The Quadratic Function - Chapter 8

Reminders:
A quadratic function is a polynomial of degree 2, i.e. can be written as
f x ax 2 bx c
The graph of a quadratic is a parabola (
or
)
2
If the coefficient of x is positive, the graph is concave up:
If the coefficient of x2 is negative the graph is concave down:
A parabola is a symmetrical curve.

Sketching a Quadratic Function

(Need not be as complicated as for a general polynomial)
Example: Sketch the graph of y x 2 7 x 18
Positive x2 term, so
Intercepts:

shape

At x 0,

y x2 7 x 18 18

At y 0,

x 2 7 x 18 0

(0, 18)

x 9 x 2 0
x 9 0

x20

x9
(9, 0)

x 2
(2, 0)

These are called the zeroes of

the function

Axis of symmetry: (midway between the zeroes)

9 2
3 12 so x 3 12
2
Turning point: At x 3 12 , y x2 7 x 18 30 25
y

18
(35, 3025)

p144 Exercise 8C qu 1(a, d, h, j), 5

page 1 of 8

(35, 3025)

Completing The Square

Any quadratic ax2 + bx + c can be written in the form a(x +h)2 + k
This process is called completing the square.
Examples:

1.

x 3

x2 6 x 10

x 2 6 x 9 9 10

x2 6x 9

x 3 19
2

2.

x2 10 x 2

x 2 10 x 25 25 2

x 5

x 2 10 x 25

x 5 23
2

3.

x2 x 4

x 2 x 14 14 4

x 12

x 2 x 14

x 12 3 34
2

4.

2 x2 12 x 5
2 x2 6 x 5

x 3

x2 6x 9

2 x 2 6 x 9 18 5
2 x 3 13
2

Use MyMaths to investigate the effect of altering a and b in y = (x + a)2 + b

Include discussions regarding axis of symmetry, turning point and y-intercept.
Also note how this can be used to sketch the curve.
Example: (a) Write x2 8x 5 in the form x h k.
(b) Hence find the equation of the axis of symmetry of the graph of
y x 2 8x 5 and the coordinates of its turning point.
2

(a)

x 4

x2 8x 5

x 2 8x 16

x 4 16 5
2

x 4 21
2

(b)

y = x2 has minimum turning point at (0,0)

x

4
21

y x 4 21
4 21
Minimum turning point is (4,21)
Axis of symmetry is x = 4
2

page 2 of 8

Example: (a) Write 3x 2 5x 7 in the form a x h k.

(b) Hence find the equation of the axis of symmetry of the graph of
y 3x 2 5x 7 and the coordinates of its turning point.
2

3x 2 5 x 7
3 x 2 53 x 7
75
3 x 56 36
7
2

x 65

25
3 x 56 3 x 2 53 x 36

75
3 x 2 53 x 36

11
3 x 56 4 12
2

5
6

25
x 2 53 x 36

11
4 12

11
Minimum turning point is ( 65 , 4 12
)
5
Axis of symmetry is x = 6

p146 Exercise 8D

Example:

(qu 1, 3 orally), qu 2(a-c), 4, 5

x2 2 x 5 0 .Does not factorise, so solve by completing the square

( or use the quadratic formula).

x 1

x2 2 x 5 0

x2 2 x 1

x 1 1 5 0
2
x 1 6 0
2
x 1 6
2

x 1 6
x 1 6
p147 Exercise 8E

qu 2, 3(a-h)

Quadratic Inequations
Examples: 1.

x2 5x 14 0

x
2

pos x2 so

x 7 x 2 0

y
7

x2 5x 14 0

x7 0
x 7

x20
x2

x 2 5 x 14 0
so y 0
i.e. above the x-axis
x 7, x 2

page 3 of 8

2 x2 3x 20 0

2.

2 x2 3x 20 0

pos x2 so

2x 5 x 4 0
y
2x 5 0

x
4

x40

2x 5

5
2

2 x 2 3x 20 0

x 4

5
2

so y 0
i.e. below the x-axis
4 x

6 x x2 0

3.

