Chapter 10

Quadratic Functions
Standards
14.0 Students solve a quadratic equation by factoring or completing the
square.
19.0 Students know the quadratic formula and are familiar with its proof
by completing the square.
20.0 Students use the quadratic formula to find the roots of a second-
degree polynomial and to solve quadratic equations.
21.0 Students graph quadratic functions and know that their roots are the
x-intercepts.
23.0 Students apply quadratic equations to physical problems, such as the
motion of an object under the force of gravity.

Lesson 10.5
Graphing Parabolas
Lesson 10.5
Objectives:
1. Graph a parabola.
2. Solve application problems using information from a graph.
3. Find an equation from its graph.


The graph of a quadratic function is a:
A parabola can open up
or down.
If the parabola opens up,
the lowest point is called the
vertex (minimum).
If the parabola opens down,
the vertex is the highest
point (maximum).
NOTE:
If the parabola opens left or right it is not a function!
y
x
Vertex
Vertex
parabola
y = ax
2
+ bx + c
The parabola will open
down when the a
value is negative.
The parabola will
open up when the a
value is positive.
y
x
The standard form of a quadratic function is:
a > 0
a < 0

a=0
y
x
Axis of
Symmetry
Axis of Symmetry
Parabolas are symmetric.
If we drew a line down
the middle of the
parabola, we could fold
the parabola in half.
We call this line the
axis of symmetry.
The axis of symmetry ALWAYS
passes through the vertex.
If we graph one side of
the parabola, we could
REFLECT it over the
axis of symmetry to
graph the other side.
Vertex
Vertex
Ex. Find the axis of symmetry for y = 3x
2
18x + 7
Finding the Axis of Symmetry
When a quadratic function is in standard form
the equation of the axis of symmetry is
y = ax
2
+ bx + c
2
b
a
x

=
This is best read as
the opposite of b divided by the quantity of 2 times a.
( )
18
2 3
x=
18
6
=
3 =
Hence, the axis
of symmetry is
x = 3.
a = 3 b = -18
Finding the Vertex
The axis of symmetry always goes through the
_______. Thus, the axis of symmetry
gives us the ____________ of the vertex.

STEP 1: Find the axis of symmetry
vertex
Find the vertex of y = -2x
2
+ 8x - 3
2
b
a
x

=
a = -2 b = 8

x =
8
2(2)
=
8
4
= 2

x-coordinate
The x-
coordinate of
the vertex is 2.
Finding the Vertex
STEP 1: Find the axis of symmetry
STEP 2: Substitute the x value into the original
equation to find the y coordinate of the vertex.
8 8
2
2 2( 2) 4
b
a
x

= =

= =
The vertex
is (2 , 5)
Find the vertex of y = -2x
2
+ 8x - 3

y = 2 2
( )
2
+ 8 2
( )
3
= 2 4
( )
+16 3
= 8 +16 3
= 5
Graphing a Quadratic Function
There are 3 steps to graphing a parabola in
standard form.
STEP 1: Find the Axis of symmetry using:
STEP 2: Find the vertex
STEP 3: Find two other points and reflect them
across the Axis of symmetry. Then connect the
five points with a smooth curve.
MAKE A TABLE
using x values close to the axis of symmetry.
2
b
a
x

=
STEP 1: Find the axis
of symmetry.
( )
4
1
2 2 2
b
x
a
-
= = =
y
x

Graph: y = 2x
2
4x 1
Graphing a Quadratic Function
STEP 2: Find the vertex.
Substitute x = 1 to
find the y value of
the vertex.
( ) ( )
2
2 1 4 1 1 3 y = - - = -

Vertex : 1, 3
( )

x =1
5
1
( ) ( )
2
2 3 4 3 1 5 y = - - =
STEP 3: Find two other
points and reflect them
across the axis of
symmetry. Then
connect the five points
with a smooth curve.
y
x
( ) ( )
2
2 2 4 2 1 1 y = - - = -
3
2
y x
Graphing a Quadratic Function

Graph: y = 2x
2
4x 1
a is positive,
opens
upward
y
x
Y-intercept of a Quadratic Function

y = 2x
2
4x 1
Y-
axis
The y-intercept of a
quadratic function can
be found when x = 0.

y = 2x
2
4x 1
= 2 0 ( )
2
4(0) 1
= 0 0 1
= 1
The constant term is always the y- intercept
The number of real solutions is at most two.
No solutions
6
4
2
-2
5
f x ( ) = x
2
-2 x ( )+5
6
4
2
-2
5
2
-2
-4
-5 5
One solution
x = 3
Two solutions
x = -2 or x = 2
The x-intercepts (when y = 0) of a quadratic function
are the solutions to the related quadratic equation.
Identifying Solutions
4
2
-2
-4
5
x = 0 or x = 2
Find the solutions of 2x - x
2
= 0
The solutions of this
quadratic equation can be
found by looking at the
graph of f(x) = 2x x
2

The x-intercepts
(or zeros) of
f(x)= 2x x
2
are the solutions to
2x - x
2
= 0
Homework

Problem Set 10.5
TB pp. 641- 643
(Multiples of 4 numbers 4, 8, , 28);
30-38 even numbers