Quadratic Functions
Quadratic Functions
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
where a, b and c are constants and a ≠ 0
The highest power of variable x is 2.
Activity 1
Determine whether each of the following is the quadratic functions or not. For quadratic functions, state
the value of a, b and c.
Functions YES/NO a b c
(a) f ( x) 2 x 2 2 x 5 yes 2 2 5
(b) f ( x) 7 5 x x 2
(c) f ( x) 2 x 5
(d) f ( x) x 2
(e) f ( x) x 2 2 x
(f) f ( x) 3x 2 4
(g) f ( x) 12
(h) x 2 3x 5 0
i. f(x) = x2
x 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4
f(x
16 9 4 1 0 1 4 9 16
)
Axes of symmetry, x = 0
Minimum point ( 0, 0 )
ii. f(x) = x2 – 3x + 2
x 1 0 1 2 3 4
f(x
6 2 0 0 2 6
)
x 2 1 0 1 2
f(x
4 3 4 1 12
)
2
Quadratic Functions
2. i. For the given function, f(x) = 4x2 – 2 tabulate values for x and f(x) for 3 ≤ x ≤ 3.
x 3 2 1 0 1 2 3
f(x)
iii. For the given function, f(x) = 4x 3 3x2 tabulate values for x and f(x) for 2 ≤ x ≤ 3
and plot the function
x 2 1 0 1 2 3
f(x)
o The shape of the graphs is known as parabola which is symmetrical about a vertical line
passing through the turning point (maximum or minimum point) of the graph.
o a determines the shape of a quadratic function. ( whether or shapes )
o If a is positive (a > 0) the graph is a parabola with a minimum point and opens up ( )
o If a is negative (a < 0) the graph is a parabola with a maximum point and opens down ( )
o The axis of symmetry is a vertical line passing through the maximum or minimum point
of the parabola
a>0 a<0
f(x) h(x)
Maximum point
Axes of symmetry
Minimum point
Activity 2
Fill in the following table according to the graphs previously drawn.
3. f(x) = 4 – 2x – 3x2
4. f(x) = 4x2 – 2
5. f(x) = 4x – 3
3x2
1.4 Relating the position of the graph of a quadratic function f ( x) ax 2 bx c with the
types of roots for f(x) = 0
o The roots of f(x) = ax2 + bx + c = 0 are the points where the graph of f(x) intersects the
x- axis.
o Thus, the number of the intersection points gives the number of roots for f(x) = 0.
o We will be able to determine the position of the graph of the function with respect to the
x-axis based on the types of roots of the quadratic equation f(x) = 0 by calculating the
value of b24ac.
Values of
b24ac > 0 b24ac = 0 b24ac < 0
b24ac
The graph
has a
minimum Position of the
a is The graph cuts The graph touches The graph does
positive value and graph the x-axis at two the x-axis at only not meet the
( a > 0 ) has the distinct points one point x-axis.
shape of
( 2 x-intercepts ) ( 1 x-intercept ) (no x-intercept )
The graph
has a Position of the The graph cuts The graph touches The graph does
a is maximum graph the x-axis at two the x-axis at only not meet the
negative value and distinct points one point x-axis.
( a < 0 ) has the
shape of ( 2 x-intercepts ) ( 1 x-intercept ) ( no x-intercept )
Types of roots of Two real and Two real and
No real roots
the equation f(x) = 0 distinct roots equal roots
Activity 3
1. Determine the shape and position of the graphs of the functions with respect to the x-axis.
>0
2 g(x) = 3x2 – 2x + 1
3 h(x) = x2 + 2
4 m(x) = 2x – x2
5 n(x) = 1 + 2x – x2
6 p(x) = x2 – 2x 5
7 f(x) = 2x2 – 6x + 7
8 f(x) = x2 + 2x – 5
Activity 4:
1. Each of the following diagrams shows the graphs for quadratic functions. By calculating b2 4ac
match each of the graphs with one of the function given:
a b2 4ac Graph
2
1. f(x) = x – 2x + 4 +1 (2) 4(1)(4) = 12
2 c
2. g(x) = 2x2 – 3x – 4
3. h(x) = x2 – 6x + 8
4. m(x) = 8x – 16 – x2
5. n(x) = 4x2 – 20x + 25
6. p(x) = 5x – 6 – x2
(a) y (b) y
x
(c) y (d) y
x
(f) (g) y
y
Activity 5:
1. Determine the values of k if each of the following quadratic functions graph touches the
x-axis at one point only.
