Graphing Quadratic Functions

y = ax2 + bx + c
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 Quadratic Functions
y
The graph of a quadratic function
is a parabola.
Vertex

A parabola can open up or down.

If the parabola opens up, the

lowest point is called the vertex.
x

If the parabola opens down, the

vertex is the highest point.

NOTE: if the parabola opened Vertex

left or right it would not be a
function!
 General Form
y
The general form of a
quadratic function is
a>0
y = ax2 + bx + c
The parabola will open up
when the a value is positive.

x
The parabola will open down
when the a value is negative.

a<0
 Line of Symmetry
Lineyof
Parabolas have a symmetric
Symmetry
property to them.

If we drew a line down the

middle of the parabola, we
could fold the parabola in half.

We call this line the line of x

symmetry.

Or, if we graphed one side of

the parabola, we could “fold”
(or REFLECT) it over, the line
of symmetry to graph the other The line of symmetry ALWAYS
side. passes through the vertex.
 Finding the Line of Symmetry

When a quadratic function is in - For example…

general form
Find the line of symmetry of
y = ax2 + bx + c, y = 3x2 – 18x + 7
The equation of the line of
symmetry is Using the formula…

x  b
2a
This is best read as …
the opposite of b divided by the
quantity of 2 times a.
x  18  18  3
2 3 6
Thus, the line of symmetry is x = 3.
 Finding the Vertex
We know the line of symmetry
always goes through the vertex.
Thus, the line of symmetry
gives us the x – coordinate of
the vertex.
To find the y – coordinate of the
vertex, we need to plug the x –
value into the original equation.
y = –2x2 + 8x –3
STEP 1: Find the line of symmetry
x  b  8  8  2
2a 2(2) 4
STEP 2: Plug the x – value into the
original equation to find the y value.
y = –2(2)2 + 8(2) –3
y = –2(4)+ 8(2) –3
y = –8+ 16 –3
y=5
Therefore, the vertex is (2 , 5)
 A Quadratic Function in General Form
The general form of a quadratic There are 3 steps to graphing a
function is given by parabola in standard form.
y = ax2 + bx + c

MAKE
USE
Plugthe A TABLE
in equation
the line of
STEP 1: Find the line of symmetry
symmetry (x – value) to
using x – values
- b close to
obtain xthe
= y – value of the
STEP 2: Find the vertex the line of symmetry.
vertex.
2a
STEP 3: Find two other points and reflect
them across the line of symmetry. Then
connect the five points with a smooth
curve.
 A Quadratic Function in General Form
Let's Graph ONE! Try … y

y = 2x2 – 4x – 1
STEP 1: Find the line of
symmetry

-b 4
x= = =1 x
2a 2(2)

Thus the line of symmetry is x = 1

 A Quadratic Function in General Form
Let's Graph ONE! Try … y

y = 2x2 – 4x – 1
STEP 2: Find the vertex

Since the x – value of the

vertex is given by the line of
symmetry, we need to plug
in x = 1 to find the y – value
x
of the vertex.

y = 2(1)2 - 4(1)- 1 = - 3

Thus the vertex is (1 ,–3).

 A Quadratic Function in General Form
Let's Graph ONE! Try … y

y = 2x2 – 4x – 1

STEP 3: Find two other points

and reflect them across the line
of symmetry. Then connect the
five points with a smooth curve.

x y x

2 –1
3 5

y = 2(2)2 - 4(2)- 1 = - 1
y = 2(3)2 - 4(3)- 1 = 5
For each of the following graphs of quadratic function, give the coordinates
of the vertex and tell whether the vertex is the minimum or maximum point.
Give the equation of the axis of symmetry.
y

2
(2, 0)
Vertex: _______________
1
downward
Opening: _____________
−2 −1 O 1 2 3 4 5 6 x

maximum
Max/Min: ____________
−1

−2
x=2
Axis of Symmetry: _____
−3
{x  x ϵ R}
Domain:______________
−4
{y  y  0}
Range: _______________
−5

−6
For each of the following graphs of quadratic function, give the coordinates
of the vertex and tell whether the vertex is the minimum or maximum point.
Give the equation of the axis of symmetry.
y

