Standard Form y = ax2 + bx + c
1. y = 2x2 + 6x + 1
Step 1- find the axis of symmetry.
Use x = -b. So x = -6 which is -6 and the axis of symmetry is x = -3 or in decimal form x = -1.5.
2a 2(2) 4 2
Step 2- find the vertex by plugging in x-value from Step 1 into the original equation.
y = 2(-1.5)2 + 6(-1.5) + 1
y = 2(2.25) + 6(-1.5) + 1
y = 4.5 – 9 + 1
y = -4.5 + 1
y = -3.5
Vertex is (-3/2, -7/2) or in decimal form (-1.5, -3.5).
Step 3- use the c value to determine the y-intercept. Y-intercept is at 1.
Step 4- plug in a value for x and solve to determine another point on the graph. Using x = -1 we get the following:
y = 2(-1)2 + 6(-1) + 1
y = 2(1) + 6(-1) + 1
y=2–6+1
y = -4 + 1
y = -3
Another point on the graph is (-1, -3).
Finally, we want to plot the axis of symmetry x = -1.5, the vertex (-1.5, -3.5), the y-intercept of 1, and the point (-1, -3).
Then plot the mirror images of the y-intercept and the point (-1, -3).
2. f(x) = -2x2 – 12x + 1
Step 1- find the axis of symmetry.
Use x = -b. So x = 12 which is 12 and the axis of symmetry is x = -3.
2a 2(-2) -4
Step 2- find the vertex by plugging in x-value from Step 1 into the original equation.
f(x) = -2(-3)2 – 12(-3) + 1
f(x) = -2(9) – 12(-3) + 1
f(x) = -18 + 36 + 1
f(x) = 18 + 1
f(x) = 19
Vertex is (-3, 19).
Step 3- use the c value to determine the y-intercept. Y-intercept is at 1.
Step 4- plug in a value for x and solve to determine another point on the graph. Using x = -1 we get the following:
y = -2(-1)2 – 12(-1) + 1
y = -2(1) – 12(-1) + 1
y = -2 + 12 + 1
y = 10 + 1
y = 11
Another point on the graph is (-1, 11)
Finally, we want to plot the axis of symmetry x = -3, the vertex (-3, 19), the y-intercept of 1, and the point (-1, 11).
Then plot the mirror images of the y-intercept and the point (-1, 11).
3. g(x) = ⅓x2 + 3x – 2
Step 1- find the axis of symmetry.
Use x = -b. So x = -3 which is -3 and the axis of symmetry is x = -9 or in decimal form x = -4.5.
2a 2(⅓) ⅔ 2
Step 2- find the vertex by plugging in x-value from Step 1 into the original equation.
g(x) = ⅓(-4.5)2 + 3(-4.5) – 2
g(x) = ⅓(20.25) + 3(-4.5) – 2
g(x) = 6¾ - 13.5 – 2
g(x) = -6¾ - 2
g(x) = - 8¾
Vertex is (-9/2, -8 ¾) or in decimal form (-4.5, -8.75).
Step 3- use the c value to determine the y-intercept. Y-intercept is at -2.
Step 4- plug in a value for x and solve to determine another point on the graph. Using x = -3 we get the following:
g(x) = ⅓(-3)2 + 3(-3) – 2
g(x) = ⅓(9) + 3(-3) – 2
g(x) = 3 – 9 – 2
g(x) = - 6 – 2
g(x) = - 8
Another point on the graph is (-3, -8).
Finally, we want to plot the axis of symmetry x = -4.5, the vertex (-4.5, -8.75), the y-intercept of -2, and the point (-3, -8).
Then plot the mirror images of the y-intercept and the point (-3, -8).
Vertex Form y = a(x – h)2 + k
4. y = (x – 2)2 – 3
Step 1- Identify the vertex and axis of symmetry.
Remember (h, K) is the vertex and we use the opposite value of the h listed in the problem. The vertex is (2, -3).
The axis of symmetry will have the same value as the x-coordinate of the vertex. Axis of symmetry is x = 2.
