2x) x = –2x2 + 120 x
The graph is a parabola and opens downward.
The maximum occurs at the vertex where x b ,
b 120 2a
a = –2 and b = 120 x 30.
2a 4
120 – 2x = 120 – 2(30) = 60
The maximum area occurs when the width is 30 feet and the
length is 60 feet.
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