Section 8.

4
Quadratic Functions
8.4 Lecture Guide: Quadratic Functions

Objective 1: Distinguish between linear and quadratic

functions.

A second-degree polynomial function can be written

in the form f ( x)  ax 2  bx  c and is called a
quadratic function.
First Degree Functions --- Linear Functions
Algebraically: Numerically: Graphically:
A straight line
f  x   mx  b A fixed change in x
produces a constant
change in y.
Example: Example: Example:
x y
f  x   2x  5
3 11
2 9
1 7
0 5
1 3
2 1
3 1
Second Degree Functions --- Quadratic Functions

Algebraically: Numerically: Graphically:

f  x   ax 2  bx  c The y-values from a A parabola

symmetric pattern
about the vertex.
Example: Example: x y Example:
1 9
f  x   x2  4x  4 0 4
1 1
2 0
3 1
4 4
5 9
1. For a linear function in the form f  x   mx  b, the graph will
slope upward to the right if __________________ and the
graph will slope downward to the right if ________________.

2. For quadratic functions in the form     bx  c, the

2
f x ax
graph will open up if _________________ and the graph will
open down if __________________.
Identify the graph of each function as a line or a parabola. If
the graph is a line, determine whether the slope is negative or
positive. If the graph is a parabola, determine whether the
parabola is concave up (the graph opens up) or concave down
(the graph opens down).

3. y  3 x  8 4. y  2x2  9x  4
Identify the graph of each function as a line or a parabola. If
the graph is a line, determine whether the slope is negative or
positive. If the graph is a parabola, determine whether the
parabola is concave up (the graph opens up) or concave down
(the graph opens down).

5. y  3x  7 x  6 6. y  9 x  5
2
Objective 2: Determine the vertex of a parabola.
For a parabola defined by f  x   ax 2  bx  c, the x-intercepts
(if they exist) can be determined by using the quadratic
formula. The vertex will be located at the x-value midway
between the two x-intercepts. See the figure below.
y
b
x
2a

 b b 2  4ac 
  ,0 
 b b 2  4ac   2a 2a 
  ,0   
 2a 2a 
   b  b 
  , f   
 2a  2a  
 7. The x-intercepts of a parabola are  5,0  and  8,0  .
Determine the x-coordinate of the vertex.

8. The x-intercepts of a parabola are  7,0  and 15,0  .

Determine the x-coordinate of the vertex.
 Vertex of the Parabola Defined by f  x   ax  bx  c
2

Algebraically Numerically
The y-values form a symmetric pattern
 b  b 
  , f   about the vertex. If the table contains
 2a  2a   the vertex, the y-coordinate of the
vertex will be either the largest or the
Example: smallest y-value in the table.
f  x    x2  7 x  8 x y
Example:
a = −1 and b = 7 2 10
x 
b 7 7
  3.5 1 0
2a 2  1 2 2 18
3.5 20.25
f  3.5  20.25 5 18
8 0
9 10
 Graphically
The vertex is either the highest or the lowest point on the
parabola.

Example:
x  3.5
 3.5,20.25

 1,0 8,0 
Finding the Vertex of the Parabola defined
by f  x   ax  bx  c
2

b
Step 1. Determine the x-coordinate using x   .
2a

 b 
Step 2. Then evaluate f    to determine the y-coordinate.
 2a 
9. Determine the vertex of the parabola defined by
f  x   3x 2  12 x  1
10. Determine the vertex of the parabola defined by
f  x   2 x 2  6 x  5
Use the given equation to calculate the x and y-intercepts
and the vertex of each parabola.
11. y  2 x 2  5x  3

(a) y-intercept (b) x-intercepts

(c) Vertex
Use the given equation to calculate the x and y-intercepts
and the vertex of each parabola.
12. y   2 x  7  x  1

(a) y-intercept (b) x-intercepts

(c) Vertex
Objective 3: Sketch the graph of a quadratic function
and determine key features of the resulting parabola.
 Complete the table, plot the points on the graph, and connect
these points with a smooth parabolic curve. Then complete the
missing information.

13. f  x    x  2 x  8
2
Table Graph

Open upward or x y
downward? 2
Vertex:
1
0
x-intercepts:
1
y-intercept: 2
3
Domain:
4
Range:
 Complete the table, plot the points on the graph, and connect
these points with a smooth parabolic curve. Then complete the
missing information.

