Functions

WorkingwithQuadraticFunctions
WinterTerm2017
Asyouhavediscovered,afunctionwiththepattern
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
known as a quadratic function, defines a parabola. We can summarize what we
knowaboutaquadraticfunctionwithourtoolkitentry:
QuadraticFunction GraphPattern

f(x) = ax2 + bx + c (a 0)
domain:-x

range:ifx < 0,f(x) hasamaximumvalue(f(x)kforsomeconstantk

range:ifx > 0,f(x) hasaminimumvalue(f(x)kforsomeconstantk
symmetries(ifany):vertical-linesymmetrythroughvertex
asymptotes(ifany):none

For a graph of thefunction,thevaluesoftheconstantsa,b,andcinformusabout

the specific shape and location of that parabola. As you observed by translating
the parabola vertically, some parabolas have two zeroes, some have one, and
some have none at all. Algebraically, those constants (more precisely known as
the coefficients of the quadratic) can be useful in finding those zeroes, through a
well-usedalgebraicdefinition.
Supposef(x) = ax2 + bx + c.Thezeroesoff(x)thepointswhere
(x,f(x))=(x,0)thenoccurwhenf(x)=0.Thenif0= ax2 + bx + c:

Thisisknownasthequadraticequation(sometimescalledthequadraticformula).
Completethetablebelow.

quadraticfunction a b c

f(x) = 4x2 + 8x + 3

g(x) = 5x - 2x2 + 9

h(x) =8 - x + 7x2

Howdoesthishelpfindzeroesofquadraticfunctions?Letshavealook.

Findthezeroesofthefunctionf(x) = x2 - 6x + 8.
A graph of the function (at left) shows this to be an
upward-opening parabola with a pair of zeroes. What does
the quadratic equation say about these zeroes? The general
formofaquadraticfunction
ax2 + bx + c
impliesthatforthisquadraticfunction
f(x) = x2 - 6x + 8 = x2 + -6x + 8
thevaluesfora,b,andcare
a = 1b = -6c = 8
thereforethequadraticequationbecomes:

Here we encounter something peculiar. Due to the sign (a result of the square
root),wehavetwosolutions:

and

Look again at the graph, and you can see how f(x) = x2 - 6x + 8
thealgebraicresultabovematchesthefunction f(2) = 22 - 6(2) + 8
graph, since there are two zeroes of the graph. f(2) = 4 - 12 + 8
Both the points (2,0) and (4,0) represent zeroes f(2) = 0
off(x),asthequadraticequationasimplied.
f(x) = x2 - 6x + 8
Evaluating the function at these points (at f(4) = 42 - 6(4) + 8
right) proves the point. The zeroes of f(x) are f(4) = 16 - 24 + 8
therefore(2,0)and(4,0). f(4) = 0

The quadraticequationprovidesusanalgebraicwaytofindthezeroes,withouta
graph, and without guessing. In examples where the zeroes are not relatively
simple numbers, the quadratic equation will also result in more precise values
thananygraphcanyield.

Usethequadraticfunctiontofindthezeroesofthesequadraticfunctions.

f(x) = x2 + 5x + 14 g(x) = 3x2 + x - 4

h(x) = 5 + 9x - 2x2 j(x) = 2x2 - 63 - 5x
We canusethequadraticequationtoexplorepropertiesofquadraticfunctionsin
moredetail.

Findthezeroesofthefunctionf(x) = 3 + 2x - x2 .
This function needs a little rearranging to conform to the
standard form of a quadratic function. The constant a
must be the coefficient ofthex2 term,whiletheconstantb
mustbethecoefficientofthexterm.Thatmeans
f(x) = 3 + 2x - x2 = 3 + 2x + -x2 = -x2 + 2x + 3
Sincethisnowmatchesourgeneralform
ax2 + bx + c
thevaluesfora,b,andcare
a = -1b = 2c = 3
Thisresultsinthequadraticequation:

Theresultingsolutionsforx

and

mean the function f(x) has zeroes at (-1,0) and (3,0). You could verify this on the
graph,orbyevaluatingthefunction.

The quadratic equation therefore has no problem with parabolas that open
downwardorupward.Whataboutothersituations?

Findthezeroesofthefunctionf(x) = 16x2 + 16x+ 4

The values for a, b, and c are a = 16, b = 16, and c = 3. Thisresultsinthequadratic
equation:

Somethingnewhappenshere,sincebothsolutionsrevealthatx = .Whatatfirst
may seem like an error is instead confirmed as correct by the graph: this
parabola has a single zero at (, 0). Thiswillalwayshappenwhenb2 = 4ac,which
always results in a zero under the radical sign. As seen on the graph, this
describesaparabolawithamaximumorminimumpointonthex-axis.

Findthezeroesofthefunctionf(x) = 3x2 + 5x+ 4
The values for a, b, and c are a = 3, b = 5, and c = 4. This results in the quadratic
equation:

Here we run into a problem: a negative value under the radical means thereare
no real solutions. We can not solve this for any real value ofx,andtherefore,we
are done. Yet once again, what at first appears to be a mistake is in fact a
revelation. Graph the function, and you will see that the graph is entirely above
thex-axis:therearenorealzeroes,asthequadraticequationindicated!

The previous two problems illustrate why just looking at the part under the
radical sign, b2 = 4ac, can tellyouabouttheparabola.Thisexpressioniscalledthe
discriminant,andcanbeusedtoclassifyquadratics.
numberofzeroes descriptionofparabola

b2 - 4ac > 0 2 crossesthex-axisattwodistinctvalues

b2 - 4ac = 0 1 touchesbutdoesnotcrossthex-axis

b2 - 4ac < 0 0 doesnotdoestouch(orcross)thex-axis

Use the quadratic function to find the zeroes of these quadratic functions.
(Somemayhavenorealzeroes.)

f(x) = x2 - 6x + 9 g(x) = -x2 + 8x - 16

h(x) = 6 + x + x2 j(x) = -(5x2 + 6x + 1)
h(x) = 9 - 4x2 m(x) = 1 + 9x2
Use the discriminant to determine how many zeroes each of these quadratic
functionshas.

f(x) = x2 + 7x + 12 g(x) = 25x2 + 4 + 20x

h(x) = 7x - 36x2 + 4 j(x) = 8 + 3x2 + 2x