6
(0, 0)
Vertex: _______________
5
upward
Opening: _____________
4

minimum
Max/Min: ____________
3

2
x=0
Axis of Symmetry: _____
1
{x  x ϵ R}
Domain: _____________
−4 −3 −2 −1 O 1 2 3 4 5 x
{y  y  0}
Range: _______________
−1

−2

−3
For each of the following graphs of quadratic function, give the coordinates
of the vertex and tell whether the vertex is the minimum or maximum point.
Give the equation of the axis of symmetry.
y
6

5 (0, -3)
Vertex: _______________
4 upward
Opening: _____________
3 minimum
Max/Min: ____________
2
x=0
Axis of Symmetry: _____
1
{x  x ϵ R}
Domain: _____________
−4 −3 −2 −1 O 1 2 3 4 5 x
{y  y  3}
Range: _______________
−1

−2

−3
For each of the following graphs of quadratic function, give the coordinates
of the vertex and tell whether the vertex is the minimum or maximum point.
Give the equation of the axis of symmetry.
y

4
(1, 3)
Vertex: _______________
3

downward
Opening: _____________
2

1
maximum
Max/Min: ____________
−3 −2 −1 O 1 2 3 4 5 6 x
x=1
Axis of Symmetry: _____
−1 {x  x ϵ R}
Domain: _____________
−2
{y  y  3}
Range: _______________
−3

−4

−5
For each of the following quadratic functions, determine the
coordinates of the vertex, the opening of the graph, and tell
whether the vertex is minimum or maximum point.

1. f(x) = 3x2 (0, 0)

V:________AOS: _______ Min.
x = 0 Max/Min. ________

2. f(x) = -7x2 + 1 (0, 0)

V:________AOS: _______ Max.
x = 0 Max/Min. ________

3. f(x) = (x + 4)2 (-4, 0)

V:________AOS: _______ Min.
x = -4 Max/Min. ________

4. f(x) = -2(x – 3)2 + 8 (3, 8)

V:________AOS: x = 3 Max/Min. ________
_______ Max.
 Write the resulting function in each of the following translation.

f(x) = x2 - 3 1. f(x) = x2 is translated 3 units downward

_____________

f(x) = 3x2 - 2 2. f(x) = 3x2 + 2 translated 4 units downward

_____________

f(x) = 2(x – 5)2 3. f(x) = 2x2 translated 5 units to the right

_____________

f(x) = (x – 2)2 + 4 4. f(x) = x2 is translated 2 units to the right

_____________
and 4 units upward

= -2(x – 1)2 - 7 5. f(x) = -2(x – 3)2 is translated 3 units to the

f(x)_____________
left and 7 units downward.
 Objectives
Find the zeros of a quadratic function from its
graph and table of values
ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Recall that an x-intercept of a function is a
value of x when y = 0. A zero of a function is
an x-value that makes the function equal to 0.
So a zero of a function is the same as an x-
intercept of a function. Since a graph intersects
the x-axis at the point or points containing an
x-intercept, these intersections are also at the
zeros of the function. A quadratic function may
have one, two, or no zeros.
ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Example 1: Finding Zeros of Quadratic Functions From Graphs

Find the zeros of the quadratic function from its graph. Check your answer.

y = x2 + 8x + 16 Check
y = x2 + 8x + 16
0 = x2 + 8x + 16 set y = 0
0 = (x + 4)2
x=4 

The zero appears to be –4.

ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS

Helpful Hint
Notice that if a parabola has only one zero, the zero is the x-coordinate of
the vertex.
ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Example 2: Finding Zeros of Quadratic Functions From Graphs

Find the zeros of the quadratic function from its graph. Check your
answer.
y = –2x2 – 2

The graph does not cross the

x-axis, so there are no zeros
of this function.
ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Check It Out!

Find the zeros of the quadratic function from its graph. Check your
answer.
y = –4x2 – 2

The graph does not cross the x-

axis, so there are no zeros of this
function.
ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Check It Out!

Find the zeros of the quadratic function from its graph. Check your
answer using the equation..
y = x2 – 6x + 9

Check
y = x2 – 6x + 9
0 = x2 – 6x + 9
0 = (x – 3)2
x=3


The zero appears to be 3.

ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
Zeros of function from tables of values
Table 1:

Hint: The zeros

of function are
the x –coordinates
Table 2: where y = 0