<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
This module is from Elementary Algebra</link>by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. Methods of solving quadratic equations as well as the logic underlying each method are discussed. Factoring, extraction of roots, completing the square, and the quadratic formula are carefully developed. The zero-factor property of real numbers is reintroduced. The chapter also includes graphs of quadratic equations based on the standard parabola, y = x^2, and applied problems from the areas of manufacturing, population, physics, geometry, mathematics (numbers and volumes), and astronomy, which are solved using the five-step method.Objectives of this module: be able to construct the graph of a parabola.

Overview

  • Parabolas
  • Constructing Graphs of Parabolas

Parabolas

We will now study the graphs of quadratic equations in two variables with general form y = a x 2 + b x + c , a 0 , a , b , c are real numbers

Parabola

All such graphs have a similar shape. The graph of a quadratic equation of this type Parabola is called a parabola and it will assume one of the following shapes.

Two parabolas, one opening upward and one opening downward. The lowest point of the parabola opening upward and the highest point of the parabola opening downward are each labeled as 'Vertex.'

Vertex

The high point or low point of a parabola is called the vertex of the parabola.

Constructing graphs of parabolas

We will construct the graph of a parabola by choosing several x -values, computing to find the corresponding y -values, plotting these ordered pairs, then drawing a smooth curve through them.

Sample set a

Graph y = x 2 .    Construct a table to exhibit several ordered pairs.

x y = x 2
0 0
1 1
2 4
3 9
1 1
2 4
3 9


A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative two, four; negative one, one; zero, zero; one, one; and two, four.

This is the most basic parabola. Although other parabolas may be wider, narrower, moved up or down, moved to the left or right, or inverted, they will all have this same basic shape. We will need to plot as many ordered pairs as necessary to ensure this basic shape.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Graph y = x 2 2 .     Construct a table of ordered pairs.

x y = x 2 2
0 2
1 1
2 2
3 7
1 1
2 2
3 7


A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative two, two; negative one , negative one; zero, negative two, one, negative one; and two, two.

Notice that the graph of y = x 2 2 is precisely the graph of y = x 2 but translated 2 units down. Compare the equations y = x 2 and y = x 2 2 . Do you see what causes the 2 unit downward translation?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Practice set a

Use the idea suggested in Sample Set A to sketch (quickly and perhaps not perfectly accurately) the graphs of

y = x 2 + 1 and y = x 2 3

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.    An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

A graph of a quadratic equation y equals x square plus one passing through five points with coordinates negative two, five; negative one, two; zero, one; one, two; and two, five.    A graph of a quadratic equation y equals x square minus three passing through five points with coordinates negative two, one; negative one, negative two; zero, negative three; one, negative two; and two, one.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Sample set b

Graph y = ( x + 2 ) 2 .

Do we expect the graph to be similar to the graph of y = x 2 ? Make a table of ordered pairs.

x y
0 4
1 9
1 1
2 0
3 1
4 4


A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative four, four; negative three, one; negative two, zero;negative one, one; and zero, four.

Notice that the graph of y = ( x + 2 ) 2 is precisely the graph of y = x 2 but translated 2 units to the left. The +2 inside the parentheses moves y = x 2 two units to the left. A negative value inside the parentheses makes a move to the right.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Practice set b

Use the idea suggested in Sample Set B to sketch the graphs of

y = ( x 3 ) 2 and y = ( x + 1 ) 2

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

A graph of a quadratic equation y equals x minus three the whole square passing through five points  with the coordinates one, four; two, one; three, zero; four, one; and five, four.    A graph of a quadratic equation y equals x plus one the whole square passing through five points  with the coordinates negative three, four; negative two, one; negative one, zero; zero, one; and one, four.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Graph y = ( x 2 ) 2 + 1

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

A graph of a quadratic equation y equals x square minus three passing through five points with the coordinates zero, five; one, two; two, one; three, two; and four, five.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises

For the following problems, graph the quadratic equations.

y = ( x 1 ) 2

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

y = ( x 1 ) 2

A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative one, four; zero, one; one, zero, two, one; and three, four.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = ( x + 3 ) 2

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

y = ( x + 3 ) 2

A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative five, four; negative four, one; negative three,zero; negative two, one; and negative one, four.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = x 2 3

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

y = x 2 3

A graph of a parabola passing through seven points with coordinates negative three, six; negative two, one; negative one, negative two; zero, negative three; one, negative two; two, one; and three, six.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = x 2 1 2

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

y = x 2 1 2

A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative two, seven over two; negative one, one over two; zero, negative one over two; one, one over two; and two, seven over two.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = x 2 + 1 (Compare with problem 2.)

