3.

1 Properties of Quadratic Functions

Quadratics can be in:

Standard form: 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
Factored form: 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑟)(𝑥 − 𝑠)
Vertex form: 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘

Quadratics have a degree of: ____

Examples
1. Complete the chart and determine the direction of opening.

𝑥 𝑦 1st difference 2nd difference

-3 4
-2 2
-1 -4
0 -14
1 -28
2 -46
3 -68

Direction of opening :

2. Graph.
a) Equation in Vertex Form b) Equation in Factored Form
𝑦 = 3(𝑥 − 2) − 1 𝑦 = −(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1)
c) Equation in Standard Form
𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 12𝑥 + 15

3. Find the equation of the parabola with x-intercepts at −4 and 7 and a

y-intercept of −3.

4. Find the equation of the quadratic with a vertex at (−2, 9) that passes through
the point (5, −2).
 3.2 Maximum or Minimum of a Quadratic Function

There are several ways to determine the maximum or minimum value of a

quadratic function in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐.

Note the max. or min. value refers to the y-value of the vertex.

1. Rewrite the function in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘 by completing the square.

2. Find the x-intercepts by factoring (or the quadratic formula). Determine the axis
of symmetry. This is the x-value of the vertex. Substitute this x-value into the
function to determine the y-value.

3. Use the formula 𝑥 = to determine the x-value of the vertex. Substitute the x-
value of the vertex into the function to determine the y-value.

Examples
1. Find the maximum or minimum value of the following functions using two
different methods.

a) 𝑦 = −4𝑥 − 16𝑥 + 5 b) 𝑦 = 7𝑥 − 5𝑥
Maximum/Minimum Revenue Problems

The demand function 𝑝(𝑥) is the relation between the price of an item and the
number of items sold, 𝑥.

The cost function 𝐶(𝑥) is the total cost of making x items.

The revenue function 𝑅(𝑥) is the money brought in by selling 𝑥 items. Revenue is
the product of the demand function and the number sold.

𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑒 = 𝐷𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑 × 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑑 or 𝑅(𝑥) = 𝑥𝑝(𝑥)

The profit function 𝑃(𝑥) is the difference between revenue and cost.

𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑖𝑡 = 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑒 − 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 or 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑅(𝑥) − 𝐶(𝑥)

2. The demand function for a new magazine is 𝑝(𝑥) = −6𝑥 + 40, where 𝑝(𝑥)
represents the selling price, in thousands of dollars, of the magazine and 𝑥 is the
number sold, in thousands. The cost is 𝐶(𝑥) = 4𝑥 + 48. Calculate the maximum
profit and the number of magazines sold that will produce the maximum profit.
 3.3 The Inverse of a Quadratic

Examples 
y

1. Given 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 3) + 3 

a) Graph 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓 (𝑥) 


x

                 


b) State the domain and range of 𝑓(𝑥) and 



𝑓 (𝑥) 









c) Find the equation of 𝑓 (𝑥)

d) What restrictions on the domain of 𝑓(𝑥) will make 𝑓 (𝑥) a function.

2a) Find the inverse of 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 5.

b) State any restrictions on the domain of the inverse so it is a function.

 3.4 Operations with Radicals

Irrational number – A number that cannot be expressed in the form , where 𝑎 and
𝑏 are integers and 𝑏 ≠ 0. Ex. √2

Radical – A root. Ex. A square root √4 = 2 , a cubic root, √8 = 2 or higher root.

is called the radical symbol.