Step 2- Determine two other points that are on the graph. We will need to plug in two different x-values to find the
other points. These values can be either to the left or right of the vertex.
x=1 x=0
y = (1 – 2)2 – 3 y = (0 – 2)2 – 3
2
y = (-1) – 3 y = (-2)2 – 3
y=1–3 y=4–3
y = -2 y=1
(1, -2) (0, 1)
Step 3- Plot the vertex, axis of symmetry, and the two points from Step 2.
Step 4- Plot the mirror images of the two points from Step 2.
5. f(x) = -2(x + 1)2 + 4
Step 1- Identify the vertex and axis of symmetry.
The vertex is (-1, 4). Axis of symmetry is x = -1.
Step 2- Determine two other points that are on the graph.
x=0 x=1
f(x) = -2(0 + 1)2 + 4 f(x) = -2(1 + 1)2 + 4
f(x) = -2(1)2 + 4 f(x) = -2(2)2 + 4
f(x) = -2(1) + 4 f(x) = -2(4) + 4
f(x) = -2 + 4 f(x) = -8 + 4
f(x) = 2 f(x) = -4
(0, 2) (1, -4)
Step 3- Plot the vertex, axis of symmetry, and the two points from Step 2.
Step 4- Plot the mirror images of the two points from Step 2.
6. g(x) = -0.25(x + 1.5)2 – 1.25
Step 1- Identify the vertex and axis of symmetry.
The vertex is (-1.5, -1.25). Axis of symmetry is x = -1.5.
Step 2- Determine two other points that are on the graph.
x = -1 x=0
g(x) = -0.25(-1 + 1.5)2 – 1.25 g (x) = -0.25(0 + 1.5)2 – 1.25
g(x) = -0.25(.5)2 – 1.25 g(x) = -0.25(1.5)2 – 1.25
g(x) = -0.25(.25) – 1.25 g(x) = -0.25(2.25) – 1.25
g(x) = -.0625 - 1.25 g(x) = -.5625 – 1.25
g(x) = 1.3125 g(x) = 1.8125
(-1, 1.3125) (0, 1.8125)
Step 3- Plot the vertex, axis of symmetry, and the two points from Step 2.
Step 4- Plot the mirror images of the two points from Step 2.
Intercept From y = a(x – p)(x – q)
7. y = 3(x – 1)(x – 4)
Step 1- Identify the x-intercepts.
Remember the intercepts are the opposite values of the listed p and q values. X-intercepts are 1 and 4.
Step 2- Calculate the axis of symmetry.
Axis of symmetry is calculated by finding the average between to the two x-intercepts.
1 + 4 = 2.5. Axis of symmetry is x = 2.5
2
Step 3- Determine the vertex.
Find the vertex by plugging in the x-value from Step 2 into the original equation.
y = 3(2.5 – 1)(2.5 – 4)
y = 3(1.5)(-1.5)
y = 3(-2.25)
y = -6.75
Vertex is (2.5, -6.75)
Step 4- Graph it.
Plot the x-intercepts and the vertex and draw the graph.
8. f(x) = (x + 2)(x + 4)
Step 1- Identify the x-intercepts.
X-intercepts are -2 and -4.
Step 2- Calculate the axis of symmetry.
-2 + -4 = -3. Axis of symmetry is x = -3.
2
Step 3- Determine the vertex.
f(x) = (-3 + 2)(-3 + 4)
f(x) = (-1)(1)
f(x) = -1
Vertex is (-3, -1)
Step 4- Graph it.
Plot the x-intercepts and the vertex and draw the graph.
9. g(x) = 5(x – 2/5)(x – 11/5)
Step 1- Identify the x-intercepts.
x-intercepts are 2/5 and 11/5.
Step 2- Calculate the axis of symmetry.
Changing the 2/5 and 11/5 to decimals we have .4 and 2.2.
.4 + 2.2 = 1.3. Axis of symmetry is x = 1.3.
2
Step 3- Determine the vertex.
g(x) = 5(x – 2/5)(x – 11/5) The fractions will be converted to decimals.
g(x) = 5(1.3 – .4)(1.3 – 2.2)
g(x) = 5(.9)(-.9)
g(x) = 5(-.81)
g(x) = -4.05
Vertex is (1.3, -4.05)
Step 4- Graph it.
Plot the x-intercepts and the vertex and draw the graph.