Chapter 8

Quadratic Functions

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-1

1
 Chapter Sections
8.1 – Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing
the Square
8.2 – Solving Quadratic Equations by the
Quadratic Formulas
8.3 – Quadratic Equations: Applications and
Problem Solving
8.4 – Writing Equations in Quadratic Form
8.5 – Graphing Quadratic Functions
8.6 – Quadratic and Other Inequalities in One
Variable
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-2
2
Graphing Quadratic
Functions

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-3

3
 Quadratic Functions

Quadratic Function
A quadratic function is a function that can be written
in the form
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
For real numbers a, b, and c, with a ≠ 0.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-4

4
 Definitions

The graph of every quadratic function is a

parabola.

The vertex is the lowest point on a

parabola that opens upward, or the highest
point on a parabola that opens downward.
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-5
5
 Definitions
Graphs of quadratic equations have symmetry
about a line through the vertex. This line is
called the axis of symmetry.

The sign of a, the numerical coefficient of the

squared term, determines whether the
parabola will open upward or downward.
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-6
6
 Vertex of a Parabola
Vertex of a Parabola
The parabola represented by the function f(x) = ax2 +
bx + c will have vertex

 b 4 ac − b 2

− , 
 2a 4a 
Since we often find the y-coordinate of the vertex by
substituting the x-coordinate of the vertex into f(x),
the vertex may also be designated as
 b  b 
− , f  − 
 2a  2a  

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-7

7
Axis of Symmetry of a Parabola

Axis of Symmetry
For a quadratic function of the form f(x) = ax2 + bx + c,
the equation of the axis of symmetry of the parabola is
b
x=−
2a

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-8

8
 x-Intercepts of a Parabola

x-Intercepts of a Parabola
To find the x-intercepts (if there are any) of a quadratic
function, solve the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 for x.

This equation may be solved by factoring, by using the

quadratic formula, or by completing the square.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-9

9
Graph Quadratic Functions

Example Consider the quadratic function

y = x2 + 8x – 12.

a. Determine whether the parabola opens upward

or downward.
b. Find the y-intercept.
c. Find the vertex.
d. Find the equation of the axis of symmetry.
e. Find the x-intercepts, if any.
f. Draw the graph.
continued
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-10
10
 Graph Quadratic Functions

a. Since a is -1, which is less than 0, the parabola

opens downward.

b. To find the y-intercept, set x = 0 and solve for y.

y = −(0) 2 + 8(0) − 12 = −12

The y-intercept is (0, 12)

continued
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-11
11
 Graph Quadratic Functions
c. First, find the x-coordinate, then find the y-
coordinate of the vertex. From the function, a = -1,
b = 8, and c = -12.
b 8
x=− = =4
2a 2(−1)
Since the x-coordinate of the vertex is not a fraction,
we will substitute x = 4 into the original function to
determine the y-coordinate of the vertex.
y = − x 2 + 8 x − 12
y = −(4) 2 + 8(4) − 12
= −16 + 32 − 12 = 4
The vertex is (4, 4). continued
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-12
12
 Graph Quadratic Functions

d. Since the axis of symmetry is a vertical line

through the vertex, the equation is found using the
same formula used to find the x-coordinate of the
vertex (see part c). Thus, the equation of the axis of
symmetry is x = 4.

continued
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-13
13
 Graph Quadratic Functions

e. To find the x-intercepts, set y = 0.

x 2 − 8 x + 12 = 0
( x − 6)( x − 2) = 0
x−6 = 0 or x−2=0
x=6 x=2

Thus, the x-intercepts are (2, 0) and (6, 0). These

values could also be found by the quadratic formula
(or by completing the square).
continued
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-14
14
Graph
Quadratic
Functions
f. Draw the graph.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-15

15
Solve Maximum and Minimum Problems
A parabola that opens upward has a minimum value
at its vertex, and a parabola that opens downward
has a maximum value at its vertex.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-16

16
Understand Translations of Parabolas
Start with the basic graph of f(x) = ax2 and translate, or shift,
the position of the graph to obtain the graph of the function
you are seeking.
y

f ( x ) = x2 4
g ( x ) = 2x 2

h( x ) = 1 x2
2

x
-4 4

Notice that the value of a in the graph f(x) = ax2 determines the
width of the parabola. As |a| gets larger, the parabola gets
narrower, and asCopyright
|a| gets smaller,
© 2015, the parabola
2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. gets wider.
Chapter 8-17
17
Understand Translations of Parabolas
Start with the basic graph of f(x) = ax2 and translate, or shift,
the position of the graph to obtain the graph of the function
you are seeking.
y

f ( x ) = x2

g ( x ) = ( x − 2)2
h ( x ) = ( x + 2) 2

x
-4 4
If h is a positive real number, the graph of g(x) = a(x – h)2 will
be shifted h units to the right of the graph g(x) = ax2. If h is a
negative real number, the graph of g(x) = a(x – h)2 will be
shifted |h| units to the left.
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-18
18
Understand Translations of Parabolas
Start with the basic graph of f(x) = ax2 and translate, or shift,
the position of the graph to obtain the graph of the function
you are seeking. y
g ( x ) = x2 + 1

f ( x ) = x2

x
- 4 h( x ) = x2 − 1 4

In general, the graph of g(x) = ax2 + k is the graph of f(x) = ax2

shifted k units up if k is a positive real number and |k| units
down if k is a negative
Copyright ©real number.
2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-19
19
Understand Translations of Parabolas
Parabola Shifts
For any function f(x) = ax2, the graph of g(x) = a(x-h)2 + k will
have the same shape as the graph of f(x). The graph of g(x)
will be the graph of f(x) shifted as follows:

• If h is a positive real number, the graph will be shifted h

units to the right.
• If h is a negative real number, the graph will be shifted |h|
units to the left.
• If k is a positive real number, the graph will be shifted k
units up.
• If k is a negative real number, the graph will be shifted |k|
units down.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-20

20
Understand Translations of Parabolas

Axis of Symmetry and Vertex of a Parabola

The graph of any function of the form

f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k

will be a parabola with axis of symmetry x = h and vertex at

(h, k).

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-21

21
Write Functions in the Form f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k

If we wish to graph parabolas using translations,

we need to change the form of a function from f(x)
= ax2 + bx + c to f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k. To do this we
complete the square as we discussed in Section 8.1.

Example Given f(x) = x2 – 6x + 10,

a) Write f(x) in the form of f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k.
b) Graph f(x).

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-22

22
Write Functions in the Form f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k

a) We use the x2 and -6x terms to obtain a perfect

square trinomial.
f ( x) = ( x 2 − 6 x) + 10
Now we take half the coefficient of the x-term and
square it.
 1 (−6) = 9
2

 2 
We then add this value, 9, within the parentheses.

f ( x) = ( x − 6 x + 9) − 9 + 10
2

continued
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-23
23
Write Functions in the Form f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k

By doing this we have created a perfect square

trinomial within the parentheses, plus a constant
outside the parentheses. We express the perfect
square trinomial as the square of a binomial.

f ( x) = ( x − 3) + 1 2

The function is now in the form we are seeking.

continued
Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-24
24
Write Functions in the Form f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k

b) Graph f(x).

Copyright © 2015, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 8-25

25