Entire Radical – A radical with a coefficient of 1. Ex. √𝟓

Mixed Radical – A radical of the form 𝒂√𝒃, where 𝑎 ≠ 1 𝑜𝑟 − 1. Ex. 𝟓√𝟓

Multiplying Radical Rules

For 𝑎 ≥ 0 and 𝑏 ≥ 0,

Entire Radials Mixed Radicals

√𝑎 × √𝑏 𝑐√𝑎 × 𝑑√𝑏
= √𝑎 √𝑏 = 𝑐𝑑√𝑎𝑏
= √𝑎𝑏

Examples
1. Express each radical as a mixed radical in simplest form.

a) √50 b) √180

2. Express each of the following as entire radicals.

a) 5√3 b) −3√2
3. Simplify
a) 9√7 - 3√7 b) 4√3+ 2√27

4. Simplify
a) (√7) ( √7 ) b) (2√3 ) (3√6)

c) −7√2 (6√8 − 11) d) (√3 + 5)(2 − 3)

5. Determine the exact length of the diagonal of a rectangle with dimensions 4 cm

by 16 cm.
 3.5 Solving Quadratic Equations

Examples
1. Solve.
a) 𝑥 + 7𝑥 + 10 = 0 b) 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 2 = 0

c) 𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 3 = 0 d) −3𝑥 + 15 = 0

e) 0 = −2𝑥 + 4𝑥 f) 0 = 2(𝑥 − 5) − 8
g) All quadratics, in any form, can be solved by graphing.

The roots of the quadratic shown

are:

2. A rectangle has an area of 330 m². One side is 7 m longer than the other. What
are the dimensions of the rectangle?
3. The flight of a ball hit from a tee that is 0.6 𝑚 tall can be modeled by the
function ℎ(𝑡) = −4.9𝑡 + 6𝑡 + 0.6, where ℎ(𝑡) is the height in metres at time
𝑡 seconds.

a) How long will it take for the ball to hit the ground?

b) When will the ball reach a height of 2 m?

 3.6 Zeros of a Quadratic Function
There are 3 possibilities for the roots/zeros of a quadratic in the form
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0.

The expression 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 is called the discriminant.

Examples
1. Determine the number of roots.
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 5 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = −5𝑥 + 𝑥 − 2

c) 𝑓(𝑥) = −2(𝑥 − 3) d) 𝑓(𝑥) = 2(𝑥 − 3) + 2

e) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2) f) 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.2(𝑥 − 5)

2. Determine the value of 𝑘 in the equation 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒌𝒙 + 𝟑 so that the

quadratic function has only one zero.
 3.7 Families of Quadratics

Family of Parabolas - A group of parabolas that all share a common characteristic

- they can share the same:
 Vertex
 Zeros
 y-intercept

Examples
1. Determine the equation of the parabola with:

a) x-intercepts −√5 and √5 that passes through (2, 6)

b) x-intercepts 1 − √3 and 1 + √3 that passes through (1, 2)

c) with vertex (−2, −1) and that passes through (2, 5).

2. A highway overpass has a shape that can be modelled by the equation of a

parabola. If the edge of the highway is the origin and the highway is 10 𝑚 wide,
determine the equation of the parabola if the height of the overpass 2 𝑚 from
the edge of the highway is 13 𝑚?
 3.8 Linear Quadratic Systems

Solving Linear-Quadratic Systems Graphically

A system of equations is two or more equations. To solve a system means to
find….
 all intersection points
 all values that “satisfy” both equations
To solve graphically means to graph the two equations and find the point(s) of
intersection.

A line intersects a curve in one of three ways….

1. Not at all. (no solution)
2. Once. (a “tangent,” or one solution)
3. Twice. (two solutions)

No Solution One Solution Two Solutions

Examples
1. Solve the following systems graphically.
a) 𝑦−𝑥 = 2 b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.5𝑥 + 4
𝑦=𝑥 𝑔(𝑥) = −2𝑥 + 3
Solving Linear-Quadratic Systems Algebraically
 Solve for y or x in the linear equation, if necessary.
 Substitute this value into the quadratic equation.
 Solve for x or y in the quadratic equation.
 Substitute the value(s) in step 3. back into the linear equation to get the
other part of the ordered pair/solution.

2. Find the coordinates of the point(s) of intersection of the parabola

𝑓(𝑥) = −4𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 5 and the line 𝑔(𝑥) = 5𝑥 + 4.

3. Find the coordinates of the point(s) of intersection between

𝑓(𝑥) = −5𝑥 − 5 and 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 1)