Learn Like a GEM — Mathematics
Answer Key: Solving Quadratic Equations Graphically
DO NOW
BRONZE — Label the graph correctly
Label Name
A Minimum turning point (vertex)
B y-axis
C x-axis
D x-intercept / Root (left)
SILVER — Read from the parabola graph
Feature Answer
y-intercept (0, 0)
Root(s) / x-intercepts x = 0 and x = 5 (approx)
Turning Point (2.5, 25) [maximum]
Maximum or Minimum? Maximum (∩-shaped parabola)
GOLD — Complete the table for y = x² − 5x − 2
x -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y 4 −2 −6 −8 −8 −6 −2 4
Calculation: substitute each x → y = x² − 5x − 2
e.g. x=−1: (−1)²−5(−1)−2 = 1+5−2 = 4 ✓ x=5: 25−25−2 = −2 ✓
I DO — Worked Example
Solve x² − 4x − 3 = x − 7 using the graph of y = x² − 4x − 3 and y = x − 7
The solutions are the x-coordinates of the intersection points of the two graphs.
Reading from the diagram, the two curves intersect at:
x = 1 and x = 4
Check: At x=1: LHS = 1−4−3 = −6, RHS = 1−7 = −6 ✓
At x=4: LHS = 16−16−3 = −3, RHS = 4−7 = −3 ✓
WE DO — Guided Practice
Solve x² − x − 6 = 0 using y = x² − 2x − 5
Step 1 — Find the line to draw:
(x² − 2x − 5) − (x² − x − 6) = 0
→ −x + 1 = 0 → y = −x + 1
Step 2 — Plot y = −x + 1: passes through (0, 1) and (1, 0)
Step 3 — Read intersection x-values:
x = −2 and x = 3
Check: x=−2: (−2)²−(−2)−6 = 4+2−6 = 0 ✓ x=3: 9−3−6 = 0 ✓
AFFIRMATIVE CHECKING
Solve x² − 2x − 7 = −x − 5 using the graph
Set the two equations equal → the solutions are where the graphs intersect.
Reading the intersection x-coordinates from the diagram:
x = −2 and x = 1
Verify algebraically: x²−2x−7 = −x−5 → x²−x−2 = 0 → (x−2)(x+1) = 0
→ x = 2 or x = −1 (graph intersections should confirm these values)
YOU DO — WAT Questions (Affirmative incorrect → start here)
Q1. Use y = x² + 3x to solve x² + 2x − 5 = 0
Find line: (x²+3x) − (x²+2x−5) = x + 5 → draw y = x + 5
Intersection of y = x² + 3x with y = x + 5:
x ≈ −3.45 and x ≈ 1.45
Exact: x²+2x−5=0 → x = (−2 ± √24)/2 = −1 ± √6 ≈ −3.449, 1.449
Q2. Use y = x² − 2x − 12 to solve x² + x − 17 = 0
Find line: (x²−2x−12) − (x²+x−17) = −3x + 5 → draw y = −3x + 5
Intersections read from graph:
x ≈ −4.6 and x ≈ 3.6
Exact: x = (−1 ± √69)/2 ≈ −4.65, 3.65
Q3. Use y = x² + 4x − 7 to solve x² + 2x − 4 = 0
Find line: (x²+4x−7) − (x²+2x−4) = 2x − 3 → draw y = 2x − 3
Intersections:
x ≈ −3.24 and x ≈ 1.24
Exact: x = (−2 ± √20)/2 = −1 ± √5 ≈ −3.236, 1.236
Q4. Use y = 2x² + 8x − 4 to solve 2x² + 3x − 7 = 0
Find line: (2x²+8x−4) − (2x²+3x−7) = 5x + 3 → draw y = 5x + 3
Intersections:
x ≈ −2.77 and x ≈ 1.27
Exact: x = (−3 ± √65)/4 ≈ −2.766, 1.266
YOU DO — WAM Questions (Affirmative correct → start here)
Q1. Use y = x² − 6x + 2 to solve x² − 4x − 5 = 0
Find line: (x²−6x+2) − (x²−4x−5) = −2x + 7 → draw y = −2x + 7
Intersection x-values from graph:
x = −1 and x = 5
Check: x=−1: 1+4−5=0 ✓ x=5: 25−20−5=0 ✓ (exact integer solutions)
Q2. Use y = 2x² − 5x − 4 to solve 2x² − 4x − 19 = 0
Find line: (2x²−5x−4) − (2x²−4x−19) = −x + 15 → draw y = −x + 15
Intersections:
x ≈ −2.5 and x ≈ 3.5
Exact: x = (4 ± √(16+152))/4 = (4 ± √168)/4 = 1 ± √(168)/4 ≈ −2.48, 3.48
Q3 (WAB). Use y = x² + 5x − 3 to solve x² + 3x − 13 = 0
Find line: (x²+5x−3) − (x²+3x−13) = 2x + 10 → draw y = 2x + 10
Intersections:
x ≈ −5.14 and x ≈ 2.14
Exact: x = (−3 ± √61)/2 ≈ −5.405, 2.405
Q3 Multi-part: y = 2x + 8 − x², −3 ≤ x ≤ 5
a) Table of values (y = −x² + 2x + 8):
x −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5
y −7 0 5 8 9 8 5 0 −7
b) Vertex (maximum): (1, 9) Roots (x-intercepts): x = −2 and x = 4
c) 2x + 8 − x² = 4 → draw y = 4 on the graph
Intersections: x ≈ −1.65 and x ≈ 3.65
Exact: −x²+2x+8=4 → x²−2x−4=0 → x = 1 ± √5 ≈ −1.236, 3.236
d) 2x + 8 = x² → −x² + 2x + 8 = 0 → x² − 2x − 8 = 0
→ (x−4)(x+2) = 0 → x = 4 or x = −2 (the roots of the parabola)
e) 2x + 8 − x² = 2x + 4 → draw y = 2x + 4
−x² + 2x + 8 = 2x + 4 → −x² + 4 = 0 → x² = 4 → x = 2 or x = −2
Algebraic check: x=2: 4+8−4=8=4+4=8 ✓ x=−2: −4+8−4=0=−4+4=0 ✓
EXIT TICKET — Estimate y from y = x² + 3x − 2
Read y-values from the graph:
x −1 0 0.5
y (calculated) 1 − 3 − 2 = −4 0 + 0 − 2 = −2 0.25 + 1.5 − 2 = −0.25
y (answer) <b>−4</b> <b>−2</b> <b>−0.25</b>
These can be verified algebraically or estimated from the graph.
Learn Like a GEM • Mathematics • Answer Key