Example: a) f(x) = 2kx2 – 3kx + 1 b) f(x) = x2 – 3kx + 5k – 1
f(x) = x2 + 2kx – 4x + 1
a = 1, b = 2k – 4, c = 1
touches 1 point b2 – 4ac = 0
(2k – 4) 2 – 4 (1) (1) = 0
4k2 16k + 16 – 4 = 0
4k2 16k + 12 = 0
k2 – 4k + 3 = 0
(k – 3) (k – 1) = 0
k = 3 or k = 1
k = 0, 8/9 k = 2/9, 2
2. Determine the range of values of h if each of the following quadratic function graphs intersect
the x-axis at two distinct points
Example a) g(x) = x2 – 3x 6h + 3 b) g(x) = x2 – 2x + 3h
g(x) = x2 + 2x + 5 – 3h
a = 1, b = 2, c = 5 – 3h
Intersect 2 points b2 – 4ac > 0
22 – 4 (1) (5 – 3h) > 0
4 – 20 + 12h > 0
4
h>
3
h > 1/8 h < 1/3
c) g(x) = hx 2 + 8x – 12 d) g(x) = 2x2 – 3x + h – 1
3. Determine the range of values of m if each of the following quadratic function graphs does not
intersect the x-axis.
Example a) h(x) = x2 – mx2 – 6x + 8 b) h(x) = (m + 3)x2 – 3x + 1
2
h(x) = mx – 12x + 2
a = m, b = 12, c = 2
No intersection b2 – 4ac < 0
( 12)2 – 4(m) (2) < 0
144 – 8m < 0
8m > 144
m> 18
m < 1/8 m > 3/4
c) h(x) = x2 – 2x + 4 – m d) h(x) = 3x2 – 6x + 1 – 2m
m<3 m < 1
4. Find the possible values of p if each of the following graph touches the x-axis at only one point
(a) f ( x) x 2 px p 3
(b) f ( x) 4 x 2 4(3 p) x 5(3 p )
5. Determine the range of values of k for which the graph for quadratic function
g ( x) (k 3) x 2 2(k 1) x k intersects the x-axis at two distinct points.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_
f ( x) a x p q
2
y
y (p, q)
x
x
(p, q)
Activity 6
State the minimum/maximum values and the corresponding x value.
Completing a Square
f x a x2 b x c
�2 b c�
f x a �x x � >>> factorise a
� a a�
�2 b �1 b � �1 b � c �
2 2
�1 b �
2
f x a �x x � � � � � >>> and � � after the second term
� a
� �2 a � �2 a � a �
� �2 a �
�
� 1 b � �1 b � c �
2 2
f x a �
� x � � � �
>>> factorise the first 3 terms to a complete square
�
�
� 2 a � �2 a � a �
�
2 2
� 1 b� �1 b �
f x a �x � a � � c >>> simplify and expand a .
� 2 a� �2 a �
Example ( i )
f ( x ) x2 6 x 8 >>> factorise a
2 2 2
�6 � �6 � �1 b �
x 2 6 x � � � � 8 >>> and � � after the second term
�2 � �2 � �2 a �
x 3 32 8
2
>>> factorisethe first 3 terms to a complete square
x 3 1
2
>>> simplify and expand a .
a = 1 > 0 , the minimum value of f(x) = 1 when x = 3
Example ( ii )
f ( x) 2 x 2 4 x 3
� 3�
2 �x 2 2 x � >>> factorise a
� 2�
�2 �2 � �2 � 3 �
2 2 2
�1 b �
2 �x 2 x � � � � � >>> and _ � �
� �2 � �2 � 2 � �2 a �
� �
�
x 1 1 �
2 2 3
2� � >>> factoriseto a complete square
� 2�
2 x 1 1
2
>>> simplify and expand a .
a = 2 > 0 , the minimum value of f(x) = 1 when x = 1
Example ( iii )
f x x2 4 x 7
f x �
� x2 4 x 7 �
� >>> factorise a
�2 2
�4 � �4 �
2 � �1 b �
2
f x � x 4x � � � � 7 � >>> and _ � �
� �2 � �2 � � �2 a �
f x �
�x 2 2 7 �
2 2
>>> factorise to a complete square
�
f x x 2 3
2
>>> simplify and expand a .
a = 1 < 0 , the maximum value of f(x) = 3 when x = 2
Example ( v )
f x 2 x 2 5 x 6
�2 5 �
f x 2 �x x 3� >>> factorise a
� 2 �
�2 5 2 2
�5 � �5 � � 2
�1 b �
f x 2 �
x x � � � � 3� >>> and _ � �
� 2
� �4 � �4 � �
� �2 a �
2 2
�
� 5 � �5 � �
f x 2 �
�x � � � 3 � >>> factorise to a complete square
�
�
� 4 � �4 � �
�
2
� 5 � 73
f x 2 �x � >>> simplify and expand a
� 4� 8
73 5
a = 2 < 0 , the maximum value of f(x) = when x =
8 4
Activity 7
Express each of the following in the form of a(x + p )2 + q by using the method of completing a
square. State the maximum or minimum value of the function and the corresponding value of x.
Hence, state the maximum or the minimum point.(turning point). Also state the axes of symmetry.
1. f x x 2 4 x 5 2. f x x 2 10 x 18
3. f x x 2 8 x 7 4. g x 3 6 x x 2
5. h x 2 x 2 8 x 3 6. g x 5 4 x 2 x 2
7. g x 5 x 2 8 x 10 8. m x 10 x 2 x 2
9. g x 6 x 9 4 x 2 10. g x 2 3 x 2 x
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_
Notes;
To sketch the graphs of the quadratic functions, we need to
(a) indicate the shape of the graph
(b) determine its maximum or minimum point(by using the completing the square method)
(c) determine the y-intercept (x = 0) and one other point
(d) Then, draw the axes , draw the axis of symmetry(corresponding value of x), mark the points
from (b) and (c) and sketch the graph accordingly.
Example;
QUADRATIC FUNCTION f ( x) 2 x 2 4 x 5
Shape of graph
a = +2
Value of b2 – 4ac (4)2 4(2)(5) = 24
Does not intersect x axis
Determine minimum or maximum point f ( x) 2 x 2 4 x 5
and axis of symmetry �2 5�
2� x 2x �
� 2�
� 2 2
� 2 � �2 � 5 �
2� x2 2 x � � � � �
� �2 � �2 � 2 �
� �
� 2 2 5�
2� x 1 1 �
� 2�
2 x 1 3
Minimum point (1, 3)
Axis of symmetry : x = 1
Determine y-intercept (x = 0) 2
f (0) 2 0 4 0 5
5
Mark the points on Cartesian plane
y
(a) Draw the axis of symmetry
(b) Draw a smooth parabolic shape which
passes through the points.
5
O 1 x
(1, 3)
Activity 8
Find the maximum or minimum points and y- intercept for each of the following functions.
Then, sketch the graph for each of the functions.
(a) f ( x) x 2 2 x 3 (b) f ( x) 2 x 2 5 x 4
(c) f ( x ) 2 6 x 3 x 2 (d) f ( x) 3 x 2 5 x 2
4. QUADRATIC INEQUALITIES
4.1 Determine the range of values of x that satisfies quadratic inequalities
The solution of the quadratic inequalities are the ranges of values which satisfied the inequalities
itself. We can use the graph method to solve the inequalities.
GRAPH METHOD
CASE 01: a> 0, b2 – 4ac > 0 (graph intersect the x-axis at 2 points)
CASE 02: a< 0, b2 – 4ac > 0 (graph intersect the x-axis at 2 points)
β
f(x) < 0 ( below) for x < or x > β
4. x2 – 11x + 18 > 0
i. Graph Method
x2 – 11x + 18 > 0
(x 2) (x 9) > 0
x<2 or x>9
Hence , the required range of values of x is x < 2 or x > 9
Activity 9 2 9
By using the graph method, find the range of values of x .