6 x x2 0

5
2

neg x2 so

3 x 2 x 0
y
3 x 0
x 3

x
3

2 x 0
x2

6 x x2 0
so y 0
i.e. below the x-axis
x 3, x 2

p148 Exercise 8F

qu 3

The Quadratic Formula

Show the method of completing the square to derive the formula: (pupils need not copy it)
ax 2 bx c 0
2

a x2 x c 0
a

b
b
b2

2
x x x 2
2a
a
4a

b b2

a x
c 0
2a 4a

b
b b2

a x a x2 x
2a
a 4a

b
b2

a x
c
2a
4a

b 2 4ac

4a
b b 2 4ac

2a
4a 2

b
b 2 4ac

2a
4a 2

b 2 4ac
2a

b
b 2 4ac
x
2a
2a
b b 2 4ac

2a
page 4 of 8

b b 2 4ac
If ax bx c 0 where a 0, then x
.
2a
2

b 2 4ac is called the discriminant.

If b2 4ac 0 ,

there are no real roots. (Square root of a negative number!)

If b2 4ac 0 ,

there is only 1 root ( term disappears)

We say the roots are real and equal.

If b2 4ac 0 ,

there are two roots

We say the roots are real and distinct (or unequal).

If b2 4ac is a perfect square, the value of

rational. If not, the roots are irrational.

b2 4ac is a whole number, so the roots are

(If a quadratic has rational roots, it can be factorised.)

Examples:

1. 2 x 2 6 x 9

a2
b 6

b 2 4ac 6 4 2 9
2

108

c 9
b 2 4ac 0 so two real, distinct roots.
108 is not a square number, so the roots are irrational.

2. x 2 x 10

a 1
b 1

b 2 4ac 12 4 1 10
39

c 10
b 2 4ac 0 so no real roots.

3. 4 x 2 12 x 9

a4
b 12

b 2 4ac 12 4 4 9
2

c9
b 2 4ac 0 so real, equal, rational roots.
Show BW Roots of a Quadratic to emphasise the effect of the nature of the roots on the graph.

page 5 of 8

Graphs:

b2 4ac 0

or

real, distinct roots

(cuts x-axis twice)

b2 4ac 0

or

real equal roots

(meets x-axis once,

i.e. x-axis is a tangent)

b2 4ac 0

or

no real roots
(does not meet x-axis)

p151 Exercise 8H

Example:

Find p given that 4 x2 8 px 9 0 has real roots.

Real roots when b 2 4ac 0
b 2 4ac 8 p 4 4 9

a4

b 8 p

64 p 2 144

c9
b 2 4ac 0

64 p 2 144 0

64 p 2 144 0

64 p 2 144

(Above the p-axis)

p2

9
4

p 32
pos p 2 so

p
32

p 32 ,

p 32

p153 Exercise 8I qu. 1(a-c), 2(a,b), 3, 5

page 6 of 8

3
2

Condition for Tangency

To find where a straight line meets a curve, we use simultaneous equations.
Where this leads to a quadratic equation, the discriminant is used to find the number of points
of intersection:
b2 4ac 0

real distinct roots, i.e. 2 points of intersection

b2 4ac 0

no real roots, i.e. no points of intersection,

so the line does not touch the curve

b2 4ac 0

real equal roots, i.e. 1 point of intersection,

so the line is a tangent to the curve.

Example: Show that the line y x 1 is a tangent to the curve y x 2 3x 2 and find the
point of intersection.

y x 2 3x 2

y x 1

Intersect when x 2 3x 2 x 1
x2 2 x 1 0

x 1 x 1 0
x 1 0
x 1

At x 1, y x 1 1 1 0

Only one point of contact, so the line is a tangent to the curve at point (1, 0).
Alternatively, we could show the line is a tangent by proving that b2 4ac 0 , but
the above method is more sensible if we have to find the point of contact anyway.

Example:

Find the equation of the tangent with gradient 4 to the curve y 2 x 2 1 .

Tangent is a straight line so the equation must be of the form y mx c .
Gradient = 4 so line is y = 4x + k.

y 2 x 2 1

y 4x k

Intersect when 2x 2 1 4 x k
2 x2 4 x k 1 0

If the line is a tangent, there is only one point of contact, i.e. real equal roots,
so b2 4ac 0 .

page 7 of 8

a2
b 4
c k 1

b 2 4ac 0

4 2 k 1 0
16 8 k 1 0
16 8k 8 0
8k 24
k 3

Equation of the tangent is y 4 x 3.

p155 Exercise 8J qu. 1(a,b), 2, 3(a, d), 4, 5(a)

p156 Exercise 8K qu. 6, 9, 11, 12, 14

page 8 of 8