Name: ________________________

Date: _________________

Quadratic Functions Problem Set

1. Determine the roots of the equation 40y2 220y + 100 = 0.
2. Determine the roots of the equation

4 2
b 4b + 5 = 0.
5

3. The graph of a quadratic function has x-intercepts 10 and 2. Write a quadratic equation in standard form that
has these roots.
4. Evelyn dives with a junior swim club. In a dive off a 6 m platform, she reaches a maximum height of 6.15 m
after 0.20 s. How long does it take her to reach the water?

5. a) Sketch the graph of y = a(x 4)(x + 2), for a = 3.

b) Describe how each graph would be different from your sketch if the value of a was 2, 1, 1, 2, and 3.
6. For the quadratic function f(x) = 2x2 + 6x + 12:
a) Use a partial factoring strategy to determine two points that are the same distance from the axis of
symmetry.
b) Determine the coordinates of the vertex.
c) Sketch the graph.
7. a) Use two different algebraic strategies to determine the equation of the axis of symmetry and the vertex of
the parabola defined by f(x) = x2 + 3x 18.
b) Which strategy do you prefer? Explain why.
8. Rosa is building three enclosed gardens as shown. She bought 200 m of fencing and wants to maximize the
total area for the gardens. She wrote the function A(x) = x2 + 100x to represent the total area of the gardens,
A(x), in square metres, if each garden is x metres wide.

a) Determine the maximum total area of the three gardens.

b) State the domain and range of the variables in her equation.
c) What are the dimensions of one garden?
9. Rashid owns a diner near a high school. He sells five types of lunch specials for $8 each. At this price, he
sells 30 lunches a day. Experience has taught him that a $1 decrease in the price of the lunch special results
in 14 more lunch sales per day.
a) At what price should Rashid sell the meals to maximize sales?
b) What will be his maximum daily revenue?

10. Determine the equation for this quadratic function. Write the equation in standard form. Show all your steps.

5
5
11. Leo solved this equation: 12w2 + 60w + 75 = 0. His solutions were w = and w = .
2
2
a) Factor and solve the equation.
b) What error do you think Leo made?
12. a) Write three different quadratic functions in vertex form that open downwardone with two zeros, one
with one zero, and one with no zeros.
b) Explain how you connected the number of zeros to the equation.
13. A parabolic arch has zeros located at (2, 0) and (32, 0). The parabola has a maximum height of 112.5 ft.
a) Define the equation of the parabola in vertex form. Explain your reasoning.
b) State the domain and range of the function describing the arch.
14. Gordon and Hanna are standing 10 ft apart, playing badminton. They use a video camera to determine that
the path of the birdie on one volley is defined by the function
h(x) = 0.04(x 5)2 + 7, where x is the horizontal distance, measured in feet, from Gordon toward Hanna.
a) Determine the axis of symmetry of the parabola.
b) What was the highest point of the birdie's path?
c) How high was the birdie from the ground when it was 2.5 ft from Gordon?
d) What is the range for this function? Justify your answer.
15. a) Solve 3x2 + 5x 2 = 0 using the quadratic formula.
b) Solve the equation by factoring.

ID: A

Quadratic Functions Problem Set

Answer Section
SHORT ANSWER
1. ANS:
1
y= ,y=5
2
DIF: Grade 11
2. ANS:
5
b=
2
DIF: Grade 11
3. ANS:
Answers may vary.
x2 + 8x 20 = 0
DIF: Grade 11
4. ANS:
about 1.48 s
DIF: Grade 11

ID: A
PROBLEM
5. ANS:
a)

b) a = 2: graph is narrower, minimum at y = 18 instead of y = 27

a = 1: graph is narrower, minimum at y = 9 instead of y = 27
a = 1: graph is inverted, narrower, maximum at y = 9
a = 2: graph is inverted, narrower, maximum at y =18
a = 3: graph is inverted, maximum at y = 27
DIF: Grade 11

ID: A
6. ANS:
a) f(x) = 2x2 + 6x + 12
f(x) = 2x(x 3) + 12
x3=0
2x = 0
x=3
x=0
The points are (0, 0) and (3, 0).
0+3
b)
= 1.5
2
f(1.5) = 2(1.5)2 + 6(1.5) + 12
f(1.5) = 4.5 + 9 + 12
f(1.5) = 16.5
The vertex is (1.5, 16.5).
c)

DIF: Grade 11

ID: A
7. ANS:
a) Factoring:
f(x) = x2 + 3x 18
f(x) = (x + 6)(x 3)
x = [6 + 3] 2
x = 1.5
Axis of symmetry is x = 1.5.
f(1.5) = (1.5)2 + 3(1.5) 18
f(1.5) = 2.25 + 4.5 18
f(1.5) = 11.25
The vertex is (1.5, 11.25).
Partial factoring:
f(x) = x2 + 3x 18
f(x) = x(x + 3) 18
x+3=0
x=0
x = 3
0 + (3)
x=
2
x = 1.5
Axis of symmetry is x = 1.5.
f(1.5) = (1.5)2 + 3(1.5) 18
f(1.5) = 2.25 + 4.5 18
f(1.5) = 11.25
The vertex is (1.5, 11.25).
b) e.g., partial factoring because it is easier.
DIF: Grade 11

ID: A
8. ANS:
a)
x

A(x)
0

10

900

20

1600

30

2100

40

2400

50

2500

60

2400

70

2100

80

1600

90

900

100
0
The maximum area in 2500 m2.
b) x 100, 0 A(x) 2500
c) x = 50 m, so dimensions are 50 m by

50
m or 16.7 m.
3

DIF: Grade 11
9. ANS:
a) R(x) = (30 + 14x)(8 x)
x

R(x)

240

308

348

360

344

300

228

128

8
0
Maximum is (3, 360), so there are three $1 decreases: $8 $3 = $5.
Rashid should sell the meals for $5 each.
b) Maximum is (3, 360), so Rashid's maximum daily revenue would be $360.
DIF: Grade 11

ID: A
10. ANS:
The x-intercepts are (5, 0) and (2, 0), so r = 5 and s = 2.
The graph opens upward so a > 0.
y = a(x r)(x s)
y = a[x (5)](x (2))
y = a(x + 5)(x + 2)
The y-intercept is (0, 20).
y = a(x + 5)(x + 2)
20 = a(0 + 5)(0 + 2)
20 = 10a
2=a
So, y = 2(x + 5)(x + 2)
In standard form:
y = 2(x + 5)(x + 2)
y = 2(x2 + 5x + 2x + 10)
y = 2x2 + 14x + 20
DIF: Grade 11
11. ANS:
a) 12w 2 + 60w + 75 = 0

3 4w 2 + 15w + 25 = 0

3(2w + 5)(2w + 5) = 0
2w + 5 = 0
2w = 5
5
2
b) In line 3, Leo probably wrote 3(2w + 5)(2w 5) = 0 and solved this equation.
w=

DIF: Grade 11
12. ANS:
a) e.g.: two zeros: f(x) = (x 2)2 + 4; (0, 0) and (4, 0)
one zero: f(x) = (x 2)2; (0, 4)
no zeros: f(x) = (x 2)2 4
b) For a graph that opens downward to have two zeros, the vertex must be above the x-axis.
For a graph that opens downward to have one zero, the vertex must be on the x-axis.
For a graph that opens downward to have no zeros, the vertex must be below the x-axis.
DIF: Grade 11

ID: A
13. ANS:
a) Use the zeros to write the factored form of the equation.
y = a(x 2)(x 32)
Use the x-values of the zeros to determine the axis of symmetry.
2 + 32
x=
2
x = 17
The maximum height is 112.5 ft and the axis of symmetry is x = 17, so the vertex is
(17, 112.5). Substitute the vertex into the equation and solve for a.
y = a(x 2)(x 32)
112.5 = a(17 2)(17 32)
112.5 = a(225)
0.5 = a
The factored equation is y = 0.5(x 2)(x 32).
Use a = 0.5 and the vertex to write the vertex form: y = 0.5(x 17)2 + 112.5.
b) 0 y 112.5, 2 x 32
DIF: Grade 11
14. ANS:
a) The vertex is (5, 7), so the axis of symmetry is x = 5.
b) The vertex is (5, 7), so the highest point of the birdie's path is 7 ft.
c) Substitute 2.5 for x in the equation and solve for h(2.5).
h(2.5) = 0.04(2.5 5)2 + 7
h(2.5) = 0.04(6.25) + 7
h(2.5) = 6.75
The birdie is 6.75 ft from the ground.
d) 0 x 10; Gordon and Hanna are standing 10 ft apart.
DIF: Grade 11

ID: A
15. ANS:
a) 3x2 + 5x 2 = 0
a = 3, b = 5, c = 2

x=

x=

b 2 4ac
2a

(5) 4 (3) (2)

2 (3)

x=

5 49
6

x=

5 7
6

x=

5 + 7
5 7
or x =
6
6

1
x = 2
3
b) 3x 2 + 5x 2 = 0
x=

(3x 1)(x + 2) = 0

3x 1 = 0 or x + 2 = 0
3x = 1
x=

x = 2

1
3

DIF: Grade 11