Quadratic Functions
Plotting Graphs
You need to be able to accurately plot
graphs of Quadratic Functions.
The general form of a Quadratic Equation
is;
y = ax2 + bx + c
2A
Quadratic Functions
y = x2 3x - 4
Plotting Graphs
You need to be able to accurately plot
graphs of Quadratic Functions.
Example
a) Draw the graph with equation
y = x2 3x 4 for values of x from
-2 to +5
b) Write down the minimum value
of y at this point
-2
-1
x2
16
25
3x
-6
-3
12
15
x2
-3x
10
-2
-2
10
-4
-6
-6
-4
2A
Quadratic Functions
y = x2 3x - 4
Plotting Graphs
You need to be able to accurately plot
graphs of Quadratic Functions.
-2
-1
-4
-6
-6
-4
y = x2 3x - 4
Example
a) Draw the graph with equation
y = x2 3x 4 for values of x from
-2 to +5
b) Write down the minimum value
of y
1.5
-1
The
minimum
value
at the x
c) Label
the line
of occurs
symmetry
value halfway between 4 and -1
Substitute this value into the
equation:
y = x2 3x - 4
y = 1.52 (3 x 1.5) - 4
y = -6.25
2A
Quadratic Functions
y = x2 3x - 4
Plotting Graphs
You need to be able to accurately plot
graphs of Quadratic Functions.
-2
-1
-4
-6
-6
-4
x = 1.5
y = x2 3x - 4
Example
a) Draw the graph with equation
y = x2 3x 4 for values of x from
-2 to +5
b) Write down the minimum value
of y y = -6.25
c) Label the line of symmetry
2A
Quadratic Functions
Solving by Factorisation
You need to be able to solve Quadratic
Equations by factorising them.
Example
Solve the equation
x2 9x
a)
x 9x 0
x( x 9) 0
2
Subtract 9x
Factorise
Either x or x-9
must be equal to
0
x0
x9 0
x9
2B
Quadratic Functions
Solving by Factorisation
You need to be able to solve Quadratic
Equations by factorising them.
A Quadratic Equation will have 0, 1 or 2
solutions, known as roots
If there is 1 solution it is known as a
repeated root
Example
Solve the equation
b)
x 2 2 x 15 0
Factorise
( x 3)( x 5) 0
x3 0
x 3
x5 0
x5
2B
Quadratic Functions
Solving by Factorisation
You need to be able to solve Quadratic
Equations by factorising them.
A Quadratic Equation will have 0, 1 or 2
solutions, known as roots
If there is 1 solution it is known as a
repeated root
Example
Solve the equation
c)
2x2 9 x 5 0
(2 x 1)(
)(xx 5) )00
x
1
or x 5
2
Using -5 and +1
Factorise
2B
Quadratic Functions
Solving by Factorisation
You need to be able to solve Quadratic
Equations by factorising them.
A Quadratic Equation will have 0, 1 or 2
solutions, known as roots
If there is 1 solution it is known as a
repeated root
Factorising this is even more difficult
The brackets could start with 6x and x,
or 2x and 3x (either of these would give the
6x2 needed)
So the numbers must multiply to give -5
And add to give 13 when either;
One is made 6 times bigger
One is made twice as big, and the
other 3 times bigger
Example
Solve the equation
d)
6 x 2 13x 5 0
(3x 1)(2
)(2xx 5)) 00
3x 1 0
x 1
2x 5 0
x 5
Factorise
2B
Quadratic Functions
Solving by Factorisation
You need to be able to solve Quadratic
Equations by factorising them.
A Quadratic Equation will have 0, 1 or 2
solutions, known as roots
If there is 1 solution it is known as a
repeated root
Example
Solve the equation
e)
x 2 5 x 18 2 3 x
x 2 8 x 16 0
( x 4)( x 4) 0
Subtract 2
Subtract 3x
Factorise
x40
x4
2B
Quadratic Functions
Solving by Factorisation
You need to be able to solve Quadratic
Equations by factorising them.
A Quadratic Equation will have 0, 1 or 2
solutions, known as roots
If there is 1 solution it is known as a
repeated root
Example
Solve the equation
f)
(2 x 3) 25
2
2 x 3 5
Square root
both sides (2
possible
answers!)
2x 3 5
2 x 3 5
2x 8
2 x 2
x4
x 1
2B
Quadratic Functions
Solving by Factorisation
You need to be able to solve Quadratic
Equations by factorising them.
A Quadratic Equation will have 0, 1 or 2
solutions, known as roots
If there is 1 solution it is known as a
repeated root
Example
Solve the equation
g)
( x 3) 7
2
x 3 7
x 3 7
x 3 7
Square root
both sides (2
possible
answers!)
x 3 7
x 3 7
2B
Quadratic Functions
Example
x 2 bx
b b
x
2 2
a)
x2 8x
x 4
2
42
If we check by
expanding our answer
x 4 42
x 4 ( x 4) 42
2
x 2 4 x 4 x 16 42
x2 8x
2C
Quadratic Functions
Example
x 2 bx
b b
x
2 2
b)
x 2 12 x
x 6 62
2
x 6 36
2
Quadratic Functions
Example
x 2 bx
b b
x
2 2
x 2 3x
c)
x 1.5 1.52
2
x 1.5 2.25
2
3 3
x
2 2
3
9
x
2
4
With
Decimals
With
Fractions
2C
Quadratic Functions
Example
2 x 2 10 x
d)
Factorise
first
x 2 bx
b b
x
2 2
2( x 2 5 x)
2
5 5
x
2 2
2
2
5
25
x
2
4
5
25
2 x
2
2
Complete the
square inside
the bracket
You can work
out the
second
bracket
You can also
multiply it by
the 2 outside
2C
Quadratic Functions
Using Completing the Square
You can use the idea of completing
the square to solve quadratic
equations.
This is vital as it needs minimal
calculations, and no calculator is
needed when using surds. (The Core
1 exam is non-calculator)
Example
Solve the following equation by completing
the square
a)
x 2 8 x 10 0
x 2 8 x 10
x 4
(4) 2 10
x 4
10 16
x 4
x4 6
x 4 6
Subtract 10
Complete
the Square
Add 16
Square Root
Subtract 4
2D
Quadratic Functions
Using Completing the Square
You can use the idea of completing
the square to solve quadratic
equations.
This is vital as it needs minimal
calculations, and no calculator is
needed when using surds. (The Core
1 exam is non-calculator)
Example
Solve the following equation by completing
the square
b)
2 x 2 8x 7 0
7
x2 4 x 0
2
x2 4 x
x 2 (2)2
2
x 2
Divide by 2
7
2
7
2
1
2
x2
11
22
1
x 2
2
Subtract 7/2
Complete
the square
Add 4
Square Root
Add 2
2D
Quadratic Functions
The Quadratic Formula
You will have used the Quadratic
Formula at GCSE level.
You can also use it at A-level for
Quadratics where it is more
difficult to complete the square.
We are going to see where this
formula comes from (you do not
need to know the proof!)
b b 2 4ac
2a
2E
Quadratic Functions
The Quadratic Formula
2
b
b 2 4ac
x 2 2
2a
4a 4a
ax 2 bx c 0
x2
Divide all by a
b
c
x 0
a
a
Subtract c/a
b
c
x x
a
a
2
b b
2a 2 a
2
c
a
b
b
c
2a
4a 2
a
Add b2/4a2
b
b 2 4ac
x
2a
4a 2
b
b 2 4ac
x
2a
4a 2
b b 2 4ac
x
2a
2a
b
b 2 4ac
x
2a
2a
b
b
c
2
2a
4a a
b b 2 4ac
x
2a
Top and
bottom of 2nd
fraction
multiplied by
4a
Combine the
Right side
Square Root
Square Root
top/bottom
separately
Subtract
b
/2a
Combine the
Right side
2E
Quadratic Functions
b b 2 4ac
x
2a
3 32 (4 4 2)
x
2 4
x
3 9 32
8
3 41
8
Example
Solve 4x2 3x 2 = 0 by using the formula.
a = 4 b = -3 c = -2
3 41
8
3 41
8
2E
Quadratic Functions
Sketching Graphs
You need to be able to
sketch a Quadratic by
working out key coordinates, and knowing
what shape it should be.
b 2 4ac 0
a0
b 2 4ac 0
a0
b 2 4ac 0
a0
ax 2 bx c 0
b b 2 4ac
x
2a
b 4ac is known as the
discriminant
2
b 2 4ac 0
a0
b 2 4ac 0
a0
y
x
y
x
b 2 4ac 0
a0
x
2F
Quadratic Functions
Sketching Graphs
To sketch a graph, you need to
work out;
1) Where it crosses the y-axis (0,4)
2) Where (if anywhere) it crosses
the x-axis (1,0) (4,0)
Then confirm its shape by looking
at the value of a, as well as the
discriminant (b2 4ac)
Example
Sketch the graph of the equation;
y = x2 5x + 4
y x2 5x 4
y4
Co-ordinate (0,4)
y x2 5x 4
0 x2 5x 4
0 ( x 4)( x 1)
x 1 or x 4
Co-ordinates (1,0)
and (4,0)
2F
Quadratic Functions
y
Sketching Graphs
To sketch a graph, you need to
work out;
1) Where it crosses the y-axis (0,4)
2) Where (if anywhere) it crosses
the x-axis (1,0) (4,0)
Then confirm its shape by looking
at the value of a, as well as the
discriminant (b2 4ac)
y = x2 5x + 4
x
Confirmation a > 0 so a U shape
b2 4ac
-52 (4x1x4)
9
Greater than 0 so 2 solutions
2F
Quadratic Functions
Sketching Graphs
You can also use the information
on the discriminant to calculate
unknown values.
You need to remember;
real roots b2 - 4ac > 0
equal roots b2 4ac = 0
no real roots b2 4ac < 0
Example
Find the values of k for which;
x2 + kx + 9 = 0
has equal roots.
b 2 4ac 0
k 2 (4 1 9) 0
k 36 0
2
k 36
2
2F
Summary
We have recapped solving a Quadratic
Equation
We have learnt how to use completing the
square
We have also solved questions on sketching
graphs and using the discriminant