14. f  x   x  2 x  3
2
Table Graph

Open upward or x y
downward? 4
Vertex:
3
2
x-intercepts:
1
y-intercept: 0
1
Domain:
2
Range:
Sketching the Graph of a Quadratic Function
1. Determine whether the parabola opens upward or
downward.

2. Determine the coordinates of the vertex.

3. Determine the intercepts.

4. Complete a table using points on both sides of the vertex.

5. Connect all points with a smooth parabolic shape.

15. Sketch the graph of f  x   x  2 x  8.
2

(a) Will the parabola open upward or open downward?

(b) Determine the coordinates of the vertex.

(c) Complete a table of values using inputs on both sides of the

vertex.
15. Sketch the graph of f  x   x  2 x  8.
2

(d) Determine the intercepts of (e) Use this information to

the graph of this function. sketch the graph of this
function.
16. Sketch the graph of f  x   2 x  11x  6.
2

(a) Will the parabola open upward or open downward?

(b) Determine the coordinates of the vertex.

(c) Complete a table of values using inputs on both sides of the

vertex.
16. Sketch the graph of f  x   2 x  11x  6.
2

(d) Determine the intercepts of (e) Use this information to

the graph of this function. sketch the graph of this
function.
Objective 4: Solve problems involving a maximum or
minimum value.
17. P  x  gives the profit in dollars when x units are
produced and sold. Use the graph of the profit function to
determine the following:
(a) Overhead costs (Hint:
Evaluate P  0  .)
2000 y y  P x
1000
x
(b) Break even values
0
0 20 40 60 80
Units sold (Hint: When does
-1000
P  x   0 ?)
-2000

-3000

-4000

(c) Maximum profit that can be made and the number of units to
sell to create this profit.
18. A rancher has 240 yards of fencing available to enclose 3
sides of a rectangular corral. A river forms one side of the
corral.
(a) If x yards are used for the two parallel sides, how much
fencing remains for the side parallel to the river? Give this
length in terms of x.

L = __________________

RIVER

x x

L
18. A rancher has 240 yards of fencing available to enclose 3
sides of a rectangular corral. A river forms one side of the
corral.
(b) Express the total area of the fenced corral as a function
of x. Hint: Area = (Length)(Width)

A  x   __________________

RIVER

x x

L
18. A rancher has 240 yards of fencing available to enclose 3
sides of a rectangular corral. A river forms one side of the
corral.
(c) What is the maximum area that can be enclosed with this
fencing?

Maximum area = __________________

RIVER

x x

L
19. The equation y  16 x 2  80 x  3 gives the height y of a
baseball in feet x seconds after it was hit.

(a) Use the equation to determine how many seconds into

the flight the maximum height is reached.

(b) Determine the maximum height the ball reached.

 19. The equation y  16 x 2  80 x  3 gives the height y of a
baseball in feet x seconds after it was hit.

(c) Do your results agree with what you can observe from
the graph?

120 y

100

80
Height (ft)

60

40

20

x
0
0 1 2 3 4 5

Time (sec)
Use your graphing calculator to determine the
minimum/maximum value of f  x  and the x-value at which this
minimum/maximum occurs. Use a window of  10,10,1 by
 50,50,5 for each graph. See Calculator Perspective 8.4.1.
20. y  x  4 x  21
2

Sketch of calculator graph:

50 y
Max/min value:

x-value where
x
-10 10
max/min occurs:

-50
Use your graphing calculator to determine the
minimum/maximum value of f  x  and the x-value at which this
minimum/maximum occurs. Use a window of  10,10,1 by
 50,50,5 for each graph. See Calculator Perspective 8.4.1.
21. y   x  5x  36
2

Sketch of calculator graph:

50 y
Max/min value:

x-value where
x
-10 10
max/min occurs:

-50
22. Use the function f  x   x  4 x  15 to solve each
2

equation and inequality.

(a) f  x  6

(b) f  x   6

(c) f  x   6
23. Use the given graph to determine the missing input
and output values.

y  f  x

(a) f 1  ______

(b) f  x   1; x  ______ and x  ______

 Use the function f  x    x  5 x  16
2
24.
to determine the missing input and output values.

(a) f  2   ______

(b) f  x   2; x  ______ and x  ______