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = x 2 1 (Compare with problem 1.)

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

y = x 2 1

A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative two, negative five; negative one, negative two; zero, negative one, one, negative two; and two, negative five.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = ( x + 3 ) 2 + 2

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

y = ( x + 3 ) 2 + 2

A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative five, six; negative four, three; negative three, two; negative two, three; and negative one, six.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = ( x + 3 ) 2

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one units on both axes.

y = ( x + 3 ) 2

A graph of a parabola passing through five points with coordinates negative five, negative four; negative four, negative one; negative three, zero; negative two, negative one; and negative one, negative four.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

For the following problems, try to guess the quadratic equation that corresponds to the given graph.

Exercises for review

( [link] ) Simplify and write ( x 4 y 5 ) 3 ( x 6 y 4 ) 2 so that only positive exponents appear.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Factor y 2 y 42.

( y + 6 ) ( y 7 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Find the sum: 2 a 3 + 3 a + 3 + 18 a 2 9 .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Simplify 2 4 + 5 .

8 2 5 11

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Four is added to an integer and that sum is doubled. When this result is multiplied by the original integer, the product is 6. Find the integer.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

how does Neisseria cause meningitis
Nyibol Reply
what is microbiologist
Muhammad Reply
what is errata
Muhammad
is the branch of biology that deals with the study of microorganisms.
Ntefuni Reply
What is microbiology
Mercy Reply
studies of microbes
Louisiaste
when we takee the specimen which lumbar,spin,
Ziyad Reply
How bacteria create energy to survive?
Muhamad Reply
Bacteria doesn't produce energy they are dependent upon their substrate in case of lack of nutrients they are able to make spores which helps them to sustain in harsh environments
_Adnan
But not all bacteria make spores, l mean Eukaryotic cells have Mitochondria which acts as powerhouse for them, since bacteria don't have it, what is the substitution for it?
Muhamad
they make spores
Louisiaste
what is sporadic nd endemic, epidemic
Aminu Reply
the significance of food webs for disease transmission
Abreham
food webs brings about an infection as an individual depends on number of diseased foods or carriers dully.
Mark
explain assimilatory nitrate reduction
Esinniobiwa Reply
Assimilatory nitrate reduction is a process that occurs in some microorganisms, such as bacteria and archaea, in which nitrate (NO3-) is reduced to nitrite (NO2-), and then further reduced to ammonia (NH3).
Elkana
This process is called assimilatory nitrate reduction because the nitrogen that is produced is incorporated in the cells of microorganisms where it can be used in the synthesis of amino acids and other nitrogen products
Elkana
Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu Reply
Give Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu
advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal Reply
Prevent foreign microbes to the host
Abubakar
they provide healthier benefits to their hosts
ayesha
They are friends to host only when Host immune system is strong and become enemies when the host immune system is weakened . very bad relationship!
Mark
what is cell
faisal Reply
cell is the smallest unit of life
Fauziya
cell is the smallest unit of life
Akanni
ok
Innocent
cell is the structural and functional unit of life
Hasan
is the fundamental units of Life
Musa
what are emergency diseases
Micheal Reply
There are nothing like emergency disease but there are some common medical emergency which can occur simultaneously like Bleeding,heart attack,Breathing difficulties,severe pain heart stock.Hope you will get my point .Have a nice day ❣️
_Adnan
define infection ,prevention and control
Innocent
I think infection prevention and control is the avoidance of all things we do that gives out break of infections and promotion of health practices that promote life
Lubega
Heyy Lubega hussein where are u from?
_Adnan
en français
Adama
which site have a normal flora
ESTHER Reply
Many sites of the body have it Skin Nasal cavity Oral cavity Gastro intestinal tract
Safaa
skin
Asiina
skin,Oral,Nasal,GIt
Sadik
How can Commensal can Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
How can Commensal Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
all
Tesfaye
by fussion
Asiina
what are the advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal
what are the ways of control and prevention of nosocomial infection in the hospital
Micheal
what is inflammation
Shelly Reply
part of a tissue or an organ being wounded or bruised.
Wilfred
what term is used to name and classify microorganisms?
Micheal Reply
Binomial nomenclature
adeolu
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Elementary algebra' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask