4.01 Key features of quadratic functions

Identifying quadratics

A quadratic expression is a type of polynomial that has a degree of $2$2. A quadratic equation can appear in many different forms as we will see in later lessons. If manipulated, all quadratic equations can be written in the form $y=ax^2+bx+c$y=ax2+bx+c, where $a\ne0$a≠0.

See the examples and non-examples of quadratic expressions below:

Examples
$5x^2$5x2
$\frac{x^2}{6}+3x-7$x26​+3x−7
$2x+7-18x^2$2x+7−18x2
$-2\left(x-3\right)^2+7$−2(x−3)2+7

Nonexamples	Reason
$\frac{1}{x}+4$1x​+4	Not a polynomial as $\frac{1}{x}=x^{-1}$1x​=x−1
$\sqrt{x+2}-7$√x+2−7	Not a polynomial as there is a square root
$x^3+x^2$x3+x2	Has a degree of $3$3, not $2$2

 

Graphs of quadratics

The shape of a quadratic function is called a parabola. The graph of a quadratic equation is a curve with one line of symmetry and one vertex (turning point). All quadratic equations have common properties, apart from just having a degree of $2$2. Use this interactive to explore different quadratic equations. Can you see the common physical properties?  

At this stage, all we really want to explore is the shape of the function. 

 

Practice questions

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

 

Identifying key features

In previous chapters, we learned how to find certain features of linear equations including the slope, the $x$x-intercept, and the $y$y-intercept. Now we are going to explore the features of parabolas.

 

Intercepts

The intercepts are where the parabola crosses the horizontal ($x$x) and vertical ($y$y) axes.

More specifically:

• The $x$x-intercepts are where the parabola crosses the $x$x-axis. This occurs when $y=0$y=0.
• The $y$y-intercept is where the parabola crosses the $y$y-axis. This occurs when $x=0$x=0.

You can see them in the picture below. Note, however, that there won't always be two $x$x-intercepts. Sometimes there may only be one or even none.

For now, we will just identify the intercepts from a graph, later we will look at doing it algebraically.

Notice that the $y$y-intercept is where the function crosses the $y$y-axis in the image above. We can write this as $y=-3$y=−3 or $\left(0,-3\right)$(0,−3).

We can also see from this image that the $x$x-intercepts are at $x=-1$x=−1 and $x=3$x=3. We can also write these as $\left(-1,0\right)$(−1,0) and $\left(3,0\right)$(3,0).

 

Maximum and minimum values

Maximum or minimum values are found at the turning points, or the vertex of the parabola.

Parabolas that have a positive leading term open up and have a minimum value. This means the $y$y-value will never go under a certain value.

Parabolas that have a negative leading term open down and have a maximum value. This means the $y$y-value will never go over a certain value.

Maximum and minimum values occur on a parabola's line of symmetry. This is the line that evenly divides a parabola into two sides down the middle.

 

Finding the key features around the turning point

1. Determine whether the parabola opens up or down so we know whether we're finding a minimum or maximum.
2. From the graph, the turning point (vertex) will be the point on the line of symmetry where the parabola changes from increasing to decreasing or vice versa - it should be stated as coordinates $x,y$x,y.
3. The minimum or maximum value is referring specifically to the $y$y-value of the turning point. This will also help us to state the range of the function.
4. The intervals of increase or decrease are referring to the domain of $x$x-values over which the parabola is increasing or decreasing, the boundary will be the $x$x-value of the turning point.

 

Practice Questions

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6