(a) x2 – x – 6 > 0
(b) 3 – 5x ≥ 2x2
(d) Find the range of values of p if the graph of the quadratic functions
f(x) = (2p + 1)x2 – 3px + 2p – 4 intersects the x-axis at two distinct points
Activity 10
Find the range of values which satisfy each of the following equalities :
1. ( x 1)( x 3) > 0 9. 2k 2 3k 2
3. ( 2 x )(2 x 5) 0 11. 3 x 2 2 x 2
4. ( p 1)(3 p 2) 0 12. 6 5 x 6 x 2
5. h 2 10h 21 0 13. x( x 2) 8
6. m 2 6m 8 0 14. ( x 1)( x 2) 4
8. 3 x 2 5 x 2 0 16. 4 x 2 25
1. If f(x) = 7 – ax –x2 = 16 – (x + b) 2 for all values of x and both a and b is positives, find:
(a) The values of a and b
(b) The turning point for graph f(x).
(c) The ranges of values of x which satisfies f(x) ≥ 0
2. The minimum value of f(x) = x2 +ax + b is 6 when x = 2. Find the values of a and b.
3. A straight line x + 2y = m intersects a curve of x(x + y) + 9 = 0 at two different points. Find the
ranges of values of m.
4. Sketch the graph of f(x) = 6 + x – x2 for the domain 3 < x < 4 and determine the symmetrical
axis. Hence, find the corresponding ranges for the graph.
5. Determine the maximum value for f(x) = 5 – (x + 2)2 and state the corresponding value of x.
Then sketch the graph.
6. Express the function f(x) = 9 + 2x(x – 3) in the form of f(x) = (x + p)2 + q . Then find the
maximum or minimum value for the function of f(x) and the corresponding value of x
7 3
7. The function f(x) = x2 + ax + b have a minimum value of when x = . Find the values of
2 2
a
and b. Then, sketch the graph for f(x).
8. Find the ranges of values of m if the quadratic function f(x) = x2 – 3mx + 3m + 8 does not
intersects the x-axis.
4 y
12. (a) Given that x , find the ranges of values of x if y > 10
2
(b) Find the range of values of x if x2 – 2x ≤ 3
13. y
(0, 23)
(2, 3)
x
DIAGRAM 2
In the Diagram 2 above, point (2, 3) is a turning point of the graph which has an equation of
y = p(x + h)2 + k. find;
(a) values of p, h and k
(b) the equation for the curve when the graph is reflected along the x-axis
14. Find the ranges of values of k if the equation x2 + (1 + k) x – k2 + 1 = 0 has real roots.
15. Determine the ranges of values of k if the quadratic equation x2 +(k – 1)x = 1– k has
two different roots.
3
16. Find the ranges of values of p for which (p + 1)x2 – px + p – 4 = 0 has two different roots.
2
Activity 1
b. yes, 1, 5, 7
c. No
d. Yes, 1, 0, 0
e. Yes, 1, 2, 0
f. Yes, 3, 0, 4
g. No
h. No
Activity 2
1. 1, 3, 2, ,minimum pt., 1, two real and distinct roots, 2
2. 3, 2, 4, , maximum pt., two real and distinct roots, 2
3. 4, 0, 2, , minimum pt., 32, two real and distinct roots, 2
4. 3, 4, 3, , maximum pt., 20, no real roots, 0
Activity 3
1. 1, , 4, intersect x-axis at 2 points, real & distinct roots
2. 1, , 0, intersect x-axis at 1 point, real & equal roots
3. 1, , 8, does not intersect x-axis, real & no real roots
4. 1, , 8, intersect x-axis at 2 points, real & distinct roots
5. 1, , 0, intersect x-axis at 1 points, real & equal roots
6. 1, , 16, does not intersect x-axis, no real roots
7. 2, , 20, does not intersect x-axis, no real roots
8. 1, , 4, does not intersect x-axis, no real roots
Activity 4
2. 2, -23, d
3. 1, 4, a
4. 1, 0, b
5. 4, 0, f
6. 1, 1, g
Activity 6
b. Min. value = 7, x = 3/4
c. Max value = 1/2, x = 4
d. Max value = 6, x = 4