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ESO Y4B · Mathematics
Functions · Elementary functions

Quadratic polynomials. Parabolas

A quadratic polynomial, $ax^2+bx+c$, gives rise as a function to a curve with a property that no polynomial of degree $1$ has: an absolute extreme point (maximum or minimum). This section obtains algebraically the features of that curve —the parabola— from the coefficients $a$, $b$ and $c$, without having to plot it point by point.

Before you start, make sure you know: Quadratic equations (3rd ESO)
Before you start, make sure you know: Algebraic identities (2nd ESO)

The quadratic function: general form

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Given the quadratic function $f(x) = 2x^2 - 8x + 5$, determine the exact coordinates of its vertex and the equation of its axis of symmetry.

Given the quadratic function $f(x) = 2x^2 - 8x + 5$, determine the exact coordinates of its vertex and the equation of its axis of symmetry.

Solve
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Calculate the points of intersection with the coordinate axes (both the x-axis and the y-axis) of the parabola $y = -x^2 + 2x + 8$.

Calculate the points of intersection with the coordinate axes (both the x-axis and the y-axis) of the parabola $y = -x^2 + 2x + 8$.

Solve

The vertex: derivation by completing the square

The vertex is not found by trial and error: it is derived by transforming $ax^2+bx+c$ into vertex form.

Graph of a downward-opening parabola with its vertex at the maximum point and the dashed vertical axis of symmetry passing through it. V(xᵥ, yᵥ) axis: x = xᵥ
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Observe the three parabolas represented in the following figure. Match each of the algebraic expressions with its corresponding graph (A, B or C). 1) $y = -x^2 + 2$ 2)…

Observe the three parabolas represented in the following figure. Match each of the algebraic expressions with its corresponding graph (A, B or C).

1) $y = -x^2 + 2$

2) $y = x^2 - 4x + 4$

3) $y = x^2 - 4$

X Y A B C
Solve
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Knowing that the graph of the quadratic function $f(x) = ax^2 + c$ passes through the points $(0, 3)$ and $(2, 11)$, set up a system of equations and calculate the…

Knowing that the graph of the quadratic function $f(x) = ax^2 + c$ passes through the points $(0, 3)$ and $(2, 11)$, set up a system of equations and calculate the values of the parameters $a$ and $c$.

Solve
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During a training session, a volleyball player throws the ball upwards. The height $h$ (in metres) reached by the ball as a function of time $t$ (in seconds) is given by…

During a training session, a volleyball player throws the ball upwards. The height $h$ (in metres) reached by the ball as a function of time $t$ (in seconds) is given by the expression $h(t) = -5t^2 + 10t + 2$. What is the maximum height reached by the ball and at what exact instant does it occur?

Solve

The discriminant and the roots

The intersection with the $y$-axis is always unique: $f(0)=c$. The intersection with the $x$-axis requires solving $ax^2+bx+c=0$, and its number of solutions depends on the discriminant $\Delta=b^2-4ac$.

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State which direction the branches of the parabola $y = -3x^2 + 6x - 1$ open, justifying your answer, and find out whether the vertex of this function corresponds to an…

State which direction the branches of the parabola $y = -3x^2 + 6x - 1$ open, justifying your answer, and find out whether the vertex of this function corresponds to an absolute maximum or minimum. Calculate its coordinates.

Solve
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The school PTA is selling raffle tickets to fund the end-of-year trip. If each ticket is sold for $x$ euros, the estimated revenue (in tens of euros) is given by the…

The school PTA is selling raffle tickets to fund the end-of-year trip. If each ticket is sold for $x$ euros, the estimated revenue (in tens of euros) is given by the quadratic function $I(x) = -2x^2 + 48x$. At what price should they sell the tickets to maximise revenue? What is the maximum revenue?

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Find algebraically the points of intersection between the parabola $y = x^2 - 4x + 3$ and the line $y = -x + 3$.

Find algebraically the points of intersection between the parabola $y = x^2 - 4x + 3$ and the line $y = -x + 3$.

Solve

Domain, range and factorised form

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Determine the expanded algebraic expression of a quadratic function $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$ knowing that its vertex is the point $V(2, -1)$ and that it passes through the…

Determine the expanded algebraic expression of a quadratic function $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$ knowing that its vertex is the point $V(2, -1)$ and that it passes through the point $P(4, 3)$.

Solve
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Look at the graph of the parabola. Determine the coordinates of its vertex and use an additional point from the graph to deduce its algebraic expression in the form…

Look at the graph of the parabola. Determine the coordinates of its vertex and use an additional point from the graph to deduce its algebraic expression in the form $y = a(x-h)^2 + k$. Finally, expand it to the form $y = ax^2 + bx + c$.

X Y 3 1 −2 2
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A farmer wants to build a rectangular pen for his chickens by taking advantage of an existing long stone wall, so that he only needs to fence three of the four sides of…

A farmer wants to build a rectangular pen for his chickens by taking advantage of an existing long stone wall, so that he only needs to fence three of the four sides of the rectangle. He has $100$ metres of wire fencing available. Determine the dimensions of the pen so that its area is as large as possible, and calculate this maximum area.

Solve

Vertex form, translations and optimisation

Animation of a parabola being translated from the position of y = x²: first 2 units horizontally and then 3 vertically, carrying its vertex V(2, −3), until it reaches the position of the vertex form. y = x² V(2, −3)

Since the solution of any optimisation problem (maximum height, maximum area, maximum profit) modelled by a parabola lies at its vertex, completing the square or applying $x_v=-b/2a$ solves the problem without needing derivatives.

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Sketch the graph of the function $f(x) = |x^2 - 6x + 5|$. To do this, first find the vertex and the axes intercepts of the inner parabola without the modulus, and…

Sketch the graph of the function $f(x) = |x^2 - 6x + 5|$. To do this, first find the vertex and the axes intercepts of the inner parabola without the modulus, and explain analytically how the modulus affects the final representation.

You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.

Solve
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Given the parabolas $y = x^2 - 2x - 3$ and $y = -x^2 + 4x + 5$, find analytically the exact points where they intersect. Then calculate the straight-line distance…

Given the parabolas $y = x^2 - 2x - 3$ and $y = -x^2 + 4x + 5$, find analytically the exact points where they intersect. Then calculate the straight-line distance between the vertices of both parabolas.

Solve
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Consider the family of parabolas given by the equation $y = x^2 - kx + 9$. Determine the values of the parameter $k$ for which the parabola is tangent to the x-axis…

Consider the family of parabolas given by the equation $y = x^2 - kx + 9$. Determine the values of the parameter $k$ for which the parabola is tangent to the x-axis (that is, it has a single point of intersection with the x-axis).

Solve

Summary

See all the exercises in this section