MATH 015 Foundations Mathematics A

Lecture 11 Ex. 2.2

2.2 QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS: PARABOLAS
Parabolas
The general equation of a quadratic function has the form

y f x ax 2 bx c

where a, b, and c are real numbers and

a0

The graph of a quadratic function has a distinctive shape called a parabola.

Question 1

f x x2
Graph

g x x2
and

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Question 2

Graph the function

1
y x2
2

Features of a parabola:
If a > 0,

y ax 2

The graph of
is a parabola that opens upward.
The vertex, where the parabola turns, is a minimum point.

If a < 0,

y ax 2

The graph of
is a parabola that opens downward.
The vertex, where the parabola turns, is a maximum point.

The vertical line through the vertex of a parabola is called the axis of symmetry because one
half of the graph is a reflection of the other half through this line.

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Vertex of a Parabola

y f x ax bx c
2

The quadratic function

has its vertex at

b
2a ,

f
2a
x

The optimum value (either maximum or minimum) of the function occurs at

b

f
2a

Question 3

f x 2x2 4x 4
Find the vertex and sketch the graph of

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.
b
2a

and is

Graphs of Quadratic Functions

Question 4
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y 4 x x2
For the function
, determine whether its vertex is a maximum point or a minimum
point and find the coordinates of this point, find the zeros, if any exist, and sketch the graph.

Question 5
The following figure shows the graphs of two different quadratic functions. Use the figure to
answer the following:
a. Determine the vertex of each function.
f1 x 0
f2 x 0
b. Determine the real solutions of
and
.
2
y 7 6x x
c. One of the graphs is the graph of
, and one is the graph of

y x 2 6 x 10
. Determine which is which, and why?

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Question 6

P x 0.1x 2 300 x 1200

For the profit function

, find

a. the number of units that give maximum profit and,

b. the maximum profit.

HOMEWORK QUESTIONS

Exercis
e
2.2

Page #
143

Questions
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 31, 32, 